No, real ale and cask ale are two separate types of beer. Real ale is a traditional beer made from malted barley and hops. It is brewed in casks, stored in a cool cellar, and can be served from a hand pump.
Cask ale, on the other hand, is unpasteurized, unfiltered ale that is put in a cask and carbonated through secondary fermentation. This secondary fermentation process gives cask ale its great flavor.
Both types of ale have a unique, more full-bodied taste than regular ales made with artificial carbonation. They use natural fermentation to create carbonation and unique tastes. While they have their similarities, real ale and cask ale are different when it comes to their ingredients and the brewing process.
What is considered to be a real ale?
Real ale is a traditional style of beer that has been brewed using traditional methods. It is usually unfiltered and unpasteurized, allowing the yeast and beer to continue to ferment over time, giving it a unique flavor and complexity.
Real ale is also referred to as cask-conditioned and is conditioned in the container from which it is served, which is usually either a wooden cask or a metal container known as a firkin. This gives real ale a more complex and robust flavor than many mass produced beers.
Real ale also has a unique natural carbonation, creating a unique beer drinking experience. Real ale is popular in the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries around the world with a tradition of cask ale.
What beers are real ale?
Real ales are beers that are brewed using traditional brewing methods and conditioning processes. They use natural ingredients, such as malted barley, hops, water and yeast, and are unfiltered, unpasteurized and served from a cask without the use of additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
Common styles of real ales include Bitter, Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Mild Ale, Old Ale, and Porter. The concept of real ale was invented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in the early 1970s. Real ales have been brewed in the UK for centuries, but the invention of refrigerated and pasteurized beers began the decline of the traditional cask ale.
Modern real ales are now brewed all over the world, though their popularity has increased in the UK over the last decade.
What’s the difference between cask and keg ale?
Cask ale and keg ale are both types of draught beer, yet there are many differences between the two.
Cask ale, also known as cask-conditioned beer, is a traditional British beer style and is served at cellars temperatures. It is unpasteurized, unfiltered and naturally carbonated from yeast activity inside the cask.
It is typically served using a hand pump and doesn’t use any kind of artificial carbon dioxide. This method of serving beer preserves all of the natural flavours and aromas, giving it a unique taste.
Keg ale, on the other hand, is a beer served from a pressurized container. It typically has a higher level of carbonation than cask ale, and it is sometimes served using a gas pressure that helps push the beer through the tap.
Keg ale is generally pasteurized and filtered and typically uses nitrogen or other gases to give it a smooth, creamy feel.
The key difference between cask and keg ale lies in the serving process and the way the beer is handled and prepared. Cask ale is a more traditional approach that preserves all of the natural flavours and aromas, while keg ale is a more modern method that brews a more carbonated and robust-tasting beer.
Is Guinness a cask ale?
Guinness is a bit of a special case, as it is technically classified as a “stout” rather than a traditional “cask ale”. It was first created in 1759 in Ireland and is brewed with roasted barley and hops.
The brewing process is slightly different than what is used for cask ales; while cask ales usually rely on carbon dioxide to carbonate the beer and release the flavors, Guinness adds nitrogen before the final fermentation, resulting in a smooth, creamy texture instead of traditional effervescence.
Additionally, Guinness is traditionally served with a separate nitrogen cartridge, as opposed to being served directly from the cask like a traditional cask ale.
Why is cask cheaper than keg?
The traditional way of serving beer is from a cask. A cask is a wooden vessel with a tap on one end and an airlock on the other. The airlock allows Carbon dioxide to escape but prevents oxygen from entering the cask.
The beer is dispensed by gravity, meaning that there is no need for extra CO2 to be pumped into the cask, which saves on costs.
Kegs are usually made of stainless steel and have a tap on one end and a D-shaped valve on the other. The D-shaped valve is used to keep the keg pressurized. The keg must be kept pressurized with CO2 in order to dispense the beer.
The CO2 not only keeps the beer from going flat, but also provides the pressure needed to dispense the beer through the tap.
