You probably missed it—and that’s fine. The new sticker isn’t flashy. In fact, it looks a little like a quiet badge of honor, tucked on wall outside at The Civil Life Brewing Company down in Tower Grove South. But for fans of cask ale? It’s a big deal.
Civil Life just got recertified by Cask Marque, a UK-based organization that exists for one reason: to make sure that when you order a pint of real ale, it’s the real deal. And according to the brewery, they’re still the only Cask Marque-accredited location in the entire state of Missouri.
Wait, what’s Cask Marque?
Think of it like Michelin stars for beer—except the focus is on old-school cask ale: beer that’s unfiltered, unpasteurized, and naturally carbonated right in the cask. It’s beer that’s alive. Temperamental. Served cool but not cold. Pulled by hand, not pushed with gas.
It’s also extremely rare in the U.S., where most breweries skip the fuss in favor of cleaner, kegged setups. But not Civil Life.
The inspection is no joke
To earn the plaque, breweries have to pass a deep-dive inspection covering everything from cellar temperature to head retention. It’s not just about the beer itself—inspectors score the glassware, the pour, the aroma, even whether the logo is facing the customer. (Yes, really.)
You mess up on any of those? No sticker. No bragging rights.
Why it matters
For Civil Life, though, this isn’t about showing off—it’s about honoring a tradition that’s rooted in quality and care. It’s about making beers like their British Bitter or Premium Bitter with patience, balance, and pride.
And it’s about giving St. Louis drinkers something you won’t find many places: a proper pint of cask ale, pulled just right.
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