Not a lot kiddo.
It was all quiet on the cask front last week.
After all of the foot-wrecking activity of the prior week, I needed to take it easy last week and the last couple of weekends.
Did I manage it?
Hell no!
I did stay away from the beer pretty much, but that was mostly accidental.
But I could not keep away from the limping walking, it is as much in my DNA as my fondness for a pint of bitter.
Yesterday was fairly reasonable, just a two-mile round-trip stroll to go and watch over my grandsons for a few hours.
Friday was a little more reckless, five miles overall with a round-trip to JWF (two and a half pints of Old Glenham, the only beer consumed all week) thrown into the mix, and a very pleasant interfaith iftar in the evening.
Three miles last Thursday for a Purim celebration.
Another five miles on Monday, for a cookbook discussion, and also to visit a friend in hospital.
And finally, eight miles last Sunday; that was my bright idea to check out the salt marsh at Little Hell Gate on Randalls Island, continuing on to the Triboro Bridge (I cannot get used to calling it the RFK Bridge, soon to be renamed the Measles Bridge in honor of jr.) and back home through East Harlem.
So, over twenty-three miles, mostly on one leg, three more and I could have submitted another entry for a virtual marathon.
Any day not listed above was spent resting, suffering and cursing.
I expect to be doing it all again this week though, I just can’t help it.
I need to be getting out and about, despite the discomfort, especially as I am now officially retired.
Yay!
But not today.
My missus just plonked a box of Johnson’s Foot Soap down in front of me, and as soon as I finish up here, I will be cracking it open.
Fortunately we are currently in the middle of a celebration of a certain historical figure, Patrick, who apparently was the patron saint of day drinking, amongst his other more important accomplishments, and the streets are filled by his many admirers, hobbling along in a worse state than even myself.
You would think that an alleged Irishman (well, partial) such as myself, would be out there on the mean streets of NYC, staggering alongside the green horde, with a shamrock in my collar and a Guinness in my mitt.
Or at least down the boozer, shoulder to shoulder with folks less than half my age, less than half my tolerance, and less than half my spatial awareness.
Nope, this Patrick will pass on that.
On a week when I have ventured out to celebrate with others from two of the major religions, Islam and Judaism, I prefer to honor the Catholic Saint Patrick from the safety and sanctity of my own home; cooking up a storm and supping on some cans from the fridge.
I am sure that he would understand.
Enough about last week, not enough there to keep my thousands of loyal readers excited, so what do we have coming up?
Two Roads Cask Fest
This upcoming Friday evening, we have the Two Roads Cask Fest up in Stratford, Connecticut.
They seemed to have skipped it last year, unless I just lost track of it.
It is always a fun event, but probably not one for the purists.
All of the beers (and hard seltzers) at the event are their own.
Many have unusual “enhancements”, some have more conventional “additions”, and a few are just rebranded for the event.
Expect to see and consume some edible glitter.
The space (their Area Two Experimental Brewing facility) borders on the spectacular.
It is a little under two hours by train (New Haven Line) from Grand Central Terminal, with a twenty minute walk, or a twenty five minute limp, through the historic part of Stratford.
Be prepared to get back late.
Afternoon of Casks
Next Sunday, we return to Connecticut for the fourth annual Afternoon of Casks at Nod Hill Brewing in Ridgefield (well, Branchville).
The purists would have great time at this one.
Several beers of their own in the taproom bar, a couple on the beer engines and the rest usually sitting on the bar top, either in pin or gravity keg, as the style warrants.
Another 15-20 brews in the back room from “neighboring” Connecticut breweries.
New England Brewing, Fox Farm, Kent Falls and OEC usually make an appearance.
A wide range of styles are poured, and the quality is excellent.
An hour and forty minutes by train (New Haven Line/Danbury Branch Line) from Grand Central with a switch to the Danbury Flyer at Norwalk, and then a ten minute stroll up Rt. 7 to the brewery.
Cask-On
On the same day unfortunately, we have the 2025 Cask-On event at Cask & Vine in Derry, New Hampshire.
No easy way to get here, but I have managed it three times now, only missing out when there is a clash with a more “local” event.
It is a four hour drive up the various interstates through Connecticut, Massachusetts, and into New Hampshire.
It will require a very compassionate dedicated driver and/or an overnight stay in the area; I usually stay in the Sleep Inn, Manchester Airport, a few miles hike up the road in Londonderry NH.
It is “the” New Hampshire cask ale festival, with 20-30 beers and ciders, mostly from New Hampshire breweries, with some others coming across the borders from Massachusetts and Maine.
Expect a lot of darker ales, stouts and porters, and also a lot of red ales; they appear to be very popular within a thirty mile radius of Boston.
There is a pretty good chance that you would see a gravity keg from Schilling Beer as well.
There are more cask events coming up at the end of the month and into April, but I will write about those when we get closer to them, or maybe after the fact, because I do plan on attending all of the events listed below in the scorecard section.
So this week is expected to be as quiet as last week.
Saving myself for the weekend and beyond.
Scorecard w/e 3/18/25
In the past week the Cask Whisperer has enjoyed the following casks:
- Old Glenham OGB Session Bitter @ Jones Wood Foundry
- Old Glenham Loom Cornish Ale @ Jones Wood Foundry
Upcoming Cask Events (Festivals and Otherwise)
3/21/25: Two Roads Cask Fest @ Two Roads Brewing, Stratford CT
3/23/25: An Afternoon of Casks IV @ Nod Hill Brewery, Ridgefield CT
3/23/25: Cask-On @ Cask & Vine, Derry NH
Oh dear, I am going to miss it again.
3/29/25: Gowanus Cask Crawl with the NYC Cask Crew
4/2/25 – 4/5/25: 26th Annual NERAX will be held in the South Boston Lithuanian Club, Boston MA.
4/27/25: 2025 Yards Invitational at Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia PA.
5/24/25: New York State British Real Ale Festival @ Seneca Lake Brewing, Rock Stream NY
6/7/2025: Log Jammin’ V @ Human Robot Beer, Philadelphia PA
Upcoming Random NYC Casks
- None spotted yet, although KCBC snuck one by me over the past weekend I hear.
NYC Cask Venues
Known Operational/Active Beer Engines
- Jones Wood Foundry (x2)
- Fifth Hammer
- Wild East
- The Shakespeare (x3)
- Cask Bar & Kitchen
- Drop-off Service
Occasional Pins (worth a follow on Instagram)
- Strong Rope
- KCBC
- Tørst
- Blind Tiger Ale House
- Threes Brewing
- Brouwerij Lane (First Friday Firkins)
- The Owl Farm
Cask Venues Reachable from NYC by MTA Train
Metro-North Hudson Line
- Draught Industries, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
- Coopers, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North Harlem Line
- The Ambleside Pub, Mt. Kisco NY (four handpumps, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North New Haven Line
- Marlowe Artisanal Ales, Mamaroneck NY (one handpump tapped Thursdays, Marlowe beer range)
- Nod Hill Brewing, Ridgefield CT (two handpumps, Nod Hill beer range).
