4L oak barrel

Small Wooden Barrel - 4L

Aging in barrels is no longer reserved for professionals! Craft and refine your best beers in the style of Cantillon, Sacrilège, or Iron…

This small wooden barrel made of oak is manufactured in the same way as traditional wine and spirits barrels used by renowned Bordeaux and Burgundy houses.

The oak used for this small wooden barrel is naturally dried. It is then polished to ensure a uniform surface and excellent stave strength. Finally, the stave is tapered to be wider in the center and narrower at the sides.

This non-heat-treated fut gives woody, vanilla aromas to the beverage you choose to age.

Ideal Use:

While this small wooden barrel is perfect for aging brett-based beers, Quadrupels, or Imperial Stouts, it is not limited to just that.

It is ideal for maturing and refining your wine, wine eau de vie (Cognac, Armagnac), grain alcohol (Whisky, Vodka), plant-based spirits (Gin, Tequila), cider, spiced rum, white rum, and more.

Technical Specifications:

• - European oak
• - Steel hoops
• - Raw exterior
• - Paraffin-lined interior
• - Drilled for wooden tap (provided)
• - Drilled for wooden bung (provided)
• - Wooden stand included

Dimensions:

• Length: 24.5cm
• Top diameter: 16cm
• Bulge diameter: 20.5cm

To facilitate storage and maintenance, this barrel is sealed with paraffin wax. The interior waxing also helps control wood interaction. This is beneficial for a new small wooden barrel.

Untreated raw barrels can impart unpredictable woody flavors, requiring several years to find the right balance. Waxing provides more flavor control and makes barrel aging accessible for homebrewing enthusiasts.

Before First Use:

1. Insert the provided tap into the designated hole and ensure it is securely fixed.
2. Fill the small wooden barrel halfway (approximately) with very hot water mixed with salt (15/20g per liter).
3. Close the wooden barrel and thoroughly mix to humidify the entire interior.
4. Let it rest for at least two days, stirring twice a day.
5. Empty the barrel, rinse it thoroughly, and allow it to dry.
6. Fill the small cask with heated white wine and keep it full for 10 days (you may need to top up occasionally, as the wood can absorb up to 10% of the liquid; after this process, it will only absorb 2% of the chosen aging liquid).
7. Finally, empty the barrel without rinsing and let it dry.
8. You can now age the beverage of your choice in this beautiful small wooden barrel!

Storage of Empty Barrel:

If you won’t be using the barrel for several weeks, wrap it in plastic film and place it in a room with:

• - Good humidity (75%-80%—neither too dry nor too humid)
• - No drafts
• - Minimal light exposure
• - Stable temperature
• - Cover the barrel with a cloth to avoid UV rays.

Does the size of this small wooden barrel not suit you?

Three other formats are available:

• - Barrel - 6L
• - Oak cask - 10L
• - Wooden cask - 25L

Bonus Info:

We have tested this little wooden barrel! While the provided stopper will do its job very well, we find that a conical cork stopper will be better suited.

It will maximize the barrel's seal. Moreover, when you are going to take samples to taste your beer, the cork offers you the possibility to insert a syringe (with needle). This will minimize oxygen intake.

The ideal size of the stopper is 11-16mm.