What does the cask mark sign say? "Something Commitment?" I still don't understand how cask mark operates in the US. Last I checked it was 5 pubs but its hard to keep track of because the app doesn't show US locations. Most cask mark signs display the year issued.
My guess, and it is just a guess, it says “Passion Commitment”. Maybe more details on the Cask Marquee website? Cheers!
That’s a sticker, which Jason put over the date: his certification expired in 2016. Nonetheless, he reliably handles cask better than most establishments that do have an ‘active’ certification + he will likely get recertified this year per James Tai…NY is pushing this qualification with the Ambleside being the most recent Aside from ‘temperature, appearance, aroma and taste’ - The US Requirements involve a $250 start-up fee, for undergoing the certification process, which needs to be done on a yearly basis. The venue/pub must also have a committed [ongoing] ‘cask’ program (i.e. proper turnover w/ no downtime)
I kind of feel like thats money wasted. You don't show up in the cask marque app, also the org has zero presence in the US. Nobody outside regular cask drinkers probably know what it means. Its telling that only a handful of places are certified. Its a shame the org isn't pushing to increase cask beer awareness and cultural heritage in the US. I'd still like to know what happened to Alex Hall from Gotham Imbiber. He was one of the early pioneers really pushing cask in the US especially in NYC. Now theres not much going on there from a cask perspective.
@ShogunX - James Tai took over Alex Hall’s position as regional assessor & Michael Messenie now runs the ‘vetted’ cask ale map across the US + UK [WIP] -
Well thats interesting indeed. It looks to be using the same points I used in my US map. I always hoped it'd be of use to people.
Old Glenham Brewery - Severn Summer Ale Drinking at Draught Industries in Beacon, NY. Thanks to @zid for the tip in one of the Hudson Valley threads
Good Word Brewing Duluth, GA, enjoying a Read The Room English style Brown Ale on cask. Checks in at 4%.
You're probably right but I appreciate the three locations here in GA that have the certification: Good Word, Brick Store Pub, and Creature Comforts. To your point, I didn't have any idea about the certification until Good Word went through the process. But I like knowing they serve it properly.
Have you ever discussed with Todd the 'value' of obtaining the certification? Is he of the opinion that getting certified has brought in more business? Cheers!
Now people are fascinated with gadgets. There are side-pull faucets (which I haven't seen near me). A local bar has gone to the trouble of installing draft spigots and glassware that fill the glass from the bottom (a drinking companion fussed with the bottom of the glass and produced a puddle on the bar). It's not worth the effort for the brewers, distributors, and bars to offer cask. It's just dusty old technology, and Americans seem to mostly want uniformly cold, fizzy beer anyway. I had better access to cask beer 25 years ago than I do today. People worry about cask beer going off? Just last week, I had to send back a Brooklyn Lager draft because it was sour.
No, I have not. My suspicion, knowing him, he thinks it does have value both from the training aspect and he just doesn't do things halfway. He's all in. But I'll have to ask. Even though most people don't know what CM is; just having that sign prominently displayed speaks you care to your customers.
I'm just as certain there are solutions to the problem of keg beer going bad. It doesn't mean that the solutions will be applied.
Booooooooo! Although the typical American beer drinker may likely agree with you, promoting the cask may alter the experience as well as the popularity of my Luddite appreciation.
Funny story: Last summer my wife and I visited Vermont (staying in Stowe). We went down to Waterbury just to stroll around and there was a beer store there called Vermont Beer Collective which has a well curated beer selection, both craft and imported. It was early in the day and we were the only customers in the place. They also served draft beer there and one of the beers was a Farmhouse Ale from Hill Farmstead. I am uncertain how the topic of draft beer freshness came up but the fellow in the store mentioned that Shaun Hill demanded that all of his kegged beers be put on draft within a week (or so) of delivery with the request they be sold quickly (not sure how a retailer can make that happen 100% of the time). I replied with something like "even a Farmhouse beer has the be tapped quickly?" and he replied with a shrug "Yep". A situation of fresh is best I suppose. Cheers! P.S. The next day we traveled up to Hill Farmstead and the directions the fellow provided was helpful since once you get close to the place there was no cell service for our cellphone map application.
I'm in Denver for work and visited Hogshead Brewery, and it exceeded my expectations. I knew they served cask beer, but did not realize they would have 9 beer engines running. Is there any other brewery (or bar) in the US with that many cask beer options at any given time? I had the Bitter, the Best Bitter, and the Porter and enjoyed them very much.
