Cask / Real Ale FAQ’s
Is back filtering legal?
We have already covered this http://www.inndoctor.co.uk/cask-ales/filtering-back-cask-beer/
Which spile do you use when venting cask ale?
A soft peg, you should read our cask ale section for reference.
I have a cask which I want to serve in 10 days time, but I’m not sure when I should vent it. I am worried that if I do it too early, the beer may go off, and too late, the keystone could be forced out. Please can you advise me? Thanks
AS long as it is well in date, stored in a cool place and not too volatile a brew you should be OK it is sometimes stored by wholesalers for that long anyway. This should really be up for discussion in the forum everyone's point of view is different. Personally in five days I would roll it, tap and vent and then hard peg it, then monitor it till it is used. Use this article as a reference. spiling-pegging-venting-real-ales
What causes excess fobbing of real ales?
Has the beer been properly stillaged and allowed to go through the proper secondary fermentation process? Sometimes cask beers can be put on sale too soon and the beer is still fretting. Make sure you beer has dropped out properly. How old is the beer, how long on service? Are your cask ale lines clean and free from yeast?
When do you use a hard peg in real ale barrel?
Once cask ale has completed it's secondary fermentation a hard peg should be used. Also between serving sessions it is a good idea to hard peg your cask, it will help keep it in condition.
How would you store a cask ale when it is being delivered?
Lashed upright so it doesn't roll about, then roll it before stillaging.
After tapping and spiling a barrel how long will it last if not used?
The cask should be sealed with a hard peg to keep the beer fresh, checked daily in case an excess pressure has built up. Then depending on the brew could be up to a week before connecting up to sell.
Why would you get flat/sour cask ale?
Simple, the beer is over age,and has become infected with bacteria. You should sell a cask in 3 days.
Should there always be a soft or hard spile in the cask ales at all times?
Soft peg whilst ale is fretting[working], hard peg once beer has dropped bright and has finished fretting. During service remove hard peg and replace after service, until cask is sold. If you are using a cask aspirator fit aspirator once ale is ready for service.
My ale kegs delivered frozen / will this effect the ale
Firstly you need to contact tech services and report the keg or the cask is frozen. Next have a look at this page on Inndoctor. frozen-kegs
