Archive for May, 2012

Peter B’s Black IPA Firkin Keg with Masterbrewer Kevin Clark

One of the best things to come out of the Craft Beer movement is the new and innovative brewing methods and equipment that have come into use. Many brewers and breweries will refer to a Firkin Keg in their literature. The term Firkin is actually an old Dutch unit of measurement, about ten gallons. Consequently, it is that measurement that refers to the Firkin Keg, which was an old wooden cask that ale used to be stored in. It holds about the same amount as a modern “pony keg”, but has a rounded shape that permits the flavor rich sediment to collect at the bottom without allowing it to escape the tap. Many beer aficionados and brewers refer to this as cask ale or cask beer when it is served directly from this specialized keg.

Tapping the Firkin Keg

Peter B’s Brewpub Master Brewer Kevin Clark further describes the use of the Firkin Keg. “Most larger batches of beer are force carbonated. A brewer will inject the batch to bring it to a certain level of carbonation. A cask ale or lager is naturally carbonated as the cask or keg is filled directly from the fermenting vessel. The yeast is still alive and active and continues to consume the additional sugar added to the cask thereby creating my natural carbonation. This creates a very special beer that is conditioned to be smooth and gentle.”

Peter B’s Firkin Keg Black IPA

Peter B’s utilizes this method and others to create a variety of specialty and seasonal offerings that are available at select times throughout the year. To learn more about this process and the brewing of beers in general stop by and the knowledgeable staff at Peter B’s Brewpub will introduce you to a whole new world of taste excitement.

For centuries, man (and woman) has brewed beer. The simple ingredients and natural process has made its creation a favorite the world over. As the traditional European Brewmasters began to immigrate to the United States in the late 1800’s, larger, more consolidated operations and standardized recipes began to appear. As the population exploded, so did the popularity of this increasingly available and inexpensive beverage.

The industry was dominated by huge multi-national corporations throughout the most of the 20^th century and the true art and craftsmanship brought over from Europe was abandoned in favor of a mass produced product for the masses. It wasn’t until the early 1980’s that a new trend began to take hold. Small, “boutique” breweries focused more on the process than the profit of beer making, began to pop up all over the country. These “micro-breweries” made their products in small batches and catered to a growing number of people looking for the same experience with beer that they could have with wine.

As the popularity of micro brews swept the country, some breweries began to outpace their contemporaries in terms of sales and national recognition. Consequently, a new term was coined; Craft Brewery. A Craft Brewery, or Craft Beer officially refers to an independent brewery that is producing more than 15,000 barrels of beer per year while still holding to a more traditional and artistic style of beer making.

The term, however, is more commonly used to describe the actual artistic act or the “crafting” of the beer. As this process has grown, brewers have become as skilled and inventive as their counterparts in the wine industry and just as passionate.  In fact, many restaurants are offering beer tasting flights, pairing beer with certain dishes and, in the case of Peter B’s Brewpub behind the Portola Hotel & Spa, brewing their own beer. As Monterey’s only craft brewery, Peter B’s offers all that and more and is actively engaging and educating locals and guests about the process. So in celebration of American Craft Beer Week, stop by Peter B’s, raise a pint and see what all the excitement is about. Cheers!