• PATRONS: Did you know we've a chat function for you now? Look to the bottom of the screen, you can chat, set up rooms, talk to each other individually or in groups! Click 'Chat' at the right side of the chat window to open the chat up.
  • Love Gotmead and want to see it grow? Then consider supporting the site and becoming a Patron! If you're logged in, click on your username to the right of the menu to see how as little as $30/year can get you access to the patron areas and the patron Facebook group and to support Gotmead!
  • We now have a Patron-exclusive Facebook group! Patrons my join at The Gotmead Patron Group. You MUST answer the questions, providing your Patron membership, when you request to join so I can verify your Patron membership. If the questions aren't answered, the request will be turned down.

Oak: Chips vs. Cubes

Barrel Char Wood Products

Stasis

Honey Master
Registered Member
Jan 10, 2014
1,123
13
38
Malta
If you bought some chips and you really must use them you should stick to the lowest amount possible. In my experience you're not looking to actually taste the oak but just adding some complexity and mouthfeel which you can't really pinpoint. Unfortunately, if you check the link by darigoni you will read that chips could be made from leftover pieces of oak from anywhere. This oak might not have been matured the proper way for wine making like staves for a barrel. I have a bag of chips which I think came from such a source and it's MUCH worse than other chips I tried before. These chips are nigh unusable.
You might get to use some chips by combining a very small amount of chips with cubes, for example. If you're looking for 1 gram per litre of oak maybe you can get better results by using 0.8 grams of cubes and 0.2 grams of chips. The theory is that the chips will simply add some complexity over going full cubes. The link by darigoni also suggests blending oak varieties (American, Hungarian, French) and toast levels to what best suits you. Using two types of cubes will most likely be better so this advice is only if you really must use those oak chips
 
Barrel Char Wood Products

Viking Brew Vessels - Authentic Drinking Horns