Storing ale in casks

[cazabrew]

Hi

I'm new to brewing, but have been drink ales for a long time. Can I ask, if instead of bottling a kit or extract ale that I want to put some into a cask to keep for later? How long does the beer last after the first pint has been poured from the cask? I have had easy 5l kegs which once opened you only get 2 or maybe 3 days at a push and are a realistic amount to drink at once for me, but if i wanted to put into a bigger cask does the beer have the same lifespan or will it last longer once opened and started?

I would also like to find out if anyone has a recipe for a Jarl or Hurricane Jack type clone or even Greenmantle, Something nice, golden and full of flavour, but not too complicated to brew for a beginner.

[Ditch]

Could ye please better define " Cask " ? Do ye mean wooden barrels or plastic ones?

[cazabrew]

Sorry I mean the plastic ones which hold up to 25 litres

[Ditch]

Oh. Good. No problem with them then.

I use the bog standard sort ~ BK's / Basic Kegs ~ and don't bother with gas. I just loosen the cap as I pour a pint. Head doesn't last. But, then, I don't wash my f**king eyes with it anyway.

Suits me. Been bang at it for years, with BK's. No problemmo. Back in the day? I tried all sorts of Top Tap, gassed to hell, latest marvellous inventions. F**king things .....

[cazabrew]

Do they last a while then, I wont be filling to top but would like the ale to last a reasonable time enought to drink and enjoy it. If I have a couple of pints and then secure the cap each time will be ale last for the week? Work gets in the way of drinking sometimes

[Ditch]

If I have a couple of pints and then secure the cap each time will be ale last for the week? Work gets in the way of drinking sometimes

God, yes!!! I tend to do a BK in a week or so. But, I've given them to mates, who drink a damn site less than me. Full, of course. And they've slowly enjoyed their way through the entire four gallons.

One bloke took the entire xmass period and quite well into the new year. Never thought I'd see my BK again!

[cazabrew]

Sounds good. Unfortunately Xmas and New Year when I work the most, so January will be my blurry month. Will try and see what happens. I have been given one from wilko with sealed cap on top will that do or do i need a proper brand one?

[Ditch]

Proper Branded One ....? We don't call them " Basic Kegs " for nothing, mate!

[Monkeybrew]

You can get 9L BK's, which is what I tend to use these days. I bottle 11-14L of a brew and then fill the baby BK with the remaining 9L.

Suits me.

Cheers

MB

[TC2642]

Just to give another side but I use old boots style and king keg barrels. I use gas to keep the top pressurised after I have taken a few pints out, will keep it fresh and ensures a head, if you like that sort of thing.

[mickhew]

Ditch drinks his brews as fast as he can brew them, a bit like me ! Generally it'll last for months in a barrell, the alcohol conntent self preserves it, and the CO2 layer above protects it too.