Homebrewers who want to take their craft to the next level should give barrel-aging a try. Barrels are more readily available to homebrewers than ever before, and that means that you can now experiment with any number of barrel varieties: rum, bourbon and rye whiskey, wine, sherry, and tequila.
Here’s a flavor guide for choosing what beer styles to age in what barrel varieties, homebrew recipes included. Before you get started, you might want to check out Niel Fisher's tips on the barrel-aging process with advice on everything from where to procure barrels to how to best blend them after aging.
Saison and Bière de Garde
Age these in a wine barrel. Much like wine, saisons are complex beers that tend to be fruit-forward, spicy, or earthy. Used wine barrels can impart a broad range of beer flavors, from tannic oak and smooth caramel to dark fruit and toffee. Try aging Funkwerks Tropic King imperial saison or this Biere de Quattro farmhouse ale in a white wine barrel, or age this ruby-colored Bier de Noel in a red wine barrel—get this holiday ale on your brew schedule soon so it has time to age for the next holiday season.