Cask vs keg beer: what is the difference?

Two beer taps can sit side by side at the bar and deliver noticeably different drinking experiences. One may draw beer from a cask through a handpump, while the other serves beer from a pressurised keg. The choice between cask and keg affects how the beer develops after leaving the brewery, how it is dispensed and its temperature and carbonation when served. So, what separates the two? Casks: a traditional vessel? Beer has been stored and transported in wooden casks for centuries. The wood could influence the beer as it rested, although this is distinct from the deliberate barrel ageing used by some brewers today to introduce flavours from oak or from wine and spirits previously held in the vessel. Most modern casks are made from stainless steel or aluminium, making them easier to clean, move and reuse. Traditional sizes include the 54-imperial-gallon hogshead (245 litres), the nine-imperial-gallon firkin (41 litres) and the 4.5-imperial-gallon pin (20.5 litres). Cask-conditioned beer

by WSETglobal · source ↗