NERAX, the longest-running cask beer festival in the United States, comes to Southie this week
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If you've never had real ale, two things you'll notice right away are that it's less carbonated than the mass-marketed stuff, and that it's usually served warmer.
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The event takes place at the South Boston Lithuanian Club (368 West Broadway) April 2-5.
To get the proper flavor experience, the beers are served at 'cellar temperature' of around 52 to 55 degrees. If you've ever told a bartender to reach down into his cooler for his coldest Budweiser, this will be a change.
What you get from real ale though are beer flavors you might not otherwise. You may come to appreciate more fully the hue of the malt that's evident in your glass. Hops take on different qualities at different temperatures also. And because real ale is alive, a cask tapped one day might taste differently the next. Chopourian says it's worth it to keep the real ale tradition alive and well in the United States.
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'When real ale is brewed, cellared, and served properly it is a fuller sensory experience than keg, bottled, and canned beer,' says Chopourian. 'By reducing the carbonation level and serving the beer at cellar temperature, it allows the flavors and aromas of the beer to come to the forefront. Along with the fact that it tastes great, when a well executed real ale is consumed, there is an appreciation of the art and passion that goes into all phases of the process.'
NERAX 2025 will feature 100 offerings of beer and cider over five session times, though not every beer or cider will be available for every session. The festival charges a $5 glass deposit and offers a cash bar for pours. Speaking from prior attendance, it's maybe the most unique beer drinking experience in the region today for true diehards.
The event takes place at the South Boston Lithuanian Club (368 West Broadway) April 2-5. For detailed information on session times and policies, visit
Gary Dzen can be reached at
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