Filling SD barrel with English Barley Wine

[Shanna]

Hi there,

Had the 2nd taste of the barrel aged barley wine last Thursday night in the dark horse. Its a good bit darker than the last sample and its coming along nicely. Before it was had a taste of Shiny's top of effort that was also pretty good. Now I asked the question how much longer should we leave it in for and I did not get any consensus on this. For those of you who were not present have you any opinion on when we should take it out?

Shanna

Dolphin browser playing up. There was talk @last meet about emptying barrel this side of XMas. Going to try two samples one this week + another just before the October meet for comparison.

Shanna

[Bubbles]

I didn't think there was much oak showing in the last sample I had. But i'm not sure if leaving it in the barrel a bit longer will help things. Is the barrel spent, I wonder?

Anyway, I'm happy to go along with everyone else. But seeing as I haven't even bottled my barrel porter yet, I'd happily leave it in there until Spring.

[cno1]

My vote would be to take it out in mid November. Plenty of time for people to have it carbed and bottled for Christmas and it's also before people start getting caught up in the festivities around December.

[Brewtus]

Pretty much agree with Cathal's comments. Would be nice to have on tap over Xmas. I thought the last sample had noticably less whiskey character than the previous one (more sherry overtones) so this aspect is definitely no longer being enhanced by remaining in the barrel.

[Shane Phelan]

Would be nice to have it for Christmas. 

[John_C]

I'll go along with that.

[Shanna]

Just adding a running total here of people and preferences for emptying the barrel
Shanna, Bubbles - After Xmas 2014 - 2
Shiny, JohnC, Brewtus, Cno1 - Before Xmas 2014 - 4

If and when we get a quorom (e.g. 6 or more) then we go with the majority rule.

People left to pitch in McGrath, Beerfly, Tube, Rossa & David

Shanna

[mcgrath]

I'll wait till shanna tastes it again. I don't need another big beer this side of Xmas. But if it's not changing then I'm happy to take it out.

[Shanna]

Just adding a running total here of people and preferences for emptying the barrel
Shanna, Bubbles, McGrath - After Xmas 2014 - 3
Shiny, JohnC, Brewtus, Cno1, Dube - Before Xmas 2014 - 5

If and when we get a quorom (e.g. 6 or more) then we go with the majority rule.

People left to pitch in McGrath, Beerfly, Tube, Rossa & David

Shanna

[Rossa]

No hurry for me. 2015

[Shanna]

just adding a running total here of people and preferences for emptying the barrel
Shanna, Bubbles, McGrath, Rossa - After Xmas 2014 - 4
Shiny, JohnC, Brewtus, Cno1, Dube - Before Xmas 2014 - 5

If and when we get a quorom (e.g. 6 or more) then we go with the majority rule.

People left to pitch in Beerfly & David

Shanna

[Bubbles]

Just sampling a bottle of my english barkeywine, 1 of 4 bottles that I had left over after racking to barrel. Very tasty, but even darker than i expected because of all the chocolate malt I used. Not a lot of roastiness in the flavour though, just big raisin, fruity english yeast flavours. Very happy with it. Will bring a bottle to a meet.

[David]

Sorry haven't been around much lately I'm happy to leave it and see how it develops.

Bit busy at the moment so mightn't be to active till the new year.

[Shanna]

just adding a running total here of people and preferences for emptying the barrel
Shanna, Bubbles, McGrath, Rossa, David - After Xmas 2014 - 5
Shiny, JohnC, Brewtus, Cno1, Dube - Before Xmas 2014 - 5

If and when we get a quorom (e.g. 6 or more) then we go with the majority rule.

People left to pitch in Beerfly

Shanna

[Brewtus]

I've decided to defect to the wait side which should bring this to a conclusion (and take the pressure off Ronan to make the deciding vote  ). I've just brewed a Baltic Porter which is going to end up a bit higher than expected at ca. 9.5% and be ready about Xmas time and as I already have an Old Ale of similar strength maturing since May, I think a third big beer is a bit redundant.