Cask Beer
Live beer conditioned in the cask, with gentle carbonation and careful cellar handling.
Keg Beer
Beer served from a sealed pressurised container, with production and carbonation varying widely.
What is the difference between cask and keg beer?
Cask and keg describe conditioning, storage and dispense, not the basic beer style. Cask-conditioned beer continues to mature with live yeast in the cask and is normally served at atmospheric pressure. Keg beer is served from a sealed pressurised container and covers a much wider range of production methods.
A pale ale can be served from cask or keg and still be a pale ale. The format changes carbonation, texture, temperature, freshness window and the way the pub handles it.
Cask versus keg comparison
| Conditioning | Cask: live beer continues conditioning in the cask. Keg: may be filtered, pasteurised or live, depending on the product. |
|---|---|
| Dispense | Cask: usually handpull or gravity, without injected gas contacting the beer for service. Keg: pressure pushes beer to the tap. |
| Carbonation | Cask: gentle and natural. Keg: commonly medium to high, but adjustable. |
| Temperature | Cask: cool cellar temperature. Keg: often colder, though style and venue matter. |
| Texture | Cask: soft and rounded. Keg: crisper or livelier, with nitrogen creating creaminess in some beers. |
| Keeping | Cask: needs careful cellar management and timely sale. Keg: sealed systems generally provide a longer service window. |
Why does the same beer taste different?
Lower carbonation can make cask beer feel softer and bring malt, yeast and subtle hop flavours forward. Colder, more carbonated keg dispense can sharpen refreshment and lift hop aroma. Neither effect is automatically desirable for every style.
A traditional bitter can be particularly expressive on cask. A bright pilsner may benefit from the cold, lively presentation of keg. Many modern breweries brew separate cask and keg versions rather than putting identical beer into both formats.
Condition and cellar care
Cask beer requires skilled handling. The cask must settle, condition and be sold while it is at its best. CAMRA notes that cask develops character in the pub cellar through the presence of live yeast and is served without carbon dioxide injection.
Keg also depends on clean lines, correct pressure, temperature and stock rotation. A neglected system can damage either format.
Choose the texture and style
Choose cask when
You want gentler carbonation, a soft texture and a beer shaped by live conditioning in the pub cellar.
Choose keg when
You want colder, crisper or more highly carbonated beer, or a style that benefits from sealed pressure dispense.
What cask and keg do not mean
Cask versus keg FAQ
Is cask beer the same as ale?
No. Cask describes conditioning and dispense. Most UK cask beer is ale, but ale is a fermentation family and can also be kegged, canned or bottled.
Is keg beer always fizzy?
Keg beer is usually served under pressure and often has more carbonation than cask, but carbonation levels vary widely.
Is cask always better than keg?
No. They create different drinking experiences and both depend on brewing, freshness, storage and dispense quality.
Can live beer be served from a keg?
Yes. CAMRA recognises live beer that continues conditioning in sealed containers including some membrane kegs.