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Community Corner

Celebrating Cask Beer

American Brewing Co. will participate in the Washington Cask Beer Festival today at Seattle's Fisher Pavilion.

. opened its doors little more than a month ago, but the ambitious minds behind the beer aren’t stopping there.

The company’s beer is now available on tap at more than 25 locations in Western Washington, and it will be involved in the Washington Beer Commission’s annual Cask Beer Festival.

Neil Fallon, founder and president of American Brewing Co., explained that to make cask-conditioned beer, you brew the beer, put it in a cask, and then add a small amount of fermenting wort.

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“Cask conditioning makes the beer smoother and adds subtle taste differences," Fallon said.

Fallon knows about the science behind the beer, but man who actually creates the brew is Skip Madsen, a veteran brewmaster who has fathered more than 200 styles of beer and won 34 medals for his creations. Madsen is known in particular for his India Pale Ales (IPAs).

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“Skip is one of the forefathers of this industry,” Fallon said. “He was brewing when craft beers were being born."

According to Madsen, cask brewing is like a secondary fermentation in the cask.

“It is both a science and an art,” Madsen said.

In addition to cask beer, Madsen created the four beers always available at American Brewing Co. The American Blonde, made with Vienna and Pilsner malts, is a very light, crisp beer with the lowest alcohol volume. The Breakaway IPA—Skip’s signature drink—is hoppy and bitter, and also available at more than 30 local alehouses. Ed’s Red, which is made with three different crystal malts, and the Breakaway Caboose, a heavier oatmeal stout, are also offered.

Fallon says that Edmonds was a great pick for their microbrewery, and they can’t wait to get more involved in the community, especially as the summer festival begin to roll out.

“Edmonds has been one of the most supportive towns I’ve come across,” Fallon said. “When I came up to take a look at the space, the City and Port were fantastically supportive.”

Both Madsen and Fallon will be pouring at the Washington Cask Festival today, so be sure to stop by and say hi if you attend. Also make sure to look out for American Brewing Co. at Edmonds events this summer. 

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