We updated our Imperial Stout recipe by eliminating all of the dextrose. We didn't realize we used it in 20% of our original recipe. We upped our grain from 18 pounds to 30 pounds, raising our final gravity to account for the loss in the barrel. We eliminated our whirlpool hop because the aroma will be loss to the barrel, and we didn't want linalool or off flavors. With added grain, we had to up our amount of water used overall to 12 gals, however our strike water went up, but our sparge water decreased. With more water, we adjusted our lactic acid and mash minerals. We had originally chosen a high flocculant yeast, and adequate fermentation temp so no change there. However, we would hold our beer at 60F to allow most of the yeast to flocc out.

We would age our imperial stout in a dark rum barrel. Rum barrels could potentially lack the harsh booziness that some bourbon or whiskey barrels might impart. We are looking for flavors such as dark chocolate, coconut, and oak.