My 5 gallon barrel arrived today from The Barrel Mill in Minnesota. Its made from Northern American Oak and is a charred whiskey barrel. Barrels are generally toasted or charred to various degrees depending on whether they will be storing wine or whiskey. This one will be storing my recently brewed porter first (I'll put the recipe up soon). I used The Barrel Mill's oak spirals in my Rye Pale Ale and it turned out great. I can't wait to get the beer in the barrel! My one year old daughter is helping with the bung in the lower picture.
