Revelation Craft Brewing hosts Firkin Fest

Revelation Craft Brewing Company in Georgetown hosted the brewery’s semiannual Firkin Fest event, at which brewers from around Maryland and Delaware get to show off their creativity with the best in real ale.

Thirteen breweries took part in the event to show off their best cask beer creations. Cask beer is also known as real ale because it is fermented and carbonated naturally, without using extra carbon dioxide. Cask beer is served in what’s known as a firkin, which usually holds about a quarter of a barrel of beer. For reference, kegs are usually a half barrel, or they can be served as a sixth of a barrel, often referred to as sixtels.

For the brewers, the fest is a chance to indulge in creativity, usually starting with a base beer – most often an India pale ale, lager or stout, but other styles can be used – and then adding either multiple hop variations or fruits. The biggest challenge for the brewers comes when they have to tap the firkin, as too much carbonation buildup can cause beer to gush out once the firkin is tapped.