The main difference between the two is that a cask is not pressurized, while a keg is. This means that a cask can be stored and served without the need for an extra gas tank, while a keg will require a gas tank in order to keep the beer fresh and to dispense it.
Another difference is that cask ale is typically served at a warmer temperature than keg beer. This is because the beer is not in contact with the metal of the keg, which can help to keep the beer cooler.
Cask ale is typically cheaper than keg beer because there is less equipment needed to serve it. You do not need a gas tank or a keg cooler, and the cask can be stored in a cool, dark place.
Do cask ales need gas?
Yes, cask ales do need gas in order to be served. Cask ales are those beers that are served from a cask, which is usually a metal or wooden container, either served directly from the container (known as ‘real ale’) or from a tap connected to the cask.
In both cases, gas is required for the beer to be served. For real ale, a blend of carbon dioxide and nitrogen is used to pressurise the cask, allowing the beer to be pumped out of the top. The nitrogen ensures a typical head of foam is present on the beer, giving it an attractive appearance.
For those beers that are served from a tap directly connected to the cask, again a blend of carbon dioxides is used to push the beer out under pressure as required. Without the gas, the beer would be difficult to dispense and would lack the special texture and flavour that cask ales are known for.
How long does cask ale last once tapped?
Cask ale can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days once it is tapped, depending on the ale, the environmental conditions and how it is treated. Depending on the style of ale, temperature, the container the beer is in, the equipment used, and the skill of the cellarman, cask ale can last anywhere from three to five days.
If kept at temperatures 12-14°C (54-57°F), cask ale can last much longer than that, with some kegs lasting up to two weeks. For cask ales to stay in top condition, the cask should be kept in a cool, dark place and should be treated with care.
A skilled cellarman can help cask ales last longer and can keep it tasting great. Proper cleaning and storing, and having the right equipment can make all the difference in how long the cask ale lasts.
What are four of cask ale?
Cask ale, also known as real ale, is a type of beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurized, and is typically served from a cask without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. This traditional brewing method produces beer that is richer in flavor and aroma due to the presence of live yeast cultures.
Four popular styles of cask ale include:
1. India Pale Ale (IPA): A hoppy style of beer, India Pale Ales are typically flavor-forward and low to medium in bitterness. IPAs are characteristically fruity and often have citrus or tropical aromas and flavors.
2. Pale Ale: A classic style of beer, Pale Ales are characterized as light in body and color, yet full of flavor. They typically have a strong hint of bitterness, with a pleasing balance of hops and malt.
3. Porter: The dark, roasty style of beer is known extensively for its contribution of chocolate, coffee, and roasted notes to the flavor profile. It has a mild sweetness and generally low levels of bitterness.
4. Stout: This full-bodied, deep color beer is known for its intense roasty flavors, as well as a sweetness that comes from the addition of dark grains such as chocolate, roasted barley, or black malt.
Slightly bitter, it typically has a high alcohol content.
How do you serve cask ale?
Cask ale is a type of beer that is served directly from the cask without the use of artificial carbonation. Most cask ale is unfiltered and may have some sediment in the bottom of the glass.
Serving cask ale is slightly different than serving other types of beer. Cask ale should be stored at cellar temperature, which is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When you are ready to serve the cask ale, you will need to vent the cask so that the beer can start flowing.
To do this, insert a spile into the bung hole on the side of the cask. Once the beer starts flowing, you can remove the spile and insert a tap into the bung hole.
Once the cask is tapped, you can begin serving the beer. Be sure to tilt the cask slightly when you are first pouring the beer so that sediment stays at the bottom of the cask. As you get closer to the end of the cask, you will need to tilt it more so that all the beer is poured out.
What are the names of beer barrels?
Beer barrels can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and names, depending on the craft brewery that produces them. The most popular names of beer barrels include kegs, firkins, and kilderkins. Kegs are the most commonly used barrels for beer and can range in size from five to fifteen gallons.
