Ask An Expert: Cask ale temperature

Some customers have complained that my cask beer is too warm. Surely it's meant to be that way?

The rest of the world joke about the Brits' love of warm beer, but the fact is that if it is too warm even the bearded real ale enthusiast will go elsewhere.

Cask ale should be served between 10 degrees C and 13 degrees C. If the beer in the glass is warmer than this - you can check it yourself with a simple thermometer - you need to correct it.

Assuming your cellar is at the right temperature the beer must be warming up on its way to the glass, probably in the 'beer engine'.The handpull beer engine is a simple pump with a cylinder that holds typically a quarter or half pint of beer.

If the handpull is not used for half an hour the beer in the cylinder will warm up to the ambient temperature of the bar. The result is either a disappointed customer, or you will have to pour the first 'pull' away to ensure a good pint. Both result in lost profits.

A couple of solutions have been developed. The cylinder can be water cooled - the water recirculating from the cellar to bar in the python is connected to a water jacket around the cylinder. Or some brewers have installed a new design of pump which has the same feel but does not use a cylinder, relying solely on gas pressure from the cellar.

So have a look under your handpulls. If there is a cylinder but no water cooling, give your brewer or technical services engineer a call and ask for their help in achieving a quick solution that will save you money.