The owners of Cask, our current favourite London pub, have obviously decided to pull out all the stops on the beer front. They’ve just expanded from five cask ale pumps to eight, including two from Dark Star and three from Thornbridge.  Moravka Lager has also appeared.

The keg beer has got better too — out go Guinness and Fosters to be replaced by Keesman Herren Pils, Brugse Zot (blonde and brown), Rothaus Pils and Weizen, Mort Subite Kriek, and Kuepper’s Koelsch. The range of bottles from small german breweries continues to impress with some real obscurities sitting in the fridges.

A great pub just got even better.

We’re also delighted to see that our local has added an extra pump for cask ale.

Enter “Cask“, which we spotted from afar this evening, and detoured to investigate. It’s a cosy but modern refurbishment of a grotty estate pub in Pimlico (a bit of London which hasn’t really posh since the early 19th century, despite appearances).

It only opened recently, but is already busy. The big draw: Dark Star Hophead, in perfect condition, with the promise of the full range of Dark Star beers to follow as guests. A secondary draw: more than 20 bottled regional German beers, some of which we’ve never seen before.

And the enthusiastic, friendly landlord and landlady buzzing around looking after their customers aren’t harming business either.

All in all, it’s a bit of a find. This is one Credit Crunch business venture that ought to do well, if there’s any justice in the world. We’ll certainly be back.

The Cask is on the corner of Charlwood Street and Tachbrook Street, about three minutes walk from Pimlico underground station. It’s open at weekends and serves decent looking food.