80% of drinkers claim cask ale a vital part of UK culture

The study, as part of Cask Ale Week, which runs between 21 September and 1 October, showed despite the rise in prominence of alternative drinks such as lagers and ciders, the vast majority of British beer fans still believe cask ale plays a vital role in the UK pub landscape.

Not only that, but almost half of respondents (43%) believe that a pint of cask ale is the freshest drink you can order and the bar, more so than a pint of lager (36%) and notably more than a cold pint of cola (14%).

Cask Ale Week​ is the annual celebration of the brewing of real ales, with pubs and brewery companies from across the country engaging in activity to support the cask ale industry and encouraging its customers to try and promote real ale.

Try something new​

Beer fans are certainly open to trying new drinks, with the enjoyment of discovering something new and enjoyable to drink the most popular reason for trying cask ales, according to almost a third of UK beer drinkers (30%).

Aside from wanting to expand their choice of drinks, almost three in ten (27%) respondents drink cask ale because they value the brands that brew it while more than a quarter (26%) enjoy drinking cask because of its superior taste.  

Greene King is running its Cask, Craft and Cider Festival between Monday 18 September and Thursday 5th November, with a range of activities and promotions taking place in more than 400 of its pubs in the UK to encourage customers to try something new.

Extensive process​

Jack Palmer, head brewer at Greene King, which brews a large range of cask ales along with keg beers, said: “You could be forgiven for thinking that cask and real ales are declining in popularity but it’s extremely refreshing to drinkers showing how popular they still are among UK beer, lager and cider fans.

“The process that goes into making a cask ale is extensive to ensure the best flavours are maximised and it’s great to see the art of brewing such ales is still so well supported in the community.

“At Greene King, we have years of experience in the industry and pride ourselves of providing customers with a huge range of top-quality styles of cask ales, including a seasonal range, with something for everyone to enjoy.

“We’d highly recommend heading down to one of our pubs during Cask Ale Week to celebrate this industry and maybe uncover a new favourite style in the process.”