What is 'Real Ale'?

Unlike traditional ale (or Real Ale as CAMRA christened it), keg beer is a dead product. It does not continue to mature in the keg because it has been filtered and pasteurised to remove all life-giving yeast. It needs to be pumped full of gas to send it to the bar and to give it some fizz. Real Ale is drawn into the glass by simple methods without the use of gas. The handpump is the most common form of dispense, but electrical pumps can also be used, or the beer may be poured from the cask itself.

In contrast, Real Ale does not need added gas to give it life. The continuous fermentation process creates its own effervescence, as well as a good fresh taste. Producing real ale takes skill and craftsmanship. Keg beer is a factory product, supposedly designed more for profit and ease of use than customer satisfaction.

Despite the advertising efforts of some major companies, Real Ale is not available in cans. The so called 'Real Ale in a Can' contain the usual inert, dead beer plus a plastic 'Widget' which releases extra gas into the beer when the can is opened. This is supposed to give the beer a texture similar to that of a hand draw real ale. Although often more drinkable than normal canned beers, the final product is still lacking those qualities which give a properly kept draught beer its own special character.

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