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CASK ALE WHISPERER

Blog by Nigel Walsh

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I Enjoyed a Cask Last Week

Just the one, but it was one more than I managed to consume over the prior two weeks.

I almost didn’t have that cask because I had a very limited time window between one of my regularly scheduled dog walks, and the impending arrival of another dog who was due to arrive at Whispering Kennels for a three night sleepover.

But I managed to “sneak” out with my wife’s reluctant permission and raced to the Q-L subway trains for a long overdue return to Eckhart Beer in Bushwick.

I got away just in time, because overnight dog arrived an hour earlier than planned, and he is a big boy.

He would have to wait for his after-dinner walkies.

I would have to wait for my cask as well, but I would be in the Eckhart taproom and was sure that I would find a way to occupy myself for a couple of hours, until the guest of honor, the legendary Garrett Oliver, arrived to tap the cask of Blonder Bock that he had a hand in creating.

I decided that I would spend those two hours recalibrating my pale lager tastebuds, starting with a Kolsch (yeah I know it is only a sort-of lager), then a Helles, and finally a German Pilsner.

I timed it just right.

Garrett arrived while I had half a glass of the Pilsner to empty, and he and the Eckhart crew got to work tapping the Bock.

Once I got a couple of photos from my perch at the corner of the bar, I wandered over to stand around the center of the room, and spent the rest of the session hanging out with some familiar faces who had also come for the event.

Amazingly, I realized that I pretty much knew every other person in the taproom, from both recent and distant past events; not bad for somebody who does not consider himself to be a social butterfly.

It was good catching up with everybody.

Pretty soon, a large frothing pale hazy glass of the Blonder Bock was hand-delivered to my sweaty palm, and I got to slurp sip from the foam.

So, apparently the Blonder is akin to a Maibock in that it has a hearty malt bill, is full-bodied, and is quite dangerous at 6.5%, but unlike its malty brethren it is a luminous pale gold in color (hence the name?) and has notes of cracker (like a Helles) balanced with fresh-cut grass.

No detectable residual sweetness, and very refreshing, it is dangerously drinkable.

It was just as well that I arrived early and filled up on the easier-drinking drafts.

And just as well that I had limited time to hang around because of the overnight dog; he would need a couple of walks before the day was out.

I did have enough time to introduce myself to Garrett, and enjoy several minutes chatting with him about Manhattan Brewing Company, the Brooklyn Brewery street fairs in the early days, Michael Jackson, and the Burton Union System.

It was good to converse with somebody who has a NYC beer memory as long as my own.

But all too soon, the window closed and I had to rush back to the subway and head home to greet our furry arrival and relieve the missus.

Good evening out!

Eckhart is great, and I am looking forward to walking out there again, just as soon as my summer obligations become more manageable, and the weather conditions more hospitable.

In other news, we did another “Beers with Amos” ferry ride/walkies this past Saturday; a return to Long Island City for unfinished business, with plans for a hike to Wild East next weekend.

Note below, where I have listed a couple of new cask-adjacent events coming up next month that I plan on attending, both Oktoberfest(y) celebrations.

There are also early mutterings about a repeat cask ale mini-fest at Jones Wood Foundry – more about that as it firms up.

Scorecard w/e 08/04/26

In the past week the Cask Whisperer got back on the cask ale train:

Upcoming Cask Events (Festivals and Otherwise)

  • 9/12/26: Real Ale Harvest Festival @ Noah Webster House, West Hartford CT. It looks like I will be missing it this year, seeing as it falls on Rosh Hoshana and I have picked up several dog walks during the holiday.
  • 9/19/26: Ecktoberfest @ Eckhart Beer. No details yet.
  • 9/26/26: Blocktoberfest returns, this time it will be held at The Lot @ LIC Culture Lab, right across the street from Rockaway Brewery, between 1pm and 5pm. Will there be any casks? I am willing to chance it.

Upcoming Random NYC Casks

  • Nothing on the radar yet.

NYC Cask Venues

Known Operational/Active Beer Engines

  • Jones Wood Foundry (x2)
  • Fifth Hammer (Between batches currently – check the website first)
  • Wild East
  • The Shakespeare (x3)
  • Drop-off Service
  • Rough Draft

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
  • City Swiggers

Cask Venues Reachable from NYC by MTA or NJ Transit Train in Under two Hours

Metro-North Hudson Line

  • Draught Industries, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
  • Coopers, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
  • Happy Valley Arcade Bar, 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, Marlowe beer range).
  • Nod Hill Brewing, Ridgefield CT (two handpumps, Nod Hill beer range).

NJ Transit NJCL Line

  • Triumph Restaurant and Brewery, Red Bank NJ (one handpump, Triumph beer range).
  • Little Dog Brewing, Bradley Beach NJ (one handpump, Little Dog beer range).
ASK NIGEL

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