Cask Vs. Keg

The northern half of England would disagree with you.

 

But some beers are designed to be served through a sparkler. Tetley's Mild was a great example. It only tasted right through a really tight sparkler and slopped back through an economiser.

 

I've seen that article and been to the White Horse when Dorber owned it. The article supports my point about sparklers. Why shouldn't sparklers be ruled out? Their effect is entirely visual and they have a negative effect on the taste and mouth feel. Use them if you like, but you haven't answered how they could possibly improve on a well conditioned ale straight from the cask.

 

I'm aware of that and have traveled extensively there. The article DrinkSlurm provided explains why. They drink with their eyes, not their taste. Besides, a properly drawn pint through a regular neck with no sparkler will provide a decent head, it just doesn't last as long.

 

I've heard that "designed for sparklers" argument many times, but never bought it. It lacks logic. How exactly would you brew a beer so that, assuming proper conditioning, it would taste inferior straight from the cask compared to through a sparkler? Even if you could do that, why would you? It just doesn't make any sense.

 

Wait, you were joking, weren't you. Mentioning an economiser should have tipped me off. Good one.

 

Just wanted to chime in and say that these types of threads--where a lot of great information is shared by some of our best BAs--are some of my favorite on BeerAdvocate. This type of thread is where I've gained a lot of my knowledge on some of the finer points of beer.

Thanks to all who contributed.

I've never had an IPA on cask, but I really love the naturally "creamy" feel that the few cask ales I've had can impart. One style that I did not think held up well to the cask approach was Scotch ale--the softer carbonation seemed to take away from the more aggressive smokiness and punch that my favorite scotch ales tend to have.

 

English styles on cask are amazing! Stouts, porters, browns bitters, english pales ect ect. I have had a few american ipas on cask, and some american lagers (JA Hop Lashes) on cask and they were hit or miss.

 

Regarding the sparkler, it isn't simply an on or off option, it's adjustable.A good compromise is a short pull with the sparkler tight then fill up the glass with it removed.

 

I can only speak for myself. Tetley's Mild tasted best through a sparkler, loads spilled over the side then sucked back through the slop tray.

I moved to Leeds in 1975 when most Tetley's pubs had metered electric pumps. They didn't have sparklers and served a pint with a fairly loose head. I thought the beer was OK, but nothing special.

I can remember the first handpulled, economiser pint of Tetley's Mild I had. In the Sheepscar in, er, Sheepscar. It was a revelation. It went from a so so beer to a world belter. Not just better, but only right through a sparkler. I'm 100% certain Tetley's had been designed to be served that way.

It could be connected with Yorkshire squares. I seem to remember (don't quote me on this) that they produce a beer with a higher CO2 content. So it doesn't matter so much if you knock out some of the gas with a sparkler.

I've had Tetley's Mild on gravity, too. When we had parties. Preferred it sparklered. Which wasn't true of every beer. When serving at CAMRA festivals in the 1970's and 1980's I had stuff on gravity that was outstanding. Full of carbonation and fresh as fuck. Unfashionable beers like Springfield and Matthew Brown.

I'll stop now before I drown in tears of nostalgia.

 

I've had Tetley's Mild every way - Greek, Dutch, French, you name it - all the best pints were economiser-assisted.

 

I had a dry hoped flower power on cask that may have been the best beer I've ever had.

 

In my experience, porters taste really good via a cask.

I also refer to cask beer as "pirate beer" . I have no idea why, but it seems fitting.

 

I'm perplexed why you like any ale that's economiser "assisted", as you call it. Those devices recycle the slop from the spill tray back in with the fresh beer.
Here's what the exhaustive notes from HM Revenue & Customs office say about them(obtained from National Archives, 2010) :

"A licensee who utilises an 'economiser' to draw spillages from the drip tray back into the dispense system, or who returns spillages to the cask, risks prosecution by his local Environmental Health Officer. These devices are being phased out and most of them should have disappeared by early 1988. Some licensees utilise spillages for 'shandy' although the breweries do not approve of this. Generally, both the breweries and Environmental Health Officers do not approve of any practices which recycle beer once it has been withdrawn from the dispense system."

Are you seriously promoting their use??

 

Frankly, I'm sceptical of that. Especially coming from an article that calls Burton a city in Yorkshire!

 

Yes.

Some of the best beer I've ever had.

 

Sorry, pal. You just lost me. Those devices recycled the spill slop from several different pumps and were apparently made illegal. You are the first Englishman I've ever heard speak fondly of them. They were totally disdained by CAMRA when still in use. Any other British BA's with similar opinions? Please weigh in.

 

You're sceptical of the entire article, including the Dorber quotes, simply because a Yank made a mistake re: Burton's location? Do you think he just made it all up?

 

could it be that he is making a point with regard to that one specific beer....?

 

it's on cask @ the local whole foods today, although i believe it was titled Torpedo "Extra". tasted pretty good to me... didn't hear anybody else complain either.