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  • ^ You do not need a pump for real ale, a tap peg and four wedges will suffice.

    Tap the cask (it is not a keg as it is not pressurised), if you are using a tap peg ensure that the tap is open when you drive it home to guarantee a good seal, close the tap and put it on its side using the wedges to ensure that it is horizontal and will not move, depending on the type of cask you are using you may need to vent the side bung with a wooden peg. The beer must be left in this state for at least 24 hours to let it settle, it won't harm you if you drink it before but will be cloudy (and give you the shits). As the cask starts to get empty gently ease the rear wedges forward to tilt the cask down slightly.

    I used to run an annual beer festival that was not associated with CAMRA but found that it was easy to get hold of the stuff, phone up the brewery and ask to speak to someone in sales they will help you. A couple of tips; it will be cheaper if you pick it up yourself, you should be able to fit three 9s in the boot of a medium sized hatchback, sometimes you can do a deal by taking beer off their hands that is nearing the end of its shelf life and not ideal for selling to bars, if the beer is being consumed in one night it will not be a problem for you, once or twice by doing this I got the beer for pennies and just paid a deposit on the cask.

    As far as cooling goes just wet an old towel and drape it over the top of the cask, you will be surprised how effective this is.

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