Did you like the question for the Port trade this month + SCION Discussion

[Al B.]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread about Scion and old barrel aged ports - it's been one of the most interesting threads for a long time. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

[Derek T.]

Provided these discussions remain civil and don't include veiled or overt personal attacks

I hope you didn't take my comment about conspiracy theories as a personal attack, as it was most definitely not intended as one. If you did take it as such, I apologize and hope that you will forgive me. Next time we see each other, I'll bring the Port.

No, I didn't take it that way - but I might just hold you to that offer to bring the port

[Eric Menchen]

An entertaining read.

In the beer world I've regularly heard references to the angel's share being 3% per annum, but I really think that is just a number. Alcohol content, humidity, barrel thickness, barrel shape and dimensions, temperature variation, density of the contents (recall the honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and isn't that a dry place?) ... I really have no idea what the number is, or how much it slows. Those pictures from Adrian certainly made me believe the evaporation could be quite low for the pre-Scion. It would be fun to experiment to see what kind of numbers one could come up with under different conditions, but I really don't have 150+ years to undertake such a study, and would rather drink some of it before then.

I currently have a former whiskey barrel aging black ale. When we filled the ~53 gallon barrel, we had about 1/2 gallon extra. It was put in a glass jug for topping up (not refreshing )

I have a former gin barrel aging Belgian wit. This barrel has really demonstrated Andy's point about environmental variations and extremes being a critical factor. I reconditioned the barrel for days before filling (it sat empty for a while). The barrel still had leaks. I sealed them with a paste of calcium carbonate and garlic, which makes a kind of food-safe plaster. That worked for a while. Then one day small leaks appeared, and a few days later, a small leak turned into a drip. By this time I had obtained barrel sealing wax. I applied that, and the leaks stopped ... for a while. Two weeks, maybe a month later, new leaks. The barrel had not moved. What happened? I don't know if it was high pressure, changes in humidity, etc., but something made the barrel leak again. More wax. ... more wax ... Now after two or more months I think the barrel is stable, just in time to be emptied and filled with gotlandsdricka.

[Glenn E.]

Provided these discussions remain civil and don't include veiled or overt personal attacks

I hope you didn't take my comment about conspiracy theories as a personal attack, as it was most definitely not intended as one. If you did take it as such, I apologize and hope that you will forgive me. Next time we see each other, I'll bring the Port.

No, I didn't take it that way - but I might just hold you to that offer to bring the port

You show up in Seattle, and that offer's always open.

[Roy Hersh]

Glenn,

Fughedaboutit, he's been promising to come to Seattle since 2005. I have a bottle in my cellar with his name on it, still awaiting his visit. By the time he actually shows up here, it will likely be a very nice 50 year old Tawny.

[Derek T.]

{musttryharder}

[Andy Velebil]

Glenn,

Fughedaboutit, he's been promising to come to Seattle since 2005. I have a bottle in my cellar with his name on it, still awaiting his visit. By the time he actually shows up here, it will likely be a very nice 50 year old Tawny.

Thank you Roy, and if they would only get down here to SUNNY So. Cal. Notice I said sunny, as in nice and warm, but not too hot. Beaches that you don't need to wear a jacket to. Plenty of Port to drink from a certain Port lovers cellar. We can BBQ and not get rained on.

[Roy Hersh]

We don't have rain here!

At least not between July 5th and Sept. 15th. This year sun came early ... July 4th.

[Glenn E.]

Glenn,

Fughedaboutit, he's been promising to come to Seattle since 2005. I have a bottle in my cellar with his name on it, still awaiting his visit. By the time he actually shows up here, it will likely be a very nice 50 year old Tawny.

Thank you Roy, and if they would only get down here to SUNNY So. Cal. Notice I said sunny, as in nice and warm, but not too hot. Beaches that you don't need to wear a jacket to. Plenty of Port to drink from a certain Port lovers cellar. We can BBQ and not get rained on.

Well I'm BBQ'ing today - (real BBQ in a smoker, not just grilling) - but I just heard thunder so we might get rained on. Wait, what? Thunder in Seattle? That never happens. Something must be wrong... I better go drink some Port.