What Is Real Ale? (And Why Our Farthing Casks Are a Big Deal)

“Real ale” is one of the oldest, most traditional ways to serve beer. It’s beer that finishes conditioning inside the vessel it’s served from — usually a cask. That means no added gas, no forced carbonation, and no shortcuts. Gravity or a hand pump does the work, the beer stays alive and lightly carbonating on its own, and every pour feels incredibly smooth, soft, and flavorful.

Cask beer is naturally conditioned, gently effervescent, and often shows malt character in a way draft beer can’t. It’s a pub classic for a reason.

What makes cask ale different?

• Naturally carbonated
Carbonation doesn’t come from CO₂ tanks — it happens inside the cask as the beer completes its fermentation. This creates a softer, rounder mouthfeel.

• Served gravity-fed or hand-pulled
No gas pushing it. No big bubbles. The pour is quiet, gentle, and traditional.

• More expressive malt character
Cask service highlights the subtleties: caramel, toast, chocolate, biscuit — all the stuff that gets washed out under higher carbonation.

• Best enjoyed fresh
Once tapped, a cask stays good for only a few days. After that… it’s gone. No saving it for next week.

Why this matters for Farthing Dark Mild

Farthing is already a low-ABV, malt-forward beer built for long sessions and steady pints. On cask, it shows off every layer:
• Soft caramel
• Gentle roast
• A light chocolate glow
• Silky mouthfeel
• And an almost nostalgic “proper pub” energy

This is the style real ale was made for.

Where to Find Our Current Casks

We haven’t released a cask in years, so this is genuinely rare for us. If you want to experience Farthing the way it was meant to be enjoyed, here’s where to go:

Pleasant House Pub - 2119 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608
Tapping: 12/7
Expected to pour for 7–10 days

The Beer Temple - 3173 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Tapping: 12/13 at noon
Expected to sell out same-day

If you’ve never tried real ale before, these two events are an ideal starting point — friendly pubs, perfect food pairings, and cask-curious regulars who love this service style as much as we do.

Want Farthing at Home?

For the non-cask version, we’ve also released Farthing Dark Mild in cans at the Tap Room (plus a few half-barrels in distro). Same great flavor profile, just packaged and ready for your fridge.