Best Places To Buy A Cask Of Beer

Cask-conditioned beer, also known as real ale, is unfiltered beer that is transferred into casks, carbonated, sealed, and undergoes a final fermentation process in the cask itself. This process gives the beer a richer flavour and a more complex flavour and aromatic profile. Cask beer is highly perishable and must be consumed within 48 hours of being tapped. Casks are typically made of stainless steel or plastic and come in various sizes, with the most common one being the firkin, a 9-gallon mini-barrel. Cask beer equipment and supplies can be purchased from companies like Cask Supply and Kegworks, which offer items such as casks, cooling probes, beer engines, and taps. For those interested in buying a cask of beer, breweries like Sharp's Brewery offer fresh cask beer in 9-pint and 36-pint options with different ABV percentages. Wooden Cask Brewing Company, a modern microbrewery in Northern Kentucky, also offers a standard menu of 18 Wooden Cask beers and small-batch brews.

Cask beer equipment and supplies

Cask beer, often referred to as "real ale", is a traditional method of serving beer that has seen a recent surge in popularity. This has led to an increased demand for cask beer equipment and supplies. Here is a guide to some of the essential items you will need to serve cask beer:

Casks: The most common type of cask is the firkin, which holds 9 imperial gallons (approximately 10.8 US gallons) and is shaped like a mini-barrel. Casks can also come in larger sizes such as kilderkins (18 imperial gallons), barrels (36 imperial gallons), and hogsheads (54 imperial gallons). Modern casks are typically made of stainless steel or plastic, as they are easier to clean and sanitise compared to traditional wooden casks.

Cask Tap: A cask tap, also known as a spigot, is used to dispense the beer from the cask. It is hammered into the cask through the keystone, which is the smaller opening on the rim of the cask.

Beer Engine: A beer engine, also known as a hand pump, is used to pump the beer from the cask. It is a traditional method of dispensing cask beer and is preferred by many beer enthusiasts. Beer engines can be expensive and may not be necessary for homebrewers.

Spiles and Bungs: Spiles are small wooden pegs that are used to control the flow of air into and carbon dioxide out of the cask. Bungs are used to seal the larger opening of the cask after it has been filled with wort.

Cooling Probe: A cooling probe is used to control the temperature of the cask, ensuring that the beer is served at the ideal temperature, typically around 55°F for cask ale.

In addition to these essential items, there are also various other supplies that can be useful for serving cask beer, such as pullman beer engines, clamps, and shivs (plastic or wooden stoppers used to plug the smaller opening of the cask during preparation). It is also important to note that proper handling and dispensing of cask beer are crucial to ensure the best quality and avoid common issues such as flatness, muddy appearance, or warm temperature.

Wooden casks

Online Options:

• Amazon: Amazon offers a variety of wooden beer casks in different sizes, ranging from 1.5L to 3L. These casks are ideal for household use and can be used to store and dispense beer, wine, or other drinks. They are made of oak, adding a rustic touch to your beverage presentation.
• MoreBeer: This website offers a range of wooden oak barrels, barrel racks, and accessories. The Balazs New Hungarian Oak Barrel is a highlight, known for its ability to bring weight and minerality to your beer or wine. These barrels come in various sizes, ensuring you can find the perfect fit for your needs.

Brewery Options:

• Wooden Cask Brewing Company: Located in Northern Kentucky, this family-run microbrewery offers a standard menu of 18 Wooden Cask beers, along with a rotating selection of small-batch brews. Their taproom provides a cosy atmosphere to enjoy their beers, and they also offer private event spaces.
• BeerNouveau: Specialising in historic and heritage beers, BeerNouveau serves limited amounts of their brews from wooden casks at their brewery tap. They also have a barrel-ageing programme, where heritage styles are aged in wooden barrels for an extended period, just like in the old days.
• The Chiltern Brewery: This brewery stands out by crafting its casks from puncheons sourced from the Balgray bottling plant in Ayrshire. Their Winter seasonal favourite, 300's Old Ale, is exclusively served from these unique casks.
• The Grainstore Brewery: While not a regular occurrence, The Grainstore Brewery does occasionally brew in wooden barrels, offering a unique twist to their beers.
• Innis and Gunn Brewery: This Scottish brewery is known for supplying a small number of outlets with beer in wooden casks. They work with Theakstons to create 8 x 36-pint wooden casks, which are then dispensed by gravity.
• Tarn Hows Brewery: Located in the picturesque Lake District, this small brewery prides itself on using traditional methods and serving most of its ales in wooden casks. Their beers have been recognised in festivals, with Puddled Duck (IPA) being voted beer of the festival at the 2015 Liverpool Beer Festival.

Whether you're looking for a decorative piece to display in your home or a functional cask to serve beer, these options provide a great starting point for your wooden cask journey.

