I know I’m supposed to be writing about beer here, but I need to take a moment for meatballs. Cask Republic’s are made of smoked short ribs, served over arugula, and topped with bleu cheese and an IPA BBQ glaze (so I am kind of writing about beer), and they’re out of this world. I’ve had them before, but when I visited Cask in New Haven for lunch recently, the kitchen was fresh out and making a batch for the evening. I was more than satisfied with my second choice, but know those meatballs are worthy of the gods.

Cask is a restaurant and bar where classy meets cozy—think dark-wood living room with ornate rugs, comfy couches, booths, and Edison bulb chandeliers—and when it comes to beer, you’ll find about 50 on tap and plenty more in bottles. Cask always has a few sours on tap, my personal favorite. I ordered Uinta’s Birthday Suit, a tart and refreshing Sour Raspberry Ale with well-balanced sweetness.

From their small plates menu, I tried the House-Made Chicken and Ramp Sausage served with pickled watermelon rind and charred green beans and the Grilled Baby Asparagus with shaved house-made porchetta and a Meyer lemon citronette. Both dishes were fantastic, though if I had to choose I’d go for the delectable sausage, set off perfectly by the tangy-sweet watermelon rind. Cask may be a mecca for beer lovers, but foodies have much to explore there, too.

Upcoming events include a happy hour with Allagash Brewing Company on Thursday, May 19 and a five-course, five-beer dinner with Kent Falls Brewing on Wednesday, May 25. Tickets for the dinner are $75, and featured beers include a few Sours, IPAs, and a Chocolate Spelt Porter.