What are mini-casks?
They contain 5 litres (just under 9 pints) of cask fermented real ale (ie. They are produced in a similar way to bottle-conditioned beer with a secondary fermentation to give extra flavour, a nice fizz and a wonderful creamy head).

How do they work?
Each cask has instructions on how to open them and use them on a back label. They are very simple to use--there is a top vent to open and then a bottom tap to pour!

How long will they last once opened?
It depends how much you drink at each session and how careful you are about closing the top vent when you are not using the mini-cask. It is always better to drink real ale within three days of first exposing it to air but, if you always close the top vent after use and keep the mini-cask at 10--11 degrees centigrade then you should be able to enjoy your real ale at home for at least two weeks.

How should I store my mini-cask?
Our mini-casks contain live yeast and will continue to condition for several weeks in the right conditions. This could mean that the beer gets very lively!
For best results, we recommend that, if you are going to store the mini-cask for anything more than a week before use, you should keep it below 10 degrees centigrade.

How long can I store my mini-cask unopened?
At a temperature below 10 degrees centigrade, we would expect the mini-cask to be fine for up to three months from purchase. However, real ale is best fresh and we always try to keep a choice of mini-casks available so why store it?!

The beer in my mini-cask is very fizzy--what should I do?
If there is a lot of condition in the real ale then you may find that it is not very clear when it is first opened, this is due to the release of the CO2 pressure disturbing the sediment. Please leave the top vent open for two hours before pouring and the beer should have cleared.

I've finished my mini-cask--can it be recycled?
The mini-casks are made from fully-recyclable materials but they cannot be hygienically re-used so we ask that you recycle them through your normal waste collection service.

If you have any other queries then please email them to Richard at richardbakerbb@btconnect.com…...cheers!