Draught beer

The Old English dragan ("carry; pull") developed into a series of related words including drag, draw, and draught.

The usual spelling is now "draught" in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand and more commonly "draft" in North America, although it can be spelt either way.

In 1691, an article in the London Gazette mentioned John Lofting, who held a patent for a fire engine: "The said patentee has also projected a very useful engine for starting of beer, and other liquors which will draw from 20 to 30 barrels an hour, which are completely fixed with brass joints and screws at reasonable rates".

Artificial carbonation was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1936, with Watney's experimental pasteurised beer Red Barrel.

In Britain, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was founded in 1971 to protect traditional—unpressurised—beer and brewing methods.

Keg beer was replacing traditional cask ale in all parts of the UK, primarily because it requires less care to handle.

Since 1971, CAMRA has conducted a consumer campaign on behalf of those who prefer traditional cask beer.

Nitrogen is used under high pressure when dispensing dry stouts (such as Guinness) and other creamy beers because it displaces CO2 to (artificially) form a rich tight head and a less carbonated taste.

Commercial brewers use this as a marketing tool although it is incorrect to call any beer not drawn from a cask or keg "draught".

Two examples are Miller Genuine Draft, a pale lager which is produced using a cold filtering system, and Guinness stout in patented "Draught-flow" cans and bottles.