On Friday afternoon, the ribbon was literally cut with a sword. With two pulls, their first cask ale poured smoothly and the glass filled with Arbor Buzz Saw, the gold winning IPA of last year’s World Beer Cup.

Arbor Buzz Saw is slightly more opaque when poured from a cask than the typical draft version, but just as crisp and golden in color. The frothy head settles quickly, but the natural carbonation lingers until the last sip. Although many drinkers may describe cask ale as flat, it is not. Served at cellar temperature, cask ale is less cold than many may expect, hovering between fifty and sixty degrees fahrenheit. Sweet accents of grapefruit and apricot can be detected from the first sip. A blend of Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial Hops subdue the malt character and leave a dry-hoppy finish, typical in many American IPA’s. At 7.5% ABV, Buzz Saw is a smooth drinker.

Although this is a first for Logan’s Alley, their company has had one in use at their popular British pub, Graydon’s Crossing.

Cask ale is a specialized craft within the walls of the craft beer society. The brew is served unfiltered and unpasteurized directly from the cask or container from which it was conditioned. The process of secondary fermentation, due to presence of leftover yeast in the cask, gives the brew a purer taste and does not need additional pressure from carbon dioxide or nitrogen, like most draft beer.

In the following week, a Holland made masterpiece, Dragon’s Milk, will be tapped at Logan’s Alley's new cask engine. After that cask empties, a local favorite, Bell’s Two Hearted, will get a chance in the spotlight.