Oh sweet… cask beer is making a comeback.

When I was in Salzburg a month ago, I went to a small brew house called Augustiner (not the Augustiner in Munich, a different one… though I went there too). I was standing in line waiting to fill my liter when I heard a terribly loud cracking noise. Three short echoing CRACKS: it was a little disconcerting at first. But, then I realized that the sounds were coming from behind the bar. The barkeep was taping a new cask because the last one ran out, which involved cracking to the wooden plug to insert the tap. Totally old school.

I hope in light the resurgence of cask beer I’ll be able to see this ritual again in a Manhattan bar soon.

[Found via the always-excellent BuzzFeed]