I still remember attending my first WA cask festival not long after moving to Seattle in 2005. Cask beer was still fairly new to me at that time, and I was pretty blown away by the event. Having a room full of local breweries serving nothing but cask beer was a foreign concept to me. These days, I love a good cask beer and certainly enjoy a pint occasionally. What is cask ale?
Cask-conditioning is a traditional way of brewing and serving beer that has been practiced in England for centuries. After primary fermentation in the tank unfiltered, unpasteurized beer that still contains live yeast is transferred to a “cask” where it finishes secondary fermentation that naturally carbonates the beer. Then the beer is traditionally served at cellar temperature (50-55F) pumped by a beer engine. This process results in smoother mouthfeel and a more complex flavor profile that allows subtle nuances to come through- a quality that many cask devotees seek in their perfectly poured pint of cask ale.
There are really two types of cask ales that you’ll find at this festival and around town. The first is the traditional method described above, which fans will tell you really brings out fuller aromas and flavors vs. the same beer that is keg or tank conditioned and served with C02. It’s really all about serving the freshest product possible in this case. For a great example of traditional cask ale here in Seattle, I advise you to visit Machine House Brewery in Georgetown, which features English-style ales poured from a cask through hand pumps at their bar.
The second method takes cask beer as an opportunity to add layers of flavor by adding special ingredients to the beer in the cask, such as fruit, spices, chocolate and whatever else a brewer can think of. The second method isn’t wrong by any means, but if a pub in England were to serve a “cask beer” featuring citrus peel, flowers and tears from a newt, you might have a riot on your hands. But, here in the US this experimentation is embraced and enjoyed by many.
At the WA cask festival, you will find many examples of both types of cask beer that I describe above. With 41 breweries pouring over 100 beers, you are sure to find something that fits your preference.
Complete information about the event follows. I’d get your tickets now, as this is a very popular festival.
Keeping the Tradition of Cask Ale Alive
2014 WASHINGTON CASK BEER FESTIVAL
Saturday March 22, 2014 Ÿ 12-4pm & 6-10pm Ÿ Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
(Seattle, WA) February 17, 2014- The largest showing of cask-conditioned beer in the Pacific Northwest will take place onSaturday, March 22 when the Washington Brewers Guild presents its annual Washington Cask Beer Festival at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. After successfully moving into a new, much larger venue in 2013 the event is expected to continue its stride this year with more breweries, more beer and more attendees.
This year’s Cask Festival will feature the largest brewery lineup in its 15 year history with 41 Guild member breweries serving cask-conditioned beer. Although cask beer has become more easily accessible in recent years especially at weekly cask nights at various establishments, it is still considered a novelty. Therefore the Cask Festival is a can’t miss event for many cask enthusiasts where they can sample from over 100 cask ales, most of which are brewed specially for this event.
Cask-conditioning is a traditional way of brewing and serving beer that has been practiced in England for centuries. After primary fermentation in the tank unfiltered, unpasteurized beer that still contains live yeast is transferred to a “cask” where it finishes secondary fermentation that naturally carbonates the beer. Then the beer is traditionally served at cellar temperature (50-55F) pumped by a beer engine. This process results in smoother mouthfeel and a more complex flavor profile that allows subtle nuances to come through- a quality that many cask devotees seek in their perfectly poured pint of cask ale.
Cask Festival is pleased to continue its effort to raise awareness of this centuries old beer tradition and introduce it to a new audience. It is also an opportunity for Washington brewers to expand their technical skills and creative expressions in the form of cask-conditioned beer. Cask Festival has long been a favorite beer festival among many local beer aficionados where participating brewers are expected to put their best foot forward and impress their toughest critics with their finest creations. Their efforts are rewarded with People’s Choices Awards that are given out at the end of each session. Last year Silver City Brewery (first session) and Diamond Knot Brewing (second session) took home the top honors and both of them will return this year to defend their titles.
