idiots guide to casks

[tim_n]

Hi,

I've just bought the bits for an old cask I've been given.

Silly questions:

1.) it's been sitting outside for a long while without handy bungs and needs a good clean inside and out. Any tips?

2.) How much do I fill one up with? I've been told it's 9 UK gallons. Is that 9 gallons into the fermenter or 9 gallons into the cask?

3.) How long will it keep in the cask assuming it's not been pegged/tapped etc. The plan is to brew it up and take it down to sunny wales (a good trip from sunny Essex). I need it for August, so I can either brew it in the next few weeks or leave it until June.

4.) How well is it going to travel? How long to settle? Its a bit bumpy over those fields - it's not going to go bang is it?

 

[calumscott]

A real cask? As in a wooden coopered cask?

The concept scares me a little if I'm honest! There are some on here that have them and cask condition and we have some commercial craft brewers too. Hopefully one of them can offer you some advice...

 

[mattyhall22]

If you are cask conditioning it, and then transporting it, it will take 24 hours to settle at least. :

 

[tim_n]

24hrs is fine, a week would be a pain :)

No, stainless! Not wood, that would be scary!