Cask Ale in the Nation’s Capital

Washington, DC boasts many things – a diverse population, museums for just about everything, a lack of statehood, and it’s the capital of a little country you may have heard of: the U.S.A. But DC isn’t just the museum toting un-cola of states; it’s also a great place to find a pint of cask conditioned ale. So, let’s start off with the basics – what is cask ale? Then, we’ll get into a few places in DC that serve them and why you should care.

So, if you already know about cask ales, just skip ahead – we won’t judge you. If not, then the next part is for you.

What is Cask Conditioned Ale?

A lot could be written about cask conditioned ales, but we’ll stick to highlights. A cask is basically a keg. It’s shaped differently and has different mechanics when it comes to serving, but it’s essentially a large container that holds beer. What’s primarily different about cask ale is that the beer itself is unfiltered (which means the active, living yeast are still present) and it doesn’t receive extra carbonation.

Some get pretty specific about what can be called ‘cask conditioned beer’ or ‘real ale.’ The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) puts forth a definition: “Real ale is a beer brewed from traditional ingredients (malted barley, hops, water, and yeast), matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed, and served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide.” Although, it’s worth pointing out that American craft brewers don’t always stick to traditional ingredients…

In any case, this usually means that an authentic cask conditioned beer is less carbonated than it would be if it were put into a bottle or keg along with additional CO2. In addition, traditional cask beers are served using oxygen (or an oxygen/gravity tag team) to push them out of the cask and into your glass. This means you get a different texture from the lower CO2 level. Once the cask is tapped, it should be consumed quickly (ideally in one day); otherwise the oxygen will cause it to spoil.

Where Can I get Cask Ale in DC?

We’re going to try to keep it short – if we’re missing your favorite place, just let us know.

ChurchKey – Located right near Logan Circle in Northwest, DC, they boast 5 rotating authentic cask conditioned ales, not to mention over 500 other beers. If at any time the mood strikes you for a beer, but no plain old bottle will do, ChurchKey is a solid bet for something unique.

Meridian Pint – If you’re in the vibrant Columbia Heights area in Northwest, DC, you might be able to catch a cask ale here if your timing is right. Follow their twitter feed @MeridianPint to keep tabs on what’s being served.

Pizzeria Paradiso – Like peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, or Hall and Oates – pizza and beer just plain go together. Pizzeria Paradiso’s locations in DC (Georgetown and Dupont Circle) and VA (Old Town Alexandria) each keep a cask on hand and pizza dough at the ready for your imbibing and dining pleasure.

RFD Washington – In the DC tradition of having non-Chinese themed places in Chinatown, the acronymic RFD (Regional Food and Drink) keeps the area supplied with cask beer and boasts 300 other labels to keep you occupied until your inevitable Chinese food craving.

So, Why Should I Care?

So, what’s the big deal with cask ale anyway? It’s just a different way to serve the same thing, right? Well, yes and no. It’s still beer, but some would argue the taste and character of cask ales is vastly superior to that of the same beer served in say, a bottle. I’ll leave the flavor discussion to you, but what I think is the best part about cask ales is that it reinforces the value of community, freshness, and supporting your local bars, restaurants and brewers. We can all go down to the corner store and pick up a six pack of beer brewed on the other side of the country, but when a cask from a local brewery is tapped, it brings people from the community together to have a beer, talk to each other, and join in the age-old pursuit of kickin’ a keg (or better said, a cask).