Oak Chips - how long is enough?

Oct 10, 2006 2 Replies

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marcortins 19 years ago

I know there are recommendations on the package for adding oak chips but I had a question. If I put the recommended 6 oz in a 15 gal demijohn, the recommended time is 4-8 weeks. If I go longer, will it matter, or will the chips have reached some extraction limit, given their size? On the other hand, I have oak cubes in my port, which I intend to leave there for a year.

Thoughts?

FWIW, I'm doing an experiment right now with 3 demijohns. I have heavy toasted american in one, light in another and a mix of the two in the

3rd. I'll let you all know how it comes out.

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pp 19 years ago

Chips will be extracted fairly fast, I've heard 2 weeks but if your instructions say something else, go with the instructions. Oak cubes take longer because of their thickness. 2 oz per 5 galls is on the low side, you might have to add more later - but it's a good place to start.

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marcortins 19 years ago

2 oz per 5 gal was for the chips. The cubes were something like 6oz per 5 gal.

pp wrote:

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