Just bought my first barrel, but can't remove the cap

[u/HomemPassaro]

I'm making wine using a fruit that only exists here in Brazil: jaboticaba. I'm using Red Star's Côte de Blanc (probably not the ideal choice, but I'm using what I had at hand). The mash fermented for 14 days, I separated them, added some sugar because I felt there was still room to raise the alcohol content and now it's in a plastic bucket with an air lock.

I bought a barrel (jequitibá rosa, a Brazilian wood usually used for ageing cachaça) and it arrived today. Thing is, I can't get it open to wet the wood, the peg's stuck real good. Any tips on how to do it without damaging either? It's stuck real good!

[u/portabuddy2]

Whack it left. Whack it right.

[u/Dont-Fear-The-Raeper → u/portabuddy2]

Twist it. Bop it.

[u/portabuddy2 → u/Dont-Fear-The-Raeper]

Thats the way!!

Actually though. I found the best tool is a whacking mallet from woodworking. It's rubbery and a round cone shape. So you can whack the bung cap in and upward angle.

this isn't the exact one. but one like it,

[u/Ok_Regular_7656 → u/portabuddy2]

☝️This. Whack the bung cap.

[u/Sunkinthesand → u/portabuddy2]

Lefty loosey, righty tighty

[u/Sunkinthesand]

Rubber mallet is your friend. A few whacks upward or back and forth will loosen it up. Also make sure the tap is open so it's not causing a vacuum seal

[u/FlekinH]

Gotta get a bung whacker to whacker the bung from the bunghole.

[u/RadioactiveBaguette]

Rubber mallet Left-right-left-right-left.... Or you can try twisting it off with a leather belt

[u/mrkrag]

So you can't get the plug out of your bunghole?

[u/Am_Snarky → u/mrkrag]

At least there’s a flared base!

[u/Casually_Defiant]

Hit the barrel on the left and right side of the bung

[u/Mister_Pickl3s]

In the us, we would drill a screw in and then use a hammer to yank it out but the screw

[u/ChasseGalery]

Did you open the tap to let the air in?

[u/HomemPassaro → u/ChasseGalery]

Yes, I did

[u/IndependentDue8548]

I had the same issue with my first barrel and ended up using a rubber mallet and some elbow grease to loosen it.

[u/Blackadder1738]

I giggled. Oh how I miss those barrels. As a kid they showed me how to suck via hose from top an pour the wine. I was always bringing elders wine as I was always the youngest.

[u/MattJak]

We grow jaboticaba here in Australia too

[u/HomemPassaro → u/MattJak]

Oh, really? I didn't know that, that's awesome! The climate is probably pretty good for it. Here, we even use jaboticaba as an expression for something that only exists in Brazil, it's nice to find out it's made its way elsewhere. :)

[u/gotbock]

If that wood wasn't seasoned for at least two years and then toasted you don't wanna use it for wine.

[u/HomemPassaro → u/gotbock]

Thanks for the heads up! Cachaça barrels sometimes are toasted, sometimes they aren't. I'll ask the seller tomorrow!

I'll probably use ir whether or not that is a good idea, lol. I bought a barrel used for cachaça instead of wine just to see what would happen, I'll taste every couple weeks and empty it if I don't like how it's developing.

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[u/Real-DrUnKbAsTeRd]

Have you tried a couple more ungabungas?

[u/Professional-Boss-86]

Hit it with your boyfriend's purse bubba /s

[u/reverendsteveii]

konami that shit. take a rubber mallet and hit it up up down down left right left right

[u/LoveAliens_Predators]

Cool! We are in the U.S. but love cachaça! My husband got some spirals of Brazilian oak and dropped them into our little tank of Albariño - it is the most unique flavor - almost butterscotch. Zero medals at competition because it’s too weird, but it’s really fun to drink!