Barrels of beer – a new perspective on an old craft
Barrels have held beer since they were invented in the early Iron Age between 800 and 900 BCE, or perhaps even earlier, by a wood-bending folk with access to vast forests, most likely by the Celts. There has recently been a resurgence in the use of barrels among craft brewers. How these innovative brewers employ barrels to create distinctive beers is in many ways novel and unique and at the same time steeped in centuries of tradition. Beers acquire more character and complexity by spending time in barrels for a variety of reasons. In this second installment in the series, we delve into why brewers have come back to these ancient wooden vessels by looking more closely at how barrels are produced as well as the flavors and aromas the wood contributes to the beverages stored in them.
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