We’re Kickin it  Super Old(e) School in 2009

Here at Dogfish Head we are excited to announce that we are bringing back one of the most traditional and oldest forms of beer dispensing in existence,

We’re Kickin it  Super Old(e) School in 2009

Here at Dogfish Head we are excited to announce that we are bringing back one of the most traditional and oldest forms of beer dispensing in existence, the cask.  Cask ale is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and naturally carbonated beer.  Before the widespread use of bottles, cans, and kegs the cask was the popular choice for serving ales.  100 years ago they were widely used in England, then the dark ages of beer began after WWII when the wonderful ale tradition in the UK and worldwide was almost totally displaced by mass produced fizzy yellow lagers.

In the last 35 years the cask has seen a huge revival in England (and more recently here in the USA) primarily due to the tireless efforts of one group, CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale). This consumer group has championed the worthy cause of historic British pubs and real ale.  Real ale has two main requirements: first it must be made using traditional ingredients instead of rice, corn, or other cheap adjuncts which lighten flavor and secondly it must be naturally carbonated using the traditional method of a secondary fermentation in the container that it will be served from.

Beer destined for the cask is treated the same as any other until it is time to package.  Instead of filtering and carbonating with pressurized CO2 the beer is poured directly into the cask along with a small dose of sugar and sometimes extra hops.  The cask is sealed and the small amount of yeast left in suspension within the beer goes to work on the extra dose of sugar.   The yeast produces natural CO2 that carbonates the beer since it cannot escape.  After a week or two the cask is tapped and served either by gravity or a beer engine, which uses a hand pump to pull the ale from the cask.

So at our brewpub Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, DE we'll tap a new cask each Thursday.  We'll serve cask conditioned 75 Minute IPA (that's sorta a blend of 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA) with an occasional cask version of a pub exclusive beer mixed in to the rotation.  Our cask ale will be served cool (55 degrees), not cold to allow the wonderful subtleties of the beer to be enjoyed (we don't want to freeze those taste buds!).  The carbonation of cask ales is one of the biggest differences between it and draught beer.  Cask ale’s carbonation is soft and delicate instead of fizzy, this allows the natural fresh flavor of the beer to shine through.

Sound real tasty? It is... c'mon in and enjoy!

Cask ales at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats - every Thursday (until it's gone... could be a day, could be a few days!). For the latest cask ale schedule call 302-226-BREW.

Cheers!