Civil Life Brewing Company

09/30/2026

Thank you for coming out to celebrate our 15th Anniversary "Parade" celebration and for believing in the Civil Life! People are always shocked when I tell them we actually sell about 700 bbls less of b**r than we did in 2019 but we somehow are still finding a way to exist and sometimes we even thrive! And it's because of you and our incredible staff that makes the b**r, serves the b**r and prepares the great food we put out! Thank you for all of you that continue to ask for (when you don't see it) and buy (when you do) the Civil Life when you are at your favorite pub or restaurant! It's a crazy competitive market and this means the world to us.

As soon as the "parade" was over, I told myself, that the 2nd Civil Life Parade was the last Civil Life "Parade"! If you have attended our Anniversary Party in the past you know that it is a skit driven event and I don't think I could write a more fun and completely exhausting play. It's never rehearsed (pretty obvious) and it's always written the week of the event. This one was written Wednesday and re-written Friday and by Saturday morning there are always jokes added as I do my final before show review. By the end of it, I truly hope the memory stays with you long enough that you remember the Civil Life when you need a place to go or b**r to drink or food to eat. Looking back at the pictures and seeing all of you smile, will always be the fuel I need to keep this place going.

As the owner of the Civil Life, I wear a lot of hats or costumes, as you will see in the below parade and Tyler Small's ability to capture it is second to none. Bill Streeter is working on video for it as well. A huge heartfelt thanks to Tyler Small for the incredible photos of the parade and events on Saturday! You can find him on instagram (tylersmall314). Please hit him up for any big event you are having!! I am so honored to also call him a friend as our daughters have been good friends for quite some time being in both day care and grade school together and our paths cross at St. Louis' best event Northside Community Housing's Trap Run!

The Civil Life Anniversary Party skit is always written a few days prior but some planning does have to happen early. In true, Jake (me) fashion, typically the whole play gets written on Wednesday or Thursday of the week of the event and then completely re-written on Friday and sometimes even Saturday morning. There were several jokes "Burton on Holt" that were added the morning of during my final review. It's an exhausting and rewarding process, kind of like running the Civil Life.

I dedicated the parade to my friend Mike Hines and I'll leave you with this from one of my spoken parts.

"I want to dedicate today’s parade to my friend Mike Hines, who passed away a few days ago. Mike was as fine of a man that has ever lived. There is a pint in the pub for him today, his name is spelled in scrabble letters where he sat and filled out NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLES. Mike NEVER missed an anniversary party and he so believed in the Civil Life. He’s glad you do too. "

Drink Civil Life B**r and love each other. Thank you for your support!

Photo collection by SMALL Productions

09/30/2026

It's Wednesday, you know what to do! Come see us. Eat tasty Wagyu burgers!

Thank you to everyone that made it out to our Anniversary party and our "parade"!

09/27/2026

It is with a much open heart we say thank you to all that made it out to our 15th Anniversary Parade. It’s a long road for small businesses these days and somehow we keep finding a way. We know the reason why and it’s because of all of you that believe in us. Thank you! We are closed Sunday Sep 27th to rest and regroup and chart our course for the next 15 yrs!

09/25/2026

It's another one of a kind Civil Life Anniversary Party!!!! No doubt, we will be re-enacting a few scenes from our first parade 15 years ago but then wow, put on your seatbelt. This isn't your normal parade parade... but what else would you expect from the Civil Life. Please listen to our warning to arrive early whether you join in the park or at the brewery, parking will be more tight than usual. It's Pride Fest in Tower Grove Park (we didn't know that when we picked this date 1 yr ago). Hope you can make it. We appreciate you!

09/23/2026

It's Wagyu Wednesday and it's our Anniversary Party Week! Come get a Wagyu Burger today and then make sure you come to our big Parade on Saturday, Sept. 26th If you want to join the parade head to TGS park and get there between 12 and 12:33. Short speech followed by a walk to the brewery. Or be at the Brewery at 1 pm. Get there early to get parking. It will be packed. Parade will come start between 1:05 and 1:10. Cheers!

09/22/2026

We are retracing our parade route from 15 yrs ago this Sat. Sep 26th! It is another not to be missed Anniversary Party! Please get there early as Parking will be tight. If you are joining the parade park somewhere on Oak Hill (It’s pride weekend and we didn’t know that when we picked the date last year). Bring your fun self and get there at 12 if you want to be on our planning committee. Speech 12:33 Followed by a walk to the brewery at 12:45. Or be ready and in place by 1 pm at CL. Its just a “normal” Civil Life parade. Don’t miss it.

09/21/2026

Wow, it's almost here. Our 15th Anniversary Parade will happen Sat. Sept 26th. If you are walking with us park somewhere on Oak Hill and then meet us at Oak Hill and Arsenal in Tower Grove Park by the tree pictured at 12:00 pm be on time if you want to be on our planning committee. It is also Pride Weekend in the park but we didn't know that when we planned this date a year ago so please give yourself a little time. We will be easy to find. I'll give a short speech at 12:33 pm and then we begin the walk to the brewery tracing our steps from our grand opening parade in Sept of 2011. St. Louis Caledonian Pipe Band is playing and we have a few surprises. Yah, your right, when have there only been a few surprises. We have a b**r load of surprises! If you are meeting at the brewery be there by 1 pm and in place. Parking will be tough so give yourself time. You will want to be in place to see the parade and be first in line for b**r. Every single year we biggify (new word I made up) our Anniversary party and we did it again. Thank you so much for getting us to 15! Let's have some fun and see if we can make it to 21 for our 3rd Parade! But first we celebrate 15!!!! And that is what I looked like 15 years ago. Dylan looked like that too. Mike still looks the same.

09/16/2026

I feel like I need to do a better job on social media of displaying my full skill set. Come get the Porter and make the summer go away

09/16/2026

We hope you will be able to join!!! It's going to be a day you will never forget! Be there, Be Civil. 12:33 pm Corner of Arsenal and Oak Hill. Don't be late.