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Cask Marque: 'Beer police on a mission'

4 The Cask Marque Trust is a non-profit-making organisation. Members include brewers, retailers, trade bodies and consumer groups, who elect a management commitee to run the scheme.

	CASK MARQUE FACTFILE
	4 Founded in 1997, Cask Marque tests more than 27,000 pints of beer every year 4 The accreditation scheme is jointly funded by 34 brewery and pub retailing members 4 There are approximately 58,000 pubs in the UK, of which some 36,500 (63%) serve real ale 4 To date, 3,748 licensees hold Cask Marque accreditation — around 70 new pubs a month gain accreditation

For a licensee to qualify for Cask Marque accreditation their beer needs to pass a thorough assessment by one of the organisation’s independent inspectors. It’s the inspectors' brief to make sure the consumer is receiving true quality for their money.

Cask Marque director Paul Nunny said: “The aim of Cask Marque is to promote best quality beer and reward licensees who serve the perfect pint of cask ale. We have 40 inspectors operating across the country making sure pubs applying for the Cask Marque come up to scratch.

“They also make unannounced swoops to ensure those outlets who have already gained accreditation are continuing to serve beer to the highest possible standard. We like to think of them as our ‘beer police’, on a mission to stamp out crimes against quality.”

To date, Cask Marque inspectors have accredited 3,748 licensees and tested something like 100,000 pints of cask ale. They must check the beer on sale to consumers for temperature, appearance, aroma and taste.

Paul said: “We check all cask ales on sale at the bar and award points for quality. If successful, the licensee receives a Cask Marque plaque, the sign of a perfect pint, to display at their pub. The accreditation is valid for 12 months, after which point the beer needs to be reassessed.”

Cask Marque's tips for publicans

l Keep beer in a cold store or cellar and maintain the temperature at 11-13° C (52-56° F)

l Clean the beer lines (pipes) thoroughly at least every seven days

l The same goes for the cellar — it should be kept spotlessly clean

l Monitor stock rotation and selling dates. Beer must be given time to condition before serving

l Stillage casks (secure them horizontally) for a minimum of 48 hours prior to sale

l Vent them on the day of delivery, peg them about two hours after delivery and tap them 24 to 48 hours before sale

l Most beers should be sold within three days, so avoid having too many on the bar at once

l At closing time always insert a hard peg into the cask to preserve quality

l Train your staff to serve the perfect pint: always use a cool, clean and dry glass — preferably correctly branded; aim for a 10mm deep head; remember, good presentation is vital and can encourage customers to return for more

Cask Marque's tips for consumers

Consumers can spot a good pint by checking:

l Temperature — cask ale should be cool, not warm

l Aroma — you should be able to smell the varieties of hops, malt and yeast used in the brewing process which give every beer its own distinctive finger print

l Appearance — once settled, the beer should be crystal clear, not dull or hazy

l Presentation — look for a clean, branded glass. It’s a strong indicator of a publican who takes pride is his or her ale

l Taste — it should be crisp and refreshing. You know the beer is good if at the end of the pint you want another!

Getting more out of your ale:

l Talk to your licensee and bar staff. How well do they know their beer? Can they describe the taste and offer recommendations?

l Experiment to enjoy. There are so many ales on offer, including seasonal variations. Broaden your horizons and try something unusual.

l Try before you buy. Never be afraid to ask. All Cask Marque accredited pubs offer this service.

l If you’re not happy with the quality of your pint, say so. It’s the only way licensees know they need to make improvements.

Cask Marque inspectors

All Cask Marque inspectors have either an Institute of Brewing qualification or the equivalent experience working as part of a beer quality team for a brewery or pub company. They need to meet Cask Marque’s exacting standards in terms of their ability to taste, smell and have visual appreciation of a huge variety of beers from across the country.

Inspectors are responsible for visiting and assessing pubs in a particular postal code region. Many have also become part of Cask Marque’s in-house training team and teach cellar management qualifications.

May 17, 2007