For The Love Of Port

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.

Glenn E. wrote:

Derek T. wrote: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

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.

Derek T. wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:

Derek T. wrote: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.

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.

{musttryharder}

Roy Hersh wrote: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.

We don't have rain here!

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

Andy Velebil wrote:

Roy Hersh wrote: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.