Cask ale supplies

Cask ale, or real ale, is a form of beer that is served directly from a cask without the addition of nitrogen or CO2. The absence of these gases and the addition of live yeast allow the cask ale to undergo a brief fermentation process within the cask, ultimately making the draught richer in flavour. Cask ale is highly perishable and should be consumed within 48 hours of being tapped.

In addition to the cask, other supplies needed for cask ale include a means of dispensing the beer, such as a spigot attached to the cask or a Pullman beer engine for pumping the beer by hand. Cask taps, also known as a keystone, are also necessary and can be made of plastic or wood. Spiles and bungs are also required for controlling the flow of air and carbon dioxide. These supplies can be purchased from retailers such as KegWorks.

When serving cask ale, it is important to understand the different components needed and the proper procedures for filling and tapping the cask. The cask is filled through a 2-inch opening on the belly of the vessel, and the beer is served through a smaller opening on the rim. The larger hole is plugged with a stopper called a "shiv", and the cask is then "stillgated", meaning it is securely placed in the location it will be tapped. A tap is then driven through the keystone, and the beer is ready to be served.

Cask ale is best served at cellar temperature (around 55°F) to allow all the flavour nuances to emerge and permit appreciation of the unfiltered texture. It should be noted that cask ale is delicate and highly perishable, so proper handling and dispensing are crucial to ensure a positive drinking experience.

Cask-conditioned homebrew

To create cask-conditioned homebrew, the brewing process is the same as any other beer until the point of primary fermentation. As fermentation nears completion, the wort is transferred to the vessel from which it will be served to undergo secondary fermentation and the cask conditioning process. It is important to carry over enough viable yeast from the primary fermentation to ensure the secondary fermentation is successful. Depending on the style and timing of racking, some brewers will add a bit of sugar at this stage to give the yeast something to feed on. Fining agents, such as isinglass, are also commonly added to promote beer clarity, a key characteristic of real ale.

The length of time in the cask before serving will vary depending on the style of beer. Some beers may only need 24 hours, while others require weeks or even months. Generally, the higher the strength of the beer, the longer the maturation period. This allows for the conditioning to complete and the beer to drop clear.

Cask conditioning can be done in a few different vessels, with the traditional method using an actual cask. Casks are typically made of stainless steel or plastic these days, as they are easier to clean and sanitise than wooden casks. The most common type is a firkin, which is 9 imperial gallons and shaped like a mini-barrel. Other sizes include kilderkins (18 imperial gallons), barrels (36 imperial gallons), and hogsheads (54 imperial gallons).

When serving from a cask, it is important to understand the different components needed, as casks do not come with a dispense valve. Casks have a 2-inch opening for filling and a smaller opening for serving. The larger hole is plugged with a "shiv", and the smaller hole with a "keystone" during the racking process. Once the cask is ready to be tapped, it is stillgated, meaning it is placed securely on its side with the large hole on top and the smaller hole facing the bartender. A wooden peg is then driven through the shiv, allowing air to enter the cask and regulating the serving pressure. Finally, a tap is driven through the keystone for serving.

An alternative method for homebrewers is to use a Cornelius (corny) keg to achieve the same cask-conditioned profile. This involves racking the beer to the corny keg, along with some additional sugar if needed. The keg is then positioned horizontally, with the liquid post at the top and the gas post at the bottom. A picnic tap is attached to the gas-in fitting, and a bare liquid fitting is attached to the liquid-out fitting to allow air in. This method relies on gravity to pour the beer and requires a cool place to store the horizontal keg.

Cask-conditioned beer is typically at its best for the first 3 days after opening, as it has a noticeably shorter shelf life than other beer styles due to the introduction of air during the serving process.

Cask tap

Cask-conditioned beer, or cask ale, is unfiltered beer (usually ale) that is transferred into casks, carbonated, sealed, and undergoes a final fermentation in the cask. This process results in a beer with a gentler level of carbonation and a more complex flavour and aromatic profile. Cask ale is highly perishable and should be consumed within 48 hours of being tapped.

There are several ways to dispense cask ale. The traditional method is to use a beer engine (hand pump) to pump the beer out of the cask. This method is preferred by some beer enthusiasts as it does not introduce air into the cask, which can affect the flavour of the beer. Another way to dispense cask ale is through a cask tap, which is a faucet that is hammered into the cask through the keystone, allowing the beer to be dispensed by gravity. While this method introduces air into the cask, it is a suitable option for festivals and special events.

In addition to the cask tap, you will also need other equipment to serve cask ale. This includes a spile, which is a small wooden peg used to control the flow of air into and out of the cask, as well as a mallet to drive the spile and tap into the cask. You may also need a keystone to plug the hole in the cask before tapping, and a stopper or shiv to plug the larger hole used for filling the cask.

When setting up the cask for tapping, it is important to follow the proper procedure to ensure the beer is dispensed correctly and remains fresh. The cask should be stillgated, meaning it is securely placed on its side with the large hole on top and the smaller hole facing the bartender. This allows the yeast and sediment to settle at the bottom of the cask, preventing it from clouding the beer.

Frequently asked questions