Cask vs keg: what's actually different?
Both are real, both have their place - but they need different kit and different handling. Here's the honest breakdown.
Cask ale
Cask ale is alive - it's still conditioning in the cask when it's delivered, which means it needs settling, venting, and careful temperature control before it's ready to pour. That's exactly what our racking and piped cooling jackets are built for. It rewards the extra care with a depth of flavour you don't get any other way - which is why it's what we do first and know best.
| Cask | Volume | Pints |
|---|---|---|
| Pin | 4.5 gallons | 36 pints |
| Firkin | 9 gallons | 72 pints |
| Kilderkin | 18 gallons | 144 pints |
Working out how many casks you need for your headcount? See our full cask sizing guide.
Keg beer
Keg beer (lager, cider, craft keg) is filtered and force-carbonated before it leaves the brewery, so it doesn't need the same settling and venting cask does - it's ready to pour as soon as it's connected and cold. That simplicity is exactly why it suits a wedding or private party where nobody's around to steward a cask all weekend.
| Keg size | Approx. pints |
|---|---|
| 30L keg | ~53 pints |
| 50L keg | ~88 pints |
Which one do you actually need?
If you want proper real ale with character, and you've got someone willing to steward it over the weekend - cask. If you want something simple to pour with minimal fuss, or you're after lager/cider alongside your ale - keg is the better fit. Plenty of events run both side by side.