Beer engines & accessories

A beer engine is the hand pump on the bar that draws cask ale up from the cellar by suction, with no gas involved — one full pull moves roughly half a pint.

  • Cylinder size decides pulls per pint u2014 a quarter-pint engine takes two
  • The sparkler is optional and changes the pint noticeably; try both
  • Seals and valves are serviceable parts, not a reason to replace the engine

Showing 1–24 of 65 results

Showing 1–24 of 65 results

The engine is what makes cask ale cask ale. Because the beer is pulled rather than pushed with gas, it arrives with only the condition it developed in the cask, which is why a well-kept pint has a soft carbonation rather than a fizz. The cylinder size sets how much comes through per pull, and a quarter-pint engine simply means two pulls to the pint rather than one.

How to choose

What to know

A sparkler is the removable nozzle on the end of the swan neck. Fitted and tightened, it forces the beer through fine holes and builds the thick creamy head associated with the north of England; slackened off or removed entirely, the beer runs smoothly and keeps more of its aroma, which is how it is generally served in the south. It is a genuine matter of preference and it takes a second to change, so it is worth trying both with the beers you sell.

What to know

Beer engines are mechanical and they are serviceable. Seals, cups and valves are the parts that wear, and a pump that has become stiff or that will not hold its prime is nearly always a seal kit rather than a new engine. Anything that touches beer comes apart for cleaning on the same cycle as the lines.

Common questions

How much beer does one pull give?

It depends on the cylinder. A half-pint engine gives roughly half a pint per full pull, so one pint is two pulls. Quarter-pint engines are also common and take four.

What does a sparkler actually do?

It pushes the beer through fine holes as it leaves the swan neck, knocking condition out of the beer and creating a tight creamy head. It is traditional in the north of England. Removing it gives a looser head and more aroma, which is the southern style.

Does a beer engine need gas?

No. It is a suction pump u2014 that is the defining feature of cask dispense. The beer comes up the line under the pull of the handle, with nothing pushing it from behind.

Have a look at

Cask line cleaningBeer taps