Beer engine

Beer engine is a device for pumping beer, typically used in pubs, that is manually operated by pulling a handle. The system is also known as a hand pump or cask ale pump.

History

The beer engine was invented by John Lofting, a Dutch inventor, merchant and manufacturer who moved from Amsterdam to London in about 1688. He patented a number of inventions including a fire hose and engine for extinguishing fires and a thimble with a built-in sewing needle case. He also patented a device that used a piston pump that could draw beer from a barrel and fill a glass, eliminating the need for the barman to pour the beer into the glass. This invention was known as the beer engine.

Operation

The beer engine is normally located below the bar with the visible handle being used to draw the beer through a flexible tube to the spout, below which the glass is placed. A swan neck is often added to the spout to direct the beer into the glass. The handle can be either a straight pull or a crank. Some beer engines also incorporate a device for aerating the beer as it is poured, which produces a frothy head.

Types

There are two main types of beer engines: the water engine and the air engine. The water engine uses a column of water to push the beer out of the cask, while the air engine uses a column of air. The water engine is more common in the UK, while the air engine is more common in the US.

See also

• Real ale
• Cask ale
• Draught beer
• Beer tap