Friday, October 17, 2014

Chesapeake Real Ale Festival 2014

Baltimore Beer Week 2014 began last Friday, 10 October. It ends this Sunday, 19 October. (Yes, that's a ten day week.)

Before it all ends, the Pratt Street Ale House and the Baltimore chapter of the Society for the Preservation for Beer from the Wood (SPBW) present the 11th annual Chesapeake Real Ale Festival, this Saturday, at the brewpub, in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

Jones vs. the firkin
Festival host brewer, Steve Jones, of Oliver Brewing.


There will be at least forty-one casks of real ale (and one 'real' lager) at the festival. And, what is 'real ale'?

Also known as cask-conditioned ale, 'real ale' is beer brewed from traditional ingredients; matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed; served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide; presented unfiltered, yet 'bright' not cloudy; served at cool 'cellar' temperature, approximately 50 - 56 °F, at which point the subtleties of flavor become prominent. It's the beauty of beer at its freshest.


The festival takes place both inside and out the Pratt Street Alehouse. Outside, no problem. The weather forecast for Saturday is for good autumn weather. Or, as some might say, good cask ale weather. And, the festival is a bargain. For one admittance fee, a festival go-er can drink unlimitedly (within the bounds of supply and good and decorum), without the nuisance of purchasing drink tickets. Food, however, is not included, but can be purchased off the pub's menu, in the dining rooms or at the bar.

Here's the line-up of casks: some TBDs (to be determined), some MIAs, and, as always, some yet-to-be-named guest beers.


Brewery Location Beer Cask Additions Alcohol %
Blue Mountain Afton, Virginia Double Oat IPA Centennial hops 8.4
Breckenridge Colorado Oatmeal Stout Salted caramel and coffee beans 4.9
Brewers Alley Frederick, Maryland IPA ... 5.8
The Brewer's Art Baltimore, Maryland Proletary Brown Ale ... 5.3
The Brewer's Art Baltimore, Maryland Apres Saison Citra hops 5.3
DC Brau Washington, D.C. Stone of Arborath Scotch ale Gin-soaked oak chips, rosemary, thyme 8
DuClaw Baltimore, Maryland Neon Gypsy IPA Simcoe, Amarillo, Chinook hops 6.5
Evolution Salisbury, Maryland Lot 3 IPA ? hops 6.8
Flying Dog Frederick, Maryland The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale vanilla 9.0
Flying Dog Frederick, Maryland The Truth Imperial IPA ... 8.7
Flying Fish New Jersey Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA Citra hops 8
Flying Fish New Jersey Red Fish Amber Ale Simcoe hops 7
Frey's Mount Airy, Maryland Pussy Pilot Parade Black Rye IPA ... 5.9
Full Tilt Baltimore, Maryland Hop Harbor IPA Mosaic hops 8.3
Gordon-Biersch Baltimore, Maryland Heather Mel Scotch Ale (aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels) 7.5
Harpoon Massachusetts IPA El Dorado hops ...
Heavy Seas Baltimore, Maryland Plank III (Wood-aged tripel) ... 8.5
Jailbreak Laurel, Maryland The Carrot Cake Conspiracy (Amber Ale, with roasted carrots and spices) ... 6
Milkhouse Farm Brewery Mt. Airy, Maryland IPA ... 6
Monacacy Frederick, Maryland Riot Rye Amber Ale ... 6.2
New Belgium Colorado 1554 (Black Lager) Fuggles hops 5.6
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland Bizarre Gardening Accident (Anglo-American Brown Ale) ... ...
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland The Black Code #2 Black IPA ... 7
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland ESB ... 6
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland Modern Life is Rubbish Porter ... 5.9
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland My Monkeys Gone Sour (Oak-aged, soured barleywine) ... 10.5
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland Pink Torpedo Raspberry Saison ... ...
Oliver Brewing Baltimore, Maryland There's A Fine Line Between Stupid And Clever (Smoked Black 'Pseudo' Lager) ... ...
Pub Dog Brewing Westminster, Maryland Imperial Dog IPA ... 6.5
Pub Dog Brewing Westminster, Maryland Pumpkin Ale ... 6.66
Oskar Blues Colorado/North Carolina Dales Pale Ale mangos 6.5
Oskar Blues Colorado/North Carolina Old Chub Scotch Ale coffee, vanilla 8
Real Ale Revival Cambridge, Maryland Nanticoke Nectar IPA Citra, Cascade hops 6.0
Sly Fox Pennsylvania Chester County Bitter ... 4.5
Sly Fox Pennsylvania Hop Project #05256 #05256 hops 6.1
Terrapin Georgia Midnight Monk Black IPA ... 9.8
Union Craft Baltimore, Maryland Hampden on Rye Ale coriander 5.9
Weyerbacher Pennsylvania Last Chance IPA Simcoe hops 5.9
Weyerbacher Pennsylvania Last Chance IPA Centennial hops 5.9
Yards Pennsylvania Presidents Peculiar Bitter Ale ... 5
Yards Pennsylvania Brawler English Mild French Aramis Hops 4.2

Pratt Street Ale House

-----more-----
  • Photos from the festival: here.
  • The list of beers has been updated to reflect what actually was at the festival.
  • A history of the festival: here.
  • Pratt Street Ale House
    206 W. Pratt Street
    Baltimore, Maryland
    (across from the Baltimore Convention Center)
    www.prattstreetalehouse.com
  • How to get to and around Baltimore: here.

  • 1 comment:

    1. I really need my eyes tested, I read that as Cheapskate Real Ale Festival - just my cup of tea!

      ReplyDelete

    Comment here ...