Cask Ale Week 2026
National Cask Ale Week 2026 is underway! This year taking place from September 17th, until September 27th. The eagle eyed amongst you might spot that this is actually an 11 day long “week”. But when it’s in celebration of our beloved beer, who are we to argue?!
Cask beer is far and away the majority of our production here at Abbeydale. It’s the heart and soul of our existence, and we’re pretty darn proud of it too. We think we’re one of the only breweries in the UK who release a dedicated cask special each and every week. Although they’re predominately pale and hoppy, that’s not all we can do! There’s always plenty of variety available and something to suit every palate. We also don’t believe cask beer should be put in a “box” – it’s not just for traditional styles. This is why everything from our lower ABV pales all the way through to hugely hopped DIPAs and NEIPAs and big, bold stouts does – and always will – make its way into cask here at Abbeydale HQ.
Our new beer for Cask Ale Week this year is a very special one for us. It also forms part of our Legacy Series, bringing back iconic beers from throughout our existence as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations. Welcome back, Brimstone! An Amarillo hopped American Brown Ale, Brimstone was a much loved feature of our core range from 2006-2016. Having brought it back for our 20th and 25th birthdays, it felt only right that it should make another comeback for the 30th!
Brimstone is a particular favourite of our Sales Director Dan. In his words… “For me the reason why Brimstone was so special was because it looked like a traditional bitter but drank like a pale ale. Due to our particular disliking of crystal malt, the beer was instead coloured with black malt, flavouring beautifully with chocolate, toffee, and a lovely roastiness in the backbone. When coupled with Amarillo hops (the Sabro of its time!) it all balanced with a dreamy, marmalade like flavour. At 3.9% it was perfectly sessionable. You couldn’t compare any beer like it that was on the market at the time. It was a “bridge beer” for many that wanted to explore more than the normal cask bitters that were more readily available and truly experience what American hops tasted like. It was revolutionary in my opinion.”
One of the aims of Cask Ale Week is to encourage more people to try real ale. As autumn draws in, we reckon there’s nothing finer than spending an evening in a cosy pub with a couple of pints. We’d love to hear about your favourite places to do just that. Let us know by leaving us a comment.
You can find out more at caskaleweek.co.uk, including details of upcoming events in your area.
Cheers!
PS – Brimstone is available in keg and can, too!
