Abstract: A capped barrel system for aging liquids includes a barrel and a barrel cap removably coupled to the barrel. The barrel includes: a plurality of wooden staves suitable for aging liquids, hoops for holding the staves together, a head coupled to the staves, and a bunghole formed in the head. The barrel cap includes: a lid including a top portion and a rim extending downwardly from the top portion. The rim includes an inner surface and a seal that defines at least a portion of the inner surface. The barrel cap further includes an opening formed in the top portion of the lid that is generally aligned with the bunghole and a closure removably positioned in the opening. When the closure is positioned in the opening, a gas tight coupling between the closure and the lid and a gas tight fit between the seal and the barrel form a gas tight environment between the barrel and the barrel cap.

Abstract: A capped barrel system includes a barrel for aging and a device for capping the barrel. The barrel includes a plurality of staves made of a wood suitable for aging liquids, a plurality of hoops for holding the staves together, a head having a flat circular top, a bunghole in the head, and a chime formed by raised ends of the staves. The device includes a lid sized to span across the head and beyond the chime, a flange extending downwardly from the lid for engaging an external side of the staves, an opening in the lid to generally align with the bunghole, and a closure sized to seal the opening.