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...
Flames char the inside of a barrel that will be used to age whiskey or bourbon. Most barrel wranglers know that to legally call your product “bourbon,” it has to be aged in new, charred oak barrels. The same rule...
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...
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...
Flames char the inside of a barrel that will be used to age whiskey or bourbon. Most barrel wranglers know that to legally call your product “bourbon,” it has to be aged in new, charred oak barrels. The same rule applies to straight whiskey, straight rye and Tennessee whiskey. The...
A Vinnie nail was installed on this 10 gallon whiskey barrel. Craft brewers, winemakers, mead makers and other barrel-aging pros know the importance of quality control. They have both the nose and palette needed to know the moment their hard work has paid off in the form of a delicious,...
Zeke Peyton pulls a Vinnie nail to sample mead aging in a barrel at Superstition Meadery. (Photo provided.) Mead is having a moment. Actually, mead’s been having a moment for a few years now – one that’s seen it grow in popularity and acceptance in the craft community. Thanks to...
A Midwest Barrel Co. team member drills a belly bung hole into the side of a head bung whiskey barrel. Used bourbon and whiskey barrels aren’t easy to find right now. If you’re a brewer or you’re in charge of a brewery’s barrel program, then you have probably noticed this...
Ricky Cervantes, Foreign Exchange Brewing. Photo credit: Foreign Exchange Brewing via Instagram Ricky Cervantes and his partners had a plan. It was February 2020 and the guys behind Foreign Exchange Brewing Co. had just released the brewery’s first beer. Then, the world shut down. “Honestly, that was a little bit...
A bottle of BLiS Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and BLiS Maple Syrup barrels (ex-bourbon) It’s no secret that used bourbon barrels are some of the most popular for aging beer. The vanilla, spice and oaky flavors pair so well with imperial stouts, barleywines and strong ales. While there’s no shortage of...
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...
Midwest Barrel Co. is lucky to partner with some of the best in the barrel-aging business. We’ve worked with everyone from the skilled homebrewer to some of the top names in the craft beer industry. One of the best parts about getting to partner with folks who have a ton...
We work with craft brewery barrel programs of every size and any experience level. From beginners to barrel-aging experts, we strive to help them all find the best barrels. Revolution Brewing Company is definitely one of our partners who you could safely call experts at what they do with barrels....
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...
The winemakers at Glacial Till Vineyard and Winery enjoy their craft, but they aren’t satisfied with making the same wine year after year. That’s one of the reasons why Glacial Till, located in Palmyra, Nebraska, continues to churn out flavorful varieties of the hard apple cider it started making in...
Our team at Midwest Barrel Co. is always laser-focused on making sure our customers are happy with their purchases. Just ask the folks over at Skinny Sticks Maple Syrup. Mitch Hoyt and family shared this about their positive experience working with MWBC: “Midwest Barrel will work to get you the...
If you’re searching for just the right barrel, then Midwest Barrel Co. needs to be your first call. Don’t just take it from us. We’re the go-to barrel wrangler for many in the craft beer and even distilling industries. MWBC has helped many of our partners, including Great Wagon Road...
Not a craft brewery? No problem. Midwest Barrel Co. works hard to find top-notch barrels for every customer. Take Oak & Bond Coffee Co., for example. They’ve taken a bit of an uncommon approach to coffee beans by aging them in a variety of barrels – including barrels that previously aged,...
At Midwest Barrel Co., we believe the tight ship we run is what makes us the top option for any craft brewery or other customer who is looking to buy barrels. But don’t ask us. Here’s what Brian Pawola, the head brewer, distiller and cofounder over at Pollyanna Brewing Company,...
MWBC appreciates the value of local as much as any other business associated with the craft beer industry. That’s why we love partnering with local, Nebraska craft breweries, such as Zipline Brewing Co., as they look to secure killer barrels for their monster barrel-aged brews. We absolutely love hearing about...
Wine barrels can make for some pretty mean barrel-aged brews. But before we get ahead of ourselves and start talking about barrel-aging projects (there’ll be plenty of time for that!), we need to talk about another important wine barrel topic: swelling. Why is swelling so important? Well, you don’t want...
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...
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...
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-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....
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...
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...
