Historic Methods

Meaningless questions, I know, but I always wondered....

I've always been curious if the beer that them there cowboys was drinking in the saloons was room temp, and if it was carbonated?

I also wonder if the beer in coopered barrels (or is it 'casks'...?) was carbonated or if the early ales were just served flat, having been shipped for months to India, Russia or the far reaches of the Empire?

Seems they showed them laying on there sides and a wooden spigot dispensed... or was that only for whiskey...?

Flat for the most part, although even at room temperature and open to atmosphere, you will get a bit of head. Beer engines were developed to maximize this on the draw, as well as sucking the beer out of the keg.