5 gallon oak barrels from Mexico

[Tankard]

http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Liter-Oak-BARRELS-KEG-Age-Wine-Beer-Rum-Spirits (http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Liter-Oak-BARRELS-KEG-Age-Wine-Beer-Rum-Spirits_W0QQitemZ170278685150QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item170278685150&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318)

All the recent talk about oak casks has prompted me to search for one. On Ebay, there are a lot of 59 gallon wine barrels that simply won't work, due to obvious reasons. The other option is a 20L oak barrel, which is roughly 5.3 gallons, which is perfect. They are also reasonably cheap, $60.00. Two problems though: they are made in Mexico and they cost a fortunate to ship.

Do these look like quality products? I'm wary of the quality controls that are in place in Mexican factories. The regulations there are very lax. I used to eat those Mexican chili coated candies until I found out that they can have high levels of lead.

[Ope08]

"Mexican Oak"??

[Ó Flannagáin]

Wonder where the Oak is from. Mine is Hungarian Oak. Hungarian and French are very similar and add more a of mellow, vanilla oak flavor which is better for belgians and english ales wheras, I hear, American oak is more "oaky" and has strong flavors which is better for IPA's and such. Just what I hear. So would be interesting to know where the oak was grown.

[Tankard]

The reason I want a barrel is so that I can more closely replicate the "Firestone DBA" that is fermented in oak barrels. It is an English bitter, I believe.

[Ó Flannagáin]

Would probably be an American oak barrel and if I was to guess, those Mexican barrels are probably plenty similar. You can get the same effect from oak chips though, I hear. I like the barrel I have for my belgians because the O2 it lets seep through the wood is good for the sour ales. For American oaked beverages, I'd probably just use chips.

[Tankard]

Yeah, maybe you're right. Chips might be a better idea.

One less gigantic piece of equipment in my small apartment.

[BlindLemonLars]

"Mexican Oak"??

If it's anything like a "Mexican Divorce," they are perfectly valid in most states, and a real cost saver.

Pretty cool barrels actually, but yeah...it's not like they are going through a USDA inspection procedure. Coupled with the $60 shipping, I think I'll pass.

[DrunkenSatyr]

Just make sure they are not coated or lined with ANYTHING


~Barrels have all been treated and sealed before shipment!

[Lerxst]

IIRC there is a discussion thread on either the green board or NB about barrels and someone related their experience with these....might want to search it up.

I'm fine with the cubes till I get the itch for a brett barrel/O2/russian river style brew.

[ben the brewman]

they sell oak infusion spirals now its suposed to work very well. the idea is that there is more open end grain on the oak so it works faster than other oak products. they also fit inside of a carboy.