Raising a Glass to Cask: A Celebration of British Brewing Heritage
Cask beer is more than just a drink - it’s a cornerstone of British pub culture, and it’s been central to our identity at St Austell Brewery for over 170 years. Our recipes and techniques have been passed down through generations, honouring the craft that’s helped shape the South West’s beer scene.
We proudly champion our flagship beers – Tribute, Proper Job, Anthem, Hicks and Cornish Best – on cask. These beers continue to be brewed and racked in our Victorian brewhouse in Cornwall, just as they always have been.
To mark Cask Ale Week (18–28 September), we’re raising a glass to tradition and rewarding customer loyalty. We’re running a special promotion across our 45 managed pubs in the South West, encouraging drinkers to choose cask at the bar. Customers can collect a stamp for each pint of cask ale purchased – and the sixth pint is free.
Unlike kegged beers, which use CO₂ for carbonation, cask ale is one of the most natural beers on the bar. It undergoes secondary fermentation in the cask, giving it a smooth flavour and light natural carbonation, and is hand-pulled to the glass.
Cask beer is a live product, made using just four key ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast. It has a shorter life than kegged beer due to its natural fermentation process. It’s so special that we’re supporting a campaign calling on the Government to recognise the production and serving of traditional British cask ale as Intangible Cultural Heritage and award it UNESCO status. The campaign already has more than 35,000 signatures.
Our in-pub promotion throughout September is also an invitation to explore the diversity of cask beer and its rich British brewing heritage. From traditional bitters like Hicks Special Draught to hop-forward IPAs like Proper Job, there’s a world of flavour waiting on the hand pump.
Across our 164 pubs in the South West, our in-house quality team works closely with pub teams to ensure every pint is served at its best. Cask beer is only available in pubs – it’s a true representation of Britain: high quality, proud of its reputation, and committed to upholding it.
To further champion cask, we’ll be holding our 23rd Celtic Beer Festival on 22nd November, in the Victorian cellars of our historic Cornwall brewery. With over 100 cask beers on offer, it’s the perfect opportunity to discover a new favourite and support local charities, with all profits going to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust. Fancy joining us? You can find out more about the festival here.
So join us in raising a glass to Britain’s brewing tradition – and support cask by heading to a St Austell Brewery pub near you. Start planning your next visit here.