Photo credit: Foreign Exchange Brewing via Instagram Ricky Cervantes is proof that homebrewers can make exceptional barrel-aged beers. He’s also proof of what can happen with a lot of hard work, experimentation and a little bit of luck. Just last year, Cervantes and a couple partners started Foreign Exchange Brewing...
Shannon Harris is living the homebrewer’s dream. Once a craft beer fan who would drink a beer, snap a pic and post it on Instagram, Harris is now on course to open the first black-owned brewery in Austin, Texas. Most people know Harris as The Brew Brotha on Instagram. He...
New, small barrels are a great buy for homebrewers, people who want to experiment with distilled spirits or even bartenders who want to try their hand at barrel-aged cocktails. However, barrel-aging with a brand new, small barrel isn’t exactly an out-of-the-box, ready-to-go endeavor. It takes some prepwork and some homework....
Hopefully one of the best things 2020 had to offer was giving us all more time to pursue new hobbies. And by new hobbies, I’m looking at all of you new homebrewers.So, you took the plunge into the homebrewing space and discovered you actually make pretty damn good beer? Well...
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. For months you’ve thought about it, dreamt about it, gazed longingly at it from across the room. You’re about to try your latest and greatest homebrewed creation, patiently aged in a perfect oak barrel. You pour your first sample, swish the liquid around,...
You’ve gone and purchased a small barrel – or someone thoughtfully gave it to you as a gift. Now you’re probably racing to fill it with a choice beverage, or you’re wondering what the heck you can do with it. If you fall into the latter category, then congratulations – you’re...
Barrel-aged beers are arguably the pinnacle of craft beer. They’re deliciously complex in flavor – achieving a wide variety of otherwise unattainable profiles – and all it takes is a little practice and a lot of patience. More and more, we’re seeing homebrewers rise to the challenge of barrel-aging, exploring new...
Need a gift idea for the upcoming holiday? We have you covered. There really is something for everyone in our Holiday Gift Guide for 2022, so take a seat and have a peek at what we will have available this Christmas and holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for a father...
Some of our favorite DIY projects are whiskey barrel and wine barrel furniture pieces. There are so many creative ways people have found to turn used wine barrels and used whiskey barrels into beautiful furniture pieces – and even fun wall decorations or other art and accent pieces for their...
A small oak aging liter barrel on a stand. It’s a question we answer more often than you think: What will happen if I varnish my small oak liter aging barrel before filling it with whiskey or another type of spirit to age? The answer to that question varies based...
Pictured: Wine Barrel Planter with flowers Whiskey and wine barrels have always made for excellent home decor – indoors and outdoors. While authentic, used barrels are undeniably rustic, they can be dressed up or down to fit a wide variety of design themes and schemes. However, one of our favorite...
Midwest Barrel Co. has a holiday gift idea for everyone on your list! Let’s be honest: coming up with the best gift ideas seems to get harder and harder every year. It can be a challenge to buy holiday gifts for your friends, family and other people in your life...
Let’s not beat around the bush here. While we love the authentic, rustic nature of used whiskey and bourbon barrels, they can be a bit messy. One of the primary culprits of this mess is the char on the inside of the barrel. Open one up and you’ll see what...
The number of DIY projects you can tackle with a reclaimed, white oak barrel is practically limitless. Staves, heads and rings are perfect when crafting one-of-a-kind furniture and decor. But what’s the best way to go about taking the barrel apart so you can actually use those parts? You could...
You’ve likely heard us say every barrel has a story. We say it all the time because it’s true. Every barrel that finds its way to the Midwest Barrel Co. warehouse is authentic. They’ve aged fine spirits, such as bourbon and whiskey and wines. This means most barrels that reach...
Nobody wants a home decor barrel that looks like it’s about to fall apart. Luckily, barrels are fairly sturdy and can hold up against outdoor conditions for quite some time. But – and there’s always a but, right? – everything has a lifespan. Barrels are held together only with pressure....
It's one of the most common questions we get here at MWBC. So, what is the difference? The term "fresh dumped" means the barrel was recently dumped at the distillery and is now ready to be filled. Fresh dumped barrels are the more sought after bourbon barrel due to the...
Many people will tell you that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your entire life – and possibly the biggest day you’ve experienced to that point. It’s true that weddings are key, unforgettable moments in our lives. Most brides, grooms, their friends and their family...
