On Cask Beer

My first true introduction to cask ale came thanks to Ted Sobel's excellent Brewer's Union Local 180 out in Oakridge. On working through a flight of Ted's beers, it was necessary to acclimate to the differences in serving. Cask beer, when compared to more-common force-carbonated offerings, is both warmer and stiller. As it turns out, these changes contribute a great deal of flavor, texture, and body to the beers. I've been back several times to Oakridge, primarily to have a pint or two of this decidedly different ale experience, best paired with a pile of fish and chips.

That's why, when perusing this year's Eugene Beer Week event list, I was excited to see that Plank Town was tapping 5(!) casks of their beer on Thursday. I made sure I had the opportunity to stop by for lunch. Plank Town has made something of a name for themselves with a weekly cask tapping, and I was curious to see what they'd come up with in having 5 casks on offer. Quite a lot, as it turns out.

I wish I'd had time to sample all of the available beers, but they ranged from an English mild to a behemoth of a double IPA. Although I settled on a pint of the former, the latter is what piqued my curiosity. My experience with cask-served beer has primarily been in the guise of British styles, usually bitters, stouts, and the occasional IPA, all clocking in under 6%. How would a double IPA fare under these conditions?

I started with a pint of Optical Illusion, the English mild. It ran about 4% and 15 IBUs. Like most other good cask beers I've had the good fortune to sample, Optical Illusion packs a lot of flavor into an unassuming style - I was particularly impressed with the wonderful hop aroma and flavor, which was definitely American-inspired. Coupled with the bready malting and a clean finish, this is a beer I could've easily had another of.

I then opted for a small sample of Unobtainium, the double IPA. It was around 10% and 100+ IBUs. I've had the force-carbonated version of Unobtainium in the past, and I recall it being a boozy, heavily hopped imperial IPA in line with Stone's excellent Ruination. The best way I can think to describe this beer on cask: overwhelming. Due to the increased temperature and lower carbonation, the high alcohol and hopping really shine through. But it was such an intense experience that I can't imagine finishing an entire pint of it (or even a half) without becoming severely palette-fatigued. As it was, I happily finished my little pour and went on my way.

It would appear that cask beer is low-alcohol for good reason. Several days later I can still firmly recall the power of Unobtainium's hopping.

I'd like to get into a more philosophical discussion of cask beer's place in the current craft movement, but that'll have to wait for another day.