Firkins are smaller than kegs and measure nine imperial gallons. Kilderkins are similar to firkins, but slightly larger at eighteen imperial gallons. Other types of beer barrels used by craft brewers include butts, pins, barrels, and hogsheads.
Butts are considered small barrels, typically four and a half gallons, while pins, barrels, and hogsheads all decrease in size, with a hogshead being the smallest at 54 imperial gallons.
How many pints are in a cask of ale?
A cask of ale typically contains approximately 72 pints. This is because a cask of ale is typically equal to 4 British gallons (or 36 pints) of beer. However, due to a variety of factors, including space that can be taken up by other components (such as a tap or spile), the exact amount of ale contained within a cask can vary between 68 and 72 pints.
What style of cask ale is referred to as dark?
Dark cask ale is a type of ale served from a cask or container, usually stored in a cellar. It typically has a darker color and stronger flavor than pale ale or lager, due to its malt and hops ingredients and longer aging in wooden or steel barrels.
Dark cask ales often have stronger accents of chocolate or coffee, with higher ABV (alcohol by volume). Common dark cask ales are porters, stouts, mild ales, and old ales.
What information is found on a rack label cask ale?
A rack label cask ale typically includes information such as the brewery, the name of the beer, ABV (alcohol by volume), type of beer, any special ingredients, and packaging information. Depending on the brewery, it might also provide the original gravity, the calories per pint, or other miscellaneous information.
Generally, the bottom of the label will also feature art, either a logo or another design created by the brewer. Additionally, some labels include a “best before” date and/or directions for packaging and transport.
Is IPA real ale?
Yes, IPA (India Pale Ale) is a real ale. Real ales are cask-conditioned, unfiltered beers, and IPAs are among the most popular real ales in the UK and United States. The IPA style was famous from the 19th century and is now known for its slightly higher level of bitterness.
It is typically served at cellar temperature and presents with notes of malt and hops. Real ales are enjoyed all over the world, and IPAs are very popular in craft beer circles.
Should real ale have a head?
Yes, real ale should have a head! A head on beer is created as a result of carbon dioxide that’s produced as the yeast ferments the sugars in the wort. The head is essential to releasing the aroma and flavors of the beer, which can otherwise be subdued if it is not present.
Additionally, the head forms a barrier on top of the beer that reduces oxidation, preserving the flavor of the beer and keeping it fresh. The head also helps to clear the beer of any suspended yeast, helping to create a clearer and more appetizing product.
A real ale should have a good head, which should be a creamy, off-white or light tan color, and should last for a few minutes before dissipating.
Why is real ale called real ale?
Real ale is a type of beer that is naturally conditioned, or left to mature and develop its character, by the activity of live yeast in the beer. The yeast provides fermentation of the sugars derived from malted barley, which is a key step in producing alcoholic beer.
This gives the beer a unique flavor and aroma as opposed to many industrial beers that are filtered after fermentation. It is called real ale because it is made with traditional brewing techniques and has not been pasteurized, resulting in a more “real” beer that is packed with full flavors and aromas.
Additionally, the natural carbonation and lower temperatures at which it is served helps the flavors and aromas stand out, making it a more well-rounded and fuller beer. Real ale is alive in the bottle and changes over time, as opposed to industrial beers that are dead after they’re filtered and pasteurized.
What 4 things are associated with cask ale?
1. Hand Pump: Cask ale, also known as real ale, is typically served through a hand pump, whereas other draught beers are usually served using a different method. The hand pumps allow for less oxygen to enter the cask and keeps the beer at a slightly higher temperature than it would be if it were served using a standard draught nozzle.
2. Conditioning: Because of its natural process, cask ale requires conditioning to ensure the desired flavor and quality. This conditioning requires several days and sometimes weeks, depending upon the type of beer.
3. Room Temperature: Cask ale is typically served at room temperature or slightly cooler, which is significantly different from other beers, such as lagers, which are typically served much colder.
4. Natural Carbonation: Unlike other beers, cask ale does not rely on added carbonation or nitrogenation to maintain its carbonation. Instead, the beer is naturally carbonated through the conditioning process.
