Ny Times Article On Cask Conditioned Ales

[wabster]

Just thought I'd post a link to an interesting article in the NY Times today on the revival of cask conditioned ales.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/dining/24pour.html

Cheerz Wabster

 

[devo]

good read.

i did manage to drink a few cask ales in the UK recently and did find a notable difference in serving temp from pub to pub. Still tasted pretty good but.

Would be interesting to try some in the US if I ever make it over that way.

 

[reVoxAHB]

Hey, cool article.

I remember having cask IPA at The Elysian in Seattle many years ago. To this day, the beer remains as a "best beer ever" in the cob-webs of my beer'd-psyche.

Holgate Brewhouse has cask beers available at their pub in Woodend. I believe the E.S.B. and Porter are on atm. I also heard they are working to have cask systems installed (at selected locations) making their beers available in cask.

reVox

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Hey, cool article.

I remember having cask IPA at The Elysian in Seattle many years ago. To this day, the beer remains as a "best beer ever" in the cob-webs of my beer'd-psyche.

Holgate Brewhouse has cask beers available at their pub in Woodend. I believe the E.S.B. and Porter are on atm. I also heard they are working to have cask systems installed (at selected locations) making their beers available in cask.

reVox

Last time I went to the Royston in Richmond. They had the Holgate ESB on a hand pump. I think that the Lambsgo bar in Collingwood usually has a cask of 3 Ravens on handpump too. And occasionally the handpump of MB Rooftop red is working at Transport.

They're the only ones I know of. But I really wish there were more.

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Last time I went to the Royston in Richmond. They had the Holgate ESB on a hand pump. I think that the Lambsgo bar in Collingwood usually has a cask of 3 Ravens on handpump too. And occasionally the handpump of MB Rooftop red is working at Transport.

They're the only ones I know of. But I really wish there were more.

I don't keg. Can't see it as worthwhile to me yet. Don't have too many problems with bottling. (yes I do have a perverted sense of humour and follow the Saints (both NRL & AFL) so I do need psychiatric help.

I know two locals who keg and naturally condition the beer. Assuming the science is the Carbon dioxide is used to get the beer out of the keg and to protect the beer in the keg from oxidisation.

The original story had a link to a cooperage site - a twenty litre hooped wooden keg for $350.00. Probably designed for fortified wines. These suitable for beer? Can they be carbonated ? If used as a beer keg, what is needed to get the beer out - a hand pump. Anyone know much about them ? They would be a bugger to clean wouldn'y they ? Thinking simply as a project for a number of pissheads and a christmas function. What say you keggers ?

 

[Trent]

Fatgodzilla
Cask ale is a whole different kettle of fish, and alot more fiddle farting aorund, getting the carbonation levels right, and attaching the beer engine, cask aspirator, anything else ya wanna do, and it comes out lowly carbonated, which mean most people turn their noses up at it. If you are thinking of an easy way to get bulk beer to your mates at a xmas bash, grab a corny keg for around $100 (or whatever they cost) and a picnic connection and beer tap, for around another $100, and one of them CO2 injector thingies, probably around the $50 or so mark. For $250 (or less) you will have a corny that you bulk prime, get cold bleed the head pressure off, and serve at your xmas bash. Alot less stuffing around, and the handpump will set you back more than $200, $60 for an aspirator, $300 for the barrel, etc.., and then you need a bit of know how on handling and dispensing cask ale.
It certainly isnt rocket science, but it is way more hassle than yer average corny keg and tap. At the end of the day, ya can also use the corny to cask condition your ales, and use a handpump with that. The beer engine isnt a bugger to clean, though, just run some hot water and then sanitiser through it, and Robert's ya father's brother.
Hope that helps
Trent
Edit - You edited in a pic - and it has a tap on it! You wont need a handpump, or anything like that to get the beer out with a tap on it like that. It will still be lowly carbonated though. Could be a nice novelty option if ya have the cash, I suppose.
T.

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Fatgodzilla
Cask ale is a whole different kettle of fish, and alot more fiddle farting aorund, getting the carbonation levels right, and attaching the beer engine, cask aspirator, anything else ya wanna do, and it comes out lowly carbonated, which mean most people turn their noses up at it. If you are thinking of an easy way to get bulk beer to your mates at a xmas bash, grab a corny keg for around $100 (or whatever they cost) and a picnic connection and beer tap, for around another $100, and one of them CO2 injector thingies, probably around the $50 or so mark. For $250 (or less) you will have a corny that you bulk prime, get cold bleed the head pressure off, and serve at your xmas bash. Alot less stuffing around, and the handpump will set you back more than $200, $60 for an aspirator, $300 for the barrel, etc.., and then you need a bit of know how on handling and dispensing cask ale.
It certainly isnt rocket science, but it is way more hassle than yer average corny keg and tap. At the end of the day, ya can also use the corny to cask condition your ales, and use a handpump with that. The beer engine isnt a bugger to clean, though, just run some hot water and then sanitiser through it, and Robert's ya father's brother.
Hope that helps
Trent
Edit - You edited in a pic - and it has a tap on it! You wont need a handpump, or anything like that to get the beer out with a tap on it like that. It will still be lowly carbonated though. Could be a nice novelty option if ya have the cash, I suppose.
T.

Wasn't thinking a beer engine or a cask aspirator would be necessary (did they have them in 17th century England ?) Got two cornies but haven't got around to playing with them yet. Can get a wooden keg for next to nothing, but guessing I better check for airtightness.

So, assuming I use the lowest common denominator, simple keg with a tap. Let gravity play a part. Brew a low carbinating English Ale type beer. Condition for 3-4 weeks a la a bottle conditioning regime. Aim to empty the lot in a session with a dozen drunks (only a mug or two each). Not looking to be pretty, just for the fun of it. Anyone see anything wrong with this KISS plan ? Come on, don't be scared to have a say. Everyone thinks I'm a dill as it is !!

 

[Trent]

Dunno if they had beer engines in 17th century england, and even today, cask aspirators are a major freakin no-no if you abide by CAMRA's rules. You really only need them if you plan on emptying the cask over more than 3 days or so.
As far as just putting a tap in your barrel, and letting gravity play its part after conditioning a-la bottle conditioning, that is pretty much all you need to do. The KISS method will work very well. When you asked about the handpump, I just assumed you were thinking of going that route. If you can get a wooden barel for next to nothing, take it, see if ya can use it for what yer plans were anyway, then afterwards, ya have a wooden barrel for aging sour beers in. Very jealous.
Best of luck with yer xmas bash.
Trent