How to clean an oak barrel 10L

[William]

Hi guys,

I have just purchased an oak barrel for storing cider or beer in and was wondering what the best way to clean it is.

A lot of people say to use barolkleen but I cant seem to find any in New Zealand.

How do you guys do it and what chemicals do you use if any?

[William]

Does anyone brew with barrels these days? Anyone have an opinion or advice?

[Grant R Baker]

I have recently so here is my over kill (virgin) oak cleaning method.

Try to time the below so you have finished cleaning just prior to filling with your beer...

1. Fill the barrel with warm water and leave it for 24+ hours until it stops leaking... it needs to swell up. If it doesn't stop leaking over 48 hours you may have a dud.
2. Fill with luke warm and add (whilst filling) about 4 tablespoons on soidum precarbonate... leave over night then rinse out.
3. Fill with cold water and add about 5-6 campden tablets. Leave over night... then flush out. Yep this is a lot of cleaning.
4. Fill with water again and add some citrix acid. Leave for about and hour and rinse out.
5. Lastly sanitize with starsans.

Steps 2 or 4 are optional.. but for a first time barrel I would go over board...  and also when using sodium percarbonate and the other chemicals do not seal the barrel... the will let of gas that needs to get out, so put an airlock in or just cover the hole. Most of this stuff can be found at the NZ homebrew stores.

[William]

Hi Grant,

Thanks for the reply,

I was speaking to Luke from Epic beer and he said that I could try to fill with really hot water and add some Sodium met and let that sit for a bit. I think I will try this method and see how it goes.

I do have another barrel that needs a really good clean so will try your method for that one.

[Grant R Baker]

I just went over board first time around... but I would add some ctrix acid to neutralise the Sodium Metabysulphide once it has done its job.