All our containers contain “racked off” bitter. This is sometimes called “bright” and means that we have taken it from the containers where it has the sediment and leftovers from the brewing process, and put it into containers from which you can drink directly. It means that it has a shorter shelf-life but it also means that it can be handled relatively easily when compared to barrels for pubs.

The British are often accused of drinking warm beer with regard to real-ale. This isn’t actually how it should be served but there are a number of pubs over years that don’t have proper facilities or knowledge and have served it badly so it has received this reputation. In pubs, it also requires a certain procedure to handling it including time to let the sediment settle after travelling etc. Lager is much easier to keep because it is brewed differently and requires different handling. However whilst real-ale is intrinsically a natural product that is more difficult to handle, it is easy to have delicious real-ale at home – you order from us, we deliver it and you drink it!

When served “correctly”, real-ale should be stored and served at cellar temperature – this is approximately 10° C or 50° Fahrenheit. While this is an “optimal” temperature, most of our home refrigerators run at 5° C or 41° F or less. Like any other natural product, the way it is stored will affect the taste and the shelf-life. However, also like any other food or drink product, it is a matter of personal taste how the beer should be enjoyed. For example, at the Brewery we find that the 9-pint mini-cask of B.O.B. kept in the fridge, will deliver a delicious and refreshing beer even at that temperature. (Just as some Bordeaux red wine can be chilled and still deliver a wonderful flavour). When the beer is packaged, it is at cellar temperature.

We offer you these simple tips on how to keep it and drink it:

• Keep it cool, man. Keep it in a dark cool place. If you want to chill it, go for it – you might enjoy it. (we do!)
• For the poly and mini-pins. Keep the air out. If you don’t let any air back into the container when you pour the last pints from it, it will last much longer.
• Don’t drink it after a week (less for the Firkins).
• Don’t shake it around too much.
• Find out how you like to drink it! If you prefer it in a long glass with an umbrella and a sparkler, that’s your choice.
• Most importantly, enjoy it!

We welcome your comments and feedback on our beer – email us at butlerbrew@aol.com. We may even post them on our website.