Whether it’s for your man cave, she shed, home bar or business, personalized barrel heads are beautiful, unique decor pieces that truly stand out anywhere you hang them on display. At Midwest Barrel Co., we offer many different customization options that range from pre-designed graphics to totally customized artwork. All...
So, you’ve got a barrel that you want to keep looking nice. We’re here for that – and we’re here to help. While we think all authentic barrels look great in their own way, we understand that appearance and condition are even more important when it comes to decor and...
Get Barrel smoking wood chunks, chips & pellets at barrelsmokingwood.com! If you’re wondering where all of Midwest Barrel Co.’s barrel BBQ smoking wood chunks, chips and pellets are now sold, then head on over to barrelsmokingwood.com! That’s where we are now offering our 100% authentic bourbon, wine and bourbon barrel-aged...
A key part of any grill master’s claim to fame is consistently serving up delicious barbecue that gets mouths watering and keeps everyone coming back for more. Here is a Bourbon Barrel Chunk Smoked Pork Butt recipe from Norm’s on 48th in Lincoln, Nebraska that will do just that. The...
Who says you can only smoke meat? We’ve got a kick-ass recipe for Badass Smoked Deviled Eggs from Instagram user Matt Roach (@greatbalance) that features our Apple Brandy Barrel Smoking Wood Chunks. These chunks, which are also available as wood chips, will add layers of complex flavor to just about...
Selling used bourbon barrels and wine barrels is what we do at Midwest Barrel Co., but the “why” and “how” behind our business runs deeper. Midwest Barrel Co.’s mission to be a catalyst in creating memorable experiences that are better for our people, planet and beverages by providing one thing:...
Midwest Barrel Co.'s Co-Owner & President, Jess Loseke, joins an elite group of high-growth Midwest business leaders as a 2022 Pipeline Entrepreneur Fellow. Big things are in store for Midwest Barrel Co., and our co-owner and president, Jess Loseke, is leading the way!Last week, Jess was one of 13 Midwest...
Midwest Barrel Co. founders and co-owners Ben and Jess Loseke had the awesome opportunity to be featured in a segment on WGN Radio in Chicago in July. With some of our top brewery partners located in and around Chicagoland, Ben and Jess jumped at the chance to share more with...
Midwest Barrel Co. had a killer year in 2020, as in our best year ever. A lot of that is thanks to the leadership of our company’s co-owner, Jess Loseke. Jess dove into the year that was 2020 and many other topics during her talk at Capital Cigar Lounge’s YPT...
Ever wonder how barrel brokers fit into the craft beer and distilled spirits industries? Well, Spirited wrote an article that answers that question – and it features our very own barrel slinger, Midwest Barrel Co. Co-Owner Ben Loseke, or Barrel Ben, as we fondly call him. From the article: “When...
Just a couple of guys talking barrels, beer and barrel-aged beer (obviously). That’s the gist behind an episode of the Nebraska Beer:30 podcast featuring Midwest Barrel Co. Co-Owner Ben Loseke. Barrel Ben shares the story of our company’s humble beginnings as his hobby and how we became a leading barrel...
In March 2020 the pandemic hit, effectively shutting down the entire world overnight. Before there were stimulus checks and government funding, some of our favorite businesses found themselves wondering how they were going to survive the unknown. The Midwest Barrel Co. team knew we couldn't sit silently but needed to...
Barrel Ben hit the road to Tuscan, Arizona this week for the Associated Cooperage Industries of America annual meeting. Topics covered all things barrels and oak. Meaning, Barrel Ben was in his element. What Did We Learn? One hot topic definitely had our attention: available supply of American White...
Midwest Barrel Co. co-owners Ben and Jess Loseke Imagine for a moment what a world without barrels would look like. No more aged whiskey, wine, rum and other spirits that rely on oak barrels for their signature flavor character and brown color. We would no longer have barrel-aged beer, either....
A lot has changed since Midwest Barrel Co. first began slinging used barrels in 2015. We’ve grown from a single storage shed to an office building and warehouse here in Lincoln. Our team has expanded from Barrel Ben’s one-man show to a team of more than 15! However, while MWBC...
Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays… Which is why Midwest Barrel Co. will be closed December 24 through January 2. Our hardworking team absolutely rocked it this year slinging barrels, so we thought we’d give them extra time for rocking around the Christmas tree! But don’t...