How to Open a Firkin of Cask Beer

2. Make sure the "keystone" (the smaller white bung, where the tap goes) is at 6-O'clock & "shive" (bigger white vent) is at 12-O'clock.

3. Drive the "hard spile" (long wooden peg) into the shive-hole (may spray beer!) & then remove it. Try to remove spile, if lots of spray, replace it with the "soft spile" (shorter wooden peg) & leave it for half an hour.

4. Remove spile from shive & making sure the tap is closed & facing the correct way (with its turning part facing upwards & its tapered part to the keystone) using the mallet, firmly & confidently drive the tap into the keystone (may spray beer again!).

5. Replace the soft spile into the shive & wait for the yeast to settle down into the belly of the cask (a few hours).

6. Remove spile from shive again & pour off a pint - if its cloudy, throw it away and try another half pint or so (some yeast settles onto the tap & makes the first bit of beer cloudy). If its still cloudy have a taste & if it tastes overly bitter, leave it for another couple of hours & repeat this paragraph.

7. Enjoy!