In Canada, no national bottled brand comes close to deserving the appellation, but good IPAs are available on draught in the beer pubs and in bottles from microbreweries. These are amoung the most bitter ales you will taste at our show. Oddly, Newcastle Brown, is not typical of the classic style. Brown ales are low-hopped, low in alcohol, malty and dark in colour, sweet in finish. Real Ale is beer which has not been filtered, pasteurized or pressurized, and which is allowed to condition in the barrel.
Air is drawn in as it is served.
So its shelf life is four days maximum. Others keep it under a gas blanket to extend shelf life. Purists condemn both methods and say beers kept in this way are not real. CO2 can add an unpleasant prickle to real ale, though this is usually only evident when top pressure is used. Real Ale is normally hand-pumped.