Is my beer dead?

Hi all
I have brewed 40 pints of ale, fermentation is complete so I transferred it into the pressure barrel which is brand new. About a week later, i noticed that there was a huge crack in the cap of the barrel and therefore it had lost all pressure and now the beer is completely flat.

I spoke to the shop I bought the barrel from; they said that if I replace the cap and put some extra sugar in, it will be fine. They have now sent me a new cap.

However I am concerned that the beer may now be off as it has had the air get to it. The shop said it would be ok; but I guess they would as they don't want to have to give me a new lot of beer to brew!

Anyway, I just wondered what your opinions would be - is the beer still likely to be ok?

Many thanks and happy brewing!

Michael

Should be fine did you taste it? What manner of "pressure barrel" is this?

Oh thanks COLO I really hope so. It didnt taste great - pretty flat and not that nice, but then I only put it in the pressure barrel 10 days ago. The other 2 batches I made before also didnt taste that good at this stage. The barrel is one of these: http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Home-Brewing/Youngs-Brew-Pressure-Barrel-5-Gallon/invt/0022554

Many thanks.

Michael

All you can do is wait and see. More likely than not, you're just fine.

For those in the US, a pressure barrel is basically a plastic keg without a CO2 system. They're used more on the other side of the pond from what I understand.

yeah mate, only time will tell. replace the cap add the extra sugar and see what happens.