Which do you prefer?

[admin]

In broad terms.

[Dr Jacoby]

Even in broad terms I don't think I can answer this. Some beers are better on cask, others on keg.

[brenmurph]

been heading to england since I was 15....to get the great cask ales....long before my mates even realised what it was   been to uk hundreds of times...each time I sus out the best real ales in town...IMO they cant be beaten for charactor and flavour..............when they are cellered and served perfectly...thats the prob...its a bit of an art.

[Shane Phelan]

I have never had cask in the UK so can only base it on my experience in Ireland which is hit and miss at best. Draught for me if only for its consistency.

[Eoin]

Cask, hands down, if you put the same beer on draught against a cask version you will be left in no doubt. Provided it's a style that works in cask to begin with.

[Bubbles]

I think any craft beer lover, especially a home brewer, would be expected to say "Cask". However, I agree with Shiny that kegged craft beer is more consistent and enjoyable than most of the cask beer I've supped.

It's mostly the serving temperature of cask beer that bothers me. Yes, it accentuates the aroma and many aspects of the flavour, but if it's served too warm, it can detract from the beers enjoyability. I've tasted cask beer in the UK too, and I realise how warm it can be.

That said, I will occasionally order a pint of cask if it's a limited edition, or if it's a cask-hopped beer...

[mr hoppy]

Big part of this debate in the UK is the relative cost of cask and craft keg. It seems those non-reusable key kegs that people have been talking about on another thread are a significant part of the cost of a pint of craft keg over there.

Personally, I think keg and cask have their place but I'm near Dungarvan this week and love dropping into Merrys for a well cared for pint of cask Helvick Gold as often as possible.

[brenmurph]

Ill second Merries.. love the place and ...love dungarvan

[Dunkel]

For me it has to be cask. I moved over from England thirty years ago, and can honestly say the only thing I miss is the cask beer.

Sorry Mum 

[irish_goat]

A good pint of cask is hard to beat but a lot of the Irish bars (and breweries) don't match up to the quality of English bars. Wetherspoons gets slated a lot but the Diamond in Derry is a great bar for cask. There's usually 5 on and there's a bunch of retired men who come in during the day so there's always good flow on them.

Another thing is that a lot of English breweries make beer specifically designed for cask. Other than Dungarvan and Porterhouse TSB I don't think we have any beers specifically for cask. In saying that, I'll rarely overlook the likes of Leann Follain or Metalman Pale Ale on cask.

[DEMPSEY]

Cask for me given a choice,as said I think that you brew a beer with cask in mind it is better.

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

I love cask beer. There's nothing else like it. Even bottled real ale just isn't the same.

That said, I think it probably is true that different dispense methods suit different beer types. Some beers need high levels of carbonation so they have to be served from bottles or keg.

p.s. if you think about it, "draught" is a misnomer for keg. By etymology, 'draught' means drawn or pulled, whereas keg beer is really pushed through the lines by differential gas pressure. It's only cask beer that's actually pulled through the lines.

[DEMPSEY]

I love cask beer. There's nothing else like it. Even bottled real ale just isn't the same.

That said, I think it probably is true that different dispense methods suit different beer types. Some beers need high levels of carbonation so they have to be served from bottles or keg.

p.s. if you think about it, "draught" is a misnomer for keg. By etymology, 'draught' means drawn or pulled, whereas keg beer is really pushed through the lines by differential gas pressure. It's only cask beer that's actually pulled through the lines.

Somehow as I read this,I think to myself "now that would sound perfect standing at a bar with a few pints down and hearing you wax lyrical and speaking so".

[brenmurph]

The rebel red on cask was gone in a flash in Lisdoon festival this weekend...fo me  ( and I had all 13 or so beers) at the fest ( including the pubs own house brews)  the rebel on cask with admiral dry hops were just outstanding pity it dissapeared so quick I only got two pints of it