What is the difference between real ale and keg beer

Kegs are often pressurised for keeping carbonated drinks fizzy — much like a huge can of pop — and have a single opening on one end, called the bung. They also feature a mechanism with a self-closing valve that allows gas — usually carbon dioxide — to be pumped in via a hose, which pushes the liquid out. Most mass-produced lagers are filtered or pasteurised and contain no live yeast.

Lagers are cold fermented with a yeast strain which can tolerate a cooler fermentation — and served cold between degrees C. Some keg beers have a nitrogen mix added to the dispensing gas to give the beer a creamy head.

More To Explore Dave November 4, Dave September 8, Available Coupon X. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Yeah thats cool. The beer or ale firkin was redefined in Britain in to be 9 imperial gallons, which translates to This system of measurement was developed in Britain, thus the names and difference. Here at Draught Works, and in most other places which serve real ale, a beer engine is used to pour the beer, as opposed to the regular CO2 keg system.

A beer engine is a device used for pumping beer in a more traditional way, without the use of carbon dioxide to carbonate the beer. This creates a softer form of carbonation. A swan neck is the tap from which the beer comes out on a beer engine. A sparkler is a nozzle with small holes like a shower head that aerates the beer as it enters the glass, giving it a frothier head.

Sometimes, real ale is served directly from the cask. This method is known as gravity dispense. Our wooden beer engine is located on the left hand side when facing the bar. Look for it next time you are in! If the beer is unfiltered, unpasteurised and still active on the yeast, it is a real ale; it is irrelevant whether the container is a cask or a bottle.

It is this process which makes real ale unique amongst beers and develops the wonderful tastes and aromas which processed beers can never provide. Instead, a gas pump fitted in the drinking establishment will be connected via a hose, into the keg, which pushes the carbon dioxide in, and the drink out. Different gases are sometimes used for smoother beers like stouts. The system is cleverly set up to pump out near enough all the liquid in the keg, and alerting staff they need to change it.

The bigger ones are used by pubs and clubs all around the world to pump beer into the draught taps at the bar. Casks are used to store beer, but also whiskey, wine, cognac, port, and other types of alcoholic beverages.

Cask ale , then, is also not a method of brewing, but one of containing and dispensing. They need a bit of time and care to produce a good end product. Pubs that do it well are the ones that get reputations for serving great beer and often win awards. The cask is then left for around 48 hours for the process to complete. Casks should last around 3 days before oxygen gets in and starts affecting the flavour negatively. All rights reserved. View all FAQs. Cask ale?