It's been a busy week in the Triangle for beer events between the World Beer Festival, beer dinners, and the cask night at Raleigh Times. Let me rephrase that Thursday was the NC Super Duper Cask Night. Here is a cask primer for the unexperienced. Cask events have been becoming more common place in the last year or two in the States and it's great to see returning to such beer tradition.

The menu of the Times' cask party is here.

Besides the variety of North Carolina breweries at the event the best part is that the Times offers a 10 ounce pour so you don't feel compelled to drink a whole pint of each offering. You can get to taste more beers this way.

Of the beers I think the Foothills Hoppyum was probably my favorite the crisp hop aroma was refreshing. I had a taste of the French Broad and the warm day was perfect Kolsch weather. The Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout didn't disappoint either, but it's probably about the end of Stout season for me.

The bar and sidewalk were packed from the beginning of the night, so it was great to see the local community be supportive of such a cask night. It means that we are more likely to see other such events in the future. If you have had a cask ale ask for one the next time you are at the Times, take a short pour if you are unsure if you'll like it. It is an easy way to sample a great brewing tradition.