THE GINGER MAN: REAL CASK ALE IN NORWALK

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Blue Point Brewing Company’s cask-conditioned oatmeal stout at the Ginger Man in Norwalk.

11/24/2008

THE GINGER MAN: 99 WASHINGTON ST., NORWALK

After mentioning my recent experience with the unfiltered, unpasteurized cask-conditioned ales at the Spotted Pig in the West Village, I’d be negligent if I failed to point out that the Ginger Man in Norwalk offers a cask ale that rotates weekly.

I’ve certainly been to the Ginger Man before but somehow never noticed the cask ale. It wasn’t until I saw a recent episode of the new CPTV show, Eating Connecticut, featuring the pub and their admirable selection of beers.

When I stopped by today they were offering an oatmeal stout from Long Island’s Blue Point Brewing Company.

The temperature, flavors and ‘mouthfeel’ of cask ales can be significantly different from the keg beers most people are probably used to. Furthermore, because the beer is not served out of gas-pressurized kegs, but rather hand-pumped out of the keg by the bartender, you won’t get the ‘fizzy’ or overly creamy head as with carbon dioxide or nitrogen pressured kegs or bottles. I suppose this is a personal preference.

Sipping this beer in the dark-paneled pub at midday took me back to my college semester abroad in England, when the bartender at the Saracen’s Head in Bath would pour a cask-conditioned Directors Bitter as soon as I walked in the front door.

This is a good thing; It almost makes me feel like I’m not really at work.

–CP

NOTE: A call placed to the Greenwich location indicates there is no cask ale to be found on The Avenue.

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