Barrels of Beer – Aging in Wine and Spirits Barrels
Among craft brewers one occasionally hears the question: “Who aged beer in wooden barrels first?” Since barrels have been employed for storing liquid foods for millennia and beer brewing itself is many centuries older than the proper art of cooperage, asking such a question would seem puerile. The question appears impossible to answer – that is, until one begins inserting caveats. Though beer has been stored in barrels for a long time, by and large, brewers over many centuries have attempted to avoid allowing the wood to impart its own flavor to the beer – and they especially wanted to prevent any of the flavors and aromas derived from the beverage or food previously stored in the barrel to corrupt its contents. As with so much else, however, there has been a sea change in the use of barrels amongst craft brewers. We will conclude our discussion in the final installment of this series by taking a closer look at how brewers have awoken to the potential barrels can offer in the creation of unique and characterful beers.
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