What the firk is a firkin?

Zoe Jacobs
Jul 24, 2017 · 2 min read

A Firkin is essentially a special container in which beer is naturally conditioned. It’s a small wooden (or sometimes metal) cask where the beer spends its time getting ready for you to consume.

It’s smaller than a barrel and can be any of several British units of capacity, usually equal to about 1/4 of a barrel or 9 gallons (34 liters). The word firkin is derived from the Dutch word vierdekijn, meaning fourth.

Firkins house what are called “true ales”, or beer that has not been cold-filtered, pasteurized and carbonated by outside equipment. The beer that is housed inside the firkin is naturally carbonated by its resident yeast and its ingredients have not been processed in any way outside of simple fermentation.

3Sheeps firkins at Milwaukee Firkin Fest 2015

Why are firkins awesome?

For craft beer fans, the rarest of the rare is what we’re after. The opportunity to try a firkin is one to relish. Breweries will produce one-off runs of a beer in a single firkin, making the product rare and all the more desirable.

The small nature of the firkin allows for testing recipes, interesting ingredients and new styles without wasting space and equipment. By aging the beer in the cask, it also allows for unique flavoring.

How do I try beer from a firkin?

I’m so glad you asked. The premiere Naperville Firkin Fest is coming up September 9th. Breweries will be offering firkins and their main line-ups at booths across the festival. Attendees get 30 sampling tickets and a commemorative glass to sample from. Tickets are $49 for General Admission, or $65 for Gold Pass early admission at 2pm to get first dibs on the rare stuff in addition to full sampling. Get tickets here.

The Naperville Firkin Fest takes place in Naperville, IL at Odyssey West 2155 City Gate Lane. More information at napervillefirkinfest.com

Zoe Jacobs

Written by

I write about craft beer and beer festivals. I also love cats.

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