The Cask Festival will host two sessions; from noon to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm on Saturday, March 22. Admission is $40 in advance or $45 at the door, if tickets are still available. Separate tickets are required for each session. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass and up to 25 sample tastes. Tickets are available online atwww.washingtonbrewersguild.org and at select ticket outlets. This is a 21-and-over-only event.
Participating breweries:
7 Seas Brewing, Gig Harbor
American Brewing, Edmonds
Amnesia Brewing, Washougal
Anacortes Brewery, Anacortes
Bainbridge Island Brewing, Bainbridge
Big Al Brewing, Seattle
Big Time Brewery, Seattle
Black Raven Brewing, Redmond
Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham
Diamond Knot Brewing, Mukilteo
Elliott Bay Brewing, Seattle & Burien
Elysian Brewing, Seattle
Fremont Brewing, Seattle
Georgetown Brewing, Seattle
Hale’s Ales Brewery, Seattle
Harmon Brewing, Tacoma
Hi-Fi Brewing, Redmond
Ice Harbor Brewing, Kennewick
Iron Horse Brewery, Ellensburg
Issaquah Brewhouse, Issaquah
Mac & Jack’s Brewing, Redmon
Machine House Brewery, Seattle
Maritime Pacific Brewing, Seattle
McMenamin’s Brewery, Seattle
Naked City Brewery, Seattle
New Belgium Brewing, Seattle
North Sound Brewing, Mt. Vernon
NW Peaks Brewery, Seattle
Odin Brewing, Seattle
Pike Brewing, Seattle
Populuxe Brewing, Seattle
Port Townsend Brewing, Port Townsend
Rainy Daze Brewing, Silverdale
Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Seattle
Redhook Brewery, Woodinville
Schooner Exact Brewing, Seattle
Scuttlebutt Brewing, Everett
Silver City Brewery, Bremerton & Silverdale
Snipes Mountain Brewing, Sunnyside
Sound Brewery, Poulsbo
Two Beers Brewing, Seattle
WASHINGTON CASK BEER FESTIVAL
Saturday, March 22, 2014 Ÿ 12-4pm & 6-10pm Ÿ Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
DATE
Saturday, March 22, 2014
HOURS
Session 1: 12-4 pm
Session 2: 6-10 pm
Doors open 15 minutes before each session begins. Taps close 30 minutes before closing each session.
Separate tickets required for each session
LOCATION
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109
ADMISSION
$40 advance tickets or $45 at the door, if still available. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass and up to 25 sample tastes.
Must be 21 years old or older and have a valid ID to be admitted.
Designated driver admission is $5 and available at the door only.
Tickets are on sale online at www.washingtonbrewersguild.org and at select outlets; 99 Bottles (Federal Way), Bottleworks (Seattle), Full Throttle Bottles (Seattle), and Malt & Vine (Redmond)
BEERS
Washington Cask Beer Festival is a major highlight of the Pacific Northwest beer festival scene. The event features one-of-a-kind handcrafted cask-conditioned beers from over 40 Washington breweries. To stay true to the tradition of cask-conditioned beer the Festival requires brewers to naturally condition the beer in a firkin or other vessels without artificially introducing CO2. Poured via a beer engine or by gravity the result is smooth ale with a thick creamy head that brings out subtle, nuanced flavors.
HERBERT’S LEGENDARY CASK FEST ALE
Also serving is Herbert’s Legendary Cask Festival Ale, a special cask beer brewed collectively by the Washington brewers in memory of Bert Grant, a legendary Washington beer icon. This year’s Herbert’s will be brewed at American Brewing Co in Edmonds in collaboration with other Guild member breweries. Herbert’s will be available at the Cask Festival as well as select pubs prior to the event.
FOOD
There will be a few snack options available for purchase that are perfect accompaniments to a wide array of cask-conditioned beers; Dante’s Inferno Dogs (assortment of hot dogs), Brave Horse Tavern (house-made pretzels and accompanying sauces), and Mt. Townsend Creamery (assortment of artisan cheeses).
BENEFICIARY
Washington Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a community of Washington State brewers, advance their common interests through the legislative process and promote the quality and value of their beers.
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