What’s the difference between a keg and a cask? (2024)

FAQs

What’s the difference between a keg and a cask? ›

Kegs tend to be crafted from stainless steel. Cask beers don't have added gas, instead the carbonation is a natural reaction from the fermentation process. Keg beer is served with the addition of gas – such as carbon dioxide and sometimes nitrogen. Cask beers are usually served at cellar temperature (11-13 degrees).

While casks were originally wooden, you're now much more likely to see stainless steel varieties of any brewery containers. Casks have a curved shape designed to help any sediment settle at the bottom, while kegs are normally straighter with a single opening valve and an extractor or spear running through the middle.

Why is Cask Beer Cheaper than Keg Beer? Keg beer involves a bit more processing at the brewery, and needs more expensive equipment at the bar.

Lagers are fermented using a bottom fermenting yeast at cool temperatures over a relatively long period of time, while ales are fermented with a top fermenting yeast at much warmer temperatures and can be ready to drink in as little as three weeks.

It is pasteurised and filtered. Until the late 1950s, Guinness was still racked into wooden casks. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Guinness ceased brewing cask-conditioned beers and developed a keg brewing system with aluminium kegs replacing the wooden casks; these were nicknamed "iron lungs".

A barrel of beer in the United States is 31 gallons, so that's the equivalent of 330.66 twelve ounce beers. Some people, however, confuse a 1/2 barrel keg as being a “barrel”. A keg is 15.5 gallons then, and contains the equivalent of 165.33 twelve ounce beers.

Experts aren't exactly sure what the origin of the word cask is. They know that it is a noun that comes from the Middle French word casque or the Spanish word casco, and both mean "helmet," but how we got from helmet to wine-filled barrel-shaped container is unclear.

Whereas modern kegs with pressurized tops provide an airtight containment to the beer and prevent it from oxidation. The draft is also served and consumed at a much faster rate when it's brewed, thus keeping it fresher. So the fresher your beer is, the better and stronger it will taste.

We sell over 200,000 beer kegs per year, each filled with a popular domestic lager, craft beer, ale or imported beer. Whether you're checking keg prices to supply a large party or just your personal kegerator, we have the kegs of beer you want at the best prices.

What is the number one selling beer in the world? ›

Snow: Another Chinese beer, Snow is the best-selling beer in the world by volume. It's a light and refreshing lager that has a loyal following in its home country. Bud Light: The lighter version of Budweiser, Bud Light is also incredibly popular and is the best-selling beer in the United States.

The original Guinness is a type of ale known as stout. It's made from a grist (grain) that includes a large amount of roasted barley, which gives it its intense burnt flavor and very dark color.

Pilsner is brewed with pilsner malt and lager yeast, which is bottom-fermenting and distinguishes lagers from ales. Lightly kilned malted barley, spicy hops that so define the aroma and flavor of this style, lager yeast, and soft water are all that's needed for the skilled brewer to produce a fine pilsner.

Stella is officially classified as a Euro Pale Lager, but some consider it to be a pilsner. It pours like most lagers—with a thin, white head and a crisp, golden color. It is traditionally served in a signature Stella Artois chalice; however, a normal beer pint will do just fine, as long as it is poured correctly.

Some “split the G”, meaning they drink until the top of the Guinness bisects the letter G on the logo on the side of the glass. Others reckon the right way is to drink until your line is between the top of the G and the bottom of the harp. Either way, approach with caution as each challenge requires a pretty hefty sip.

This creamy head is a result of nitrogenation. While many beers are carbonated using just carbon dioxide, Guinness uses a mix of CO2 and nitrogen. Nitrogen produces smaller, finer bubbles than CO2, resulting in a velvety, creamy texture.

While these terms often get tossed around interchangeably, there's a crucial distinction to be made. Think of “cask” as the broad category encompassing any wooden vessel used for maturing whisky. Now, picture a barrel as a specific size within that category, often associated with distinct characteristics and volumes.

A cask ale is any beer that has been fermented and conditioned inside the cask itself, rather than in a keg or bottle. Casks are large containers (typically oak) that hold beer at room temperature, where it continues to ferment naturally until it's time for serving.

Keg Sizing Information

1/2 barrel = 15.5 gallons = 124 pints = 165 12oz bottles - (Full Size Keg) 1/4 barrel = 7.75 gallons = 62 pints = 83 12oz bottles (Pony Keg)

A keg has a single opening on one end, called a "bung". A tube called a "spear" extends from the opening to the other end. There is a self-closing valve that is opened by the coupling fitting which is attached when the keg is tapped.