In celebration of TC Beer Week, we'll be tapping a special cask ale, our Best Bitter. An English Ale, 4.5% abv

What is a Cask Ale?
Cask beer, also known as real ale or cask-conditioned beer, is an unfiltered, unpasteurized beer that undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the cask to naturally carbonate. It is served at a warmer, cellar-like temperature

What is a Best Bitter?
A Best Bitter (aka Special or Premium Bitter) is the middle ranked in abv of the three subcategories of English bitter; Ordinary and ESB are the others.

Some back story….

What are English Bitters? Well, first, despite the name they’re not especially bitter. One of the most popular pub styles in England, bitters are low gravity pale ales. A “proper” bitter balances rich English malt flavor with earthy and floral English hops (in much the same way that Pils & Helles are balanced beers that showcase the nuances of German malt and hops, likewise Cz Pilsner and Pale Lagers w.r.t. Czech ingredients). Balanced, low in alcohol, and traditionally served with soft carbonation, bitters are super drinkable, the original session beers.

Our Best Bitter is brewed with English Maris Otter and light crystal malts. For hops, a combination of Willamette and Crystal. You get a flash of biscuity sweetness from the malt balanced by bitterness, and floral, lemony citrus, and fruity flavors and aromatics from the hops and yeast. It’s a style not often found in the US (a maltier, more hop forward version of English ESB is the bitter most well known to American craft beer drinkers) but best bitters are totally classic and one of my favorite unheralded beer styles.

One additional thing of note about this batch:

Kegs, cans, and our cask of Best Bitter have undergone secondary fermentation to achieve its final level of carbonation. This allows us to achieve the softer carbonation appropriate for the style while enhancing shelf life (as the fermenting yeast consumes residual oxygen captured in packaging).