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THE BLOG
Commercial Barrel-Aging
Brewery Spotlight: FOBAB 2023 medal winners
Another year of the Festival of Wood Barrel-Aged Beer is in the books and the winners have been named! While we weren't able to make it to Chicago for FOBAB this year, we were excited to see so many familiar breweries receive medals. It's such a huge honor to know that some...
Why every craft brewery needs a barrel program
Craft beer is a crowded industry. That’s not inherently bad, as more breweries can lead to a vibrant local craft beer culture with plenty of success and notoriety to go around. But breweries still need to find ways to stand out. Sure, curious first-time customers are always down to check...
What are the differences between American and French oak barrels?
Oak dominates the world of wood barrels. It always has. If there were an undisputed world heavyweight title for wood barrels and casks, oak would be the reigning champ for centuries now. No, seriously. The use of oak for storing and then aging beverages dates back to the Roman Empire....
Barrel-Aging 101: Aging beer in bourbon barrels vs. rye whiskey barrels
Willett Bourbon Barrels are some of our most popular for commercial barrel-aging. We see quite a few different types of used barrels move through our warehouses these days. But without a doubt, the most popular are nearly always either used bourbon barrels or used rye whiskey barrels. For the breweries...
Barreled in Bond: Whiskey Hill + Midwest Barrel Co.'s Barrel-Aged Beer Collaboration
From left: Ethan Schulenberg and Ben Loseke of MWBC and Kevin Hopkins and Eric Flores of Whiskey Hill Brewing Company taste beer samples from bourbon barrels. Cross another barrel-aged beer off the Midwest Barrel Co. to-do list. Thanks to our good friends at Whiskey Hill Brewing Company, we now have...
How to pressure test used whiskey, bourbon and wine barrels
We built a custom silicone bung with a pressure gauge to check the pressure on barrels. Leaky barrels are no joke. A whiskey barrel or wine barrel that leaks is a barrel that is literally capable of sending your hard-earned money down the drain. That’s why Midwest Barrel Co. strives...
Your guide to used whiskey barrels with head bungs
Starting or scaling up a barrel program is a big step for any brewer. It makes sense, given the popularity of barrel-aged beers from high ABV stouts to big barleywines. But getting started with this style takes its share of financial resources. It also takes up a good deal of...
Why You Should Buy Barrels Now for Your Next Barrel-Aged Beer
Barrel-aging beers takes a lot of work, planning and prep. But if you’re a brewer, that probably doesn’t faze you. The idea of experimenting with the new flavors that barrels can introduce to your brews is probably exciting enough to help ease any anxiety or worries about getting started. And...
What is a wet barrel?
I believe getting to the point quickly is a virtue. So if you’re here because you just purchased a used whiskey barrel that you intend to fill with a beverage, but there isn’t any remaining liquid from what it aged before in there and so you’re concerned, here’s what you need to...
Barrel-Aging 101: How to swell a dry or leaking barrel
Barrels are good for two things – holding liquid for long periods of time and making cool stuff out of the repurposed wood. So when a barrel is leaky, that’s a major issue for most of what a barrel is supposed to do. So if you just bought a barrel...
How do we prep a whiskey barrel to be refilled?
One of the most common questions we get here at MWBC is “How do I prep the bourbon or whiskey barrel I just purchased to be refilled?” Well it’s a very simple answer – NOTHING! If you are having to clean or swell your whiskey barrels before filling you definitely...
Barrel Care: My barrel has a leak!
Barrel-aging is an exciting undertaking. Some time spent in a barrel can take a homebrew, craft beer, wine or distilled spirit to the next level. But the barrel has to be able to do its job. A leaking barrel is a no-go and will only delay your beverage’s barrel-aged journey....
I can't fill my barrel right away
Barrels have a shelf life. Or should we call it a rack life? No matter what you want to call it, it’s true. You can’t just get a used barrel, let it sit in the corner and expect it to be ready for barrel-aging whenever you need it. In a...
Is my barrel dry?
When it comes to ingredients, fresh is best. For brewers who are barrel-aging craft beer or a homebrewer dabbling in the style, the barrel is another ingredient. So, like all other ingredients that go into a beer recipe, quality matters. In the barrel-aging world, quality is often determined (for the...