NERAX (2019)

They're not "flat" I get it, but when we're conditioned (pun yay) to experience beers over 2,0 volumes of Co2, having beer at roughly half that level seems more of a flaw, even if its what the intent was.

Also, if I remember correctly the hall last year was damn hot, and Im not sure the coolant blankets on the firkins really kept anything at a legitimate 50-55 degrees. I wont pretend to have anything more than a novice level of knowledge on cask ales.

The beers I enjoyed were the milds and the higher alcohol beers that are generally lower in carbonation. And I guess that's the art of it. A lot of breweries seemed to take one o their more popular beers and just cask it.

 

And that’s why NERAX is great. Anyone looking to get into cask ales should go. You won’t like everything, but you’ll almost always find something that “clicks”.

And you’ll never find anywhere else where you can be sure the casks are properly take care of....and you get to have UK ales.

Much better than paying out your ass at a bar who treats cask as some novelty and charges a premium for an oxidized mess past its prime.

 

Right there with you. American hoppy beers are definitely my least favorite style on cask.

And good point on taking things on a style by style basis.

 

I like traditional but also love American craft born styles on cask — a Citra hopped pale ale for example - is awesome served as real ale IMO. The temp and light carb make the hop flavors and subtleties just pop. This is more than a trend now in the UK as the style boomerang has really taken hold especially with all young start ups (for those that even bother to do cask vs force carb. The result is more variety for the punter.

 

Yeah, I'm quite fond of more delicate <4% golden ales lightly hopped with nouveau-hops on cask. Something like Jarl on cask is majestic, but obviously different from a pint of Doom Bar.

 

Ticket sales are open. I'm in for the Saturday afternoon session.

 

I'm still working on negotiations with SWMBO on when I'm going.
Starting a new job this week, so part will be what my hours will be for that - I've mostly gone Friday evening, sometimes others as well.

 

In for the Friday session. I can't believe I've been going to this for 10 years! Even while living in Portland, OR - I'd schedule trips back home around the NERAX festival. #priorities I guess.

 

Well, it's the best beer festival in the country. Understandable.

 

I remember going to the Hood River Hop festival several years ago. It was great, for like 4 beers. Then I could no longer taste bitter...

 

Sounds like they're having a bit of trouble gathering up enough volunteers this year. If you've ever thought about it, I can't recommend it enough. It's super easy and fun and everybody is extremely grateful and friendly - you don't need to worry about knowing a lot about cask beer or meeting some sort of dedicated nerd quotient. And yes, you can drink free beer (and eat free food) during your shift. Well, during the 15 minute breaks you get every hour anyway

Link to volunteer form here: http://nerax.org/wp_nerax/home/volunteer/

From an email from the organizers:

"Greetings fellow cask beer aficionado: We wish to thank those who have committed to assisting at the 2019 NERAX Classic. This is not a confirmation; those will go out late next week. In my sub-address book I find it too difficult to separate those who have volunteered from those who haven't.

Our volunteer numbers are disconcertingly low, with only Saturday #1 close to our target. <please access the form> on the NERAX website. Once again, a NERAX turns its' lonely eyes to you."

 

HOnestly, I see that same email just about every year.
There's never enough volunteers, but it works out anyway.
I've worked it before and it is a lot of fun; I just can't do it this year. Between only having one day to be able to go and a longish trip to get there, it's not in the cards. I would do it again, though.

 

I don't recall seeing this message the last couple of years, but hopefully you're right that this is just par for the course. My history doesn't go back further than 2016.

 

Notch’s Gates of the West (best bitter) is on cask at Row 34 and tasting exceptional.

 

Anyone tried to get tickets online lately? I'm having trouble getting into the website. I keep getting a "database error."
I am planning on going Friday night, BTW. Worked out that negotiation.

 

I swore to myself I was only going to attend two NERAX sessions this year, but now I seem to have booked myself for three sessions. #caskaleproblems

 

Chopper’s got it under control.

 

According to FB, the NERAX kickoff party will be Monday from 6pm-8pm at Redbones. I haven't been to the kickoff in a couple of years, but in the past they have had 3-4 casks flowing and at least one of them has been from the UK. Cheers!

 

Countdown !!!

 

Mother firkin' NERAX!