Ain't nothing like the real thing

If you've never tasted cask ale -- ale that's served from the vessel it's fermented in and hasn't had any carbonation added to it --then you've never tasted "real ale," according to many purists. If you live in New England, you're in the happy position of being able to go to quite a few brewpubs and beer bars that periodically offer cask ale. But for the next four days, you can sample a whole lot of cask ales in one place at the New England Real Ale Exhibition's annual extravaganza at the Dilboy VFW post in Somerville.

At NERAX you can not only sample cask ales from New England brewers, you also get to sip brews brought over from old England especially for the festival. You would usually have to cross the Atlantic to taste these beers, but right now you only have to cross Davis Square.