Watching your alcoholism as it unfolds.
(Photo Credit: Mike Pomranz courtesy of
the phone of Andrew Bulbrook)
After an admittedly hectic weekend, I was finally able to stroll into the Manhattan Cask Ale Festival around 9pm on Sunday night. Of the original 45 firkins available for the festivities a mere 11 were left. Not a single cask was replaced during the 3 days/36 hours of the event: Once one was kicked, it was gone for good. So I was actually quite pleased that anything was left.
There were, however, a couple benefits of strolling in so late on the event. First, pints were being offered up at a remarkably cheap $3 for anything left -- by comparison, some of the pints we drank were going for $8 earlier in the weekend! And as the event got closer to midnight, the cost of a pint became closer and closer to free (with tons of tipping, of course, and many thanks to Alex!)
Advantage number two, as casks were kicked, their names were moved, in order, to the "THESE HAVE RUN OUT" list, so by arriving at the very end, I was able to get a full recap on what NYCers felt was worthy of guzzling up first.
Interested parties can read that list here:
- Voodoo Big Black Voodoo Daddy
- Troegs Nugget Nectar
- Captain Lawrence Nor Easter
- Gwatkin Norman Cider
- Harvest Moon Moonlight Kolschbier
- (The) Bruery Cuvee Jeune
- Blue Point Hoptical Illusion
- Stone Ruination IPA
- Butternuts Moo Thunder
- Pittsfield Brew Works Chipotle Brown
- Stoudt's Double IPA
- Chelsea Sunset Red
- Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale with American Oak
- Burton Bridge Thomas Sykes Old Ale
- Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Stout
- Flossmoor Station Pullman Brown Ale
- Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale
- Blue Point Rastafar Rye
- Nodding Head 60 Shilling Ale
- Flying Bison Blackbird Oatmeal Stout
- Triumph Gothic Ale
- Butternuts Outrage Ale
- Chelsea Hop Angel IPA
- Chelsea Black Hole XXX Stout
- Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout
- Chelsea 90 Shilling Scotch Ale
- Pittsfield Brew Works Legacy IPA
- Two Brothers The Bitter End
- Chelsea The Tsar's Revenge
- Cape Ann Fisherman's Navigator
- Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
- Harvest Moon Abbey Brown Ale
- Southampton Scotch Ale
- Voodoo Wynona's Big Brown Ale
That left 11 firkins still waiting to be kicked by the time I had arrived late on Sunday night. Here's what had yet to go, in alphabetical order:
- Blue Point Bruin Bitter
- Chelsea Rye's Up!
- Chelsea Hoppy Holidays
- Harvest Moon McCord's Scotch Lager
- Oskar Blues Gordon
- Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout
- Ship Inn ESB
- Southampton Burton Ale
- Stoudt's American Pale Ale
- Triumph Amber Ale
- Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout
Of what was left, many of the beers were still excellent. Both Chelsea's Rye Up! and Hoppy Holidays were extremely drinkable, probably only left because the event was held at the Chelsea Brewery (so the rarity factor wasn't in play). Oskar Blues Gordon is always a treat, especially on cask. As the lone IPA left (typically one of the most popular styles), I was surprised it was still around (maybe as a result of its hefty price tag). And the Stoudt's American Pale Ale was amazingly crisp and refreshing (even at room temperature!)
I have to admit, the more I drink cask, the more I become enamored with it. And having the chance to talk with cask ale consultant and festival co-organizer Alex Hall (aka The Gotham Imbiber) reminded me of the passion people have for "real ale."
I know I'll be drinking a lot more cask in the future. In fact, the next Gotham Imbiber sponsored cask event takes place at The Gate in Brooklyn, Thursday, April 9th to Sunday, April 12th, 2009. You can bet I will be there and I'm sure you'll see me writing about it here.
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