CIVIL LIFE™ BREWING COMPANY
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10/31/2010

New Doors and the Concrete Jungle

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Left: The new doors that will lead you from the parking lot into our micro-brewery.  Below:  Many of this blog’s readers have asked me over the past several weeks to show them what 22 tons of gravel looked like.  Well, you can stop asking. 

The all important plumbing rough in was finished last week and as long as it is functional we will be able to make good on that promise to have indoor plumbing. The first week of November brings to town an exceptionally skilled concrete laborer that will not only construct the eventual beer garden in the front of our building but also put in one of those nice long strolling sidewalks that will lead millions of people (or maybe at least thousands but without a doubt at least a few hundred and in a worse case scenario my family will show up) into the micro-brewery.  He is also set to build a ramp into our 492 square foot cold room.  So the week is pretty much full of Concrete setting up next week when Jimmy, the carpenter, starts the hammers into motion as the framing of the tasting room goes up.  Though hammers don’t really fly anymore on construction sites as I have found out but nail guns do. 

But please don’t let your liver get to excited yet.  Sure it seems like things are moving fast but we are still at least 5 months away.  Unlike CVS, who put up a major store at the intersection of Chippewa and Gravois in the time it took me to write this email, we are just barely keeping one foot in front of the other.  It is also important to note we have a slightly smaller crew of just two humans.  Unfortunately for progress sake,  the two humans on this job get sidetracked occasionally by some tasty barley sodas.  (by occasionally...I mean a lot...actually mostly just on Fridays.) But I digress or maybe regress...

Tomorrow, I am renting one of those nice walk behind concrete saws which with the help of the bobcat (pictured right) and operation skills of Mike (to be pictured later) will make way for a massive amount of new concrete.  Ramps, sidewalks and patios which are all very important to our mission at the Civil Life.  They say you should always build a business on solid ground.
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10/24/2010

Premier Stainless to be in the House

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Scrap Metal Pickup and Brewhouse Decision
Scrap metal being picked up from the warehouse. Jay (pictured) is possibly the greatest recycler in the State of Missouri. Notice the care at which he places a red flag on the back of his haul after strapping  down the large galvanized metal air vent. Fits nicely, Jay. Keep up the good work. See photo: below. Whoa: Dios Mio! Ever been clothes lined by a truck? Jay (driving not seen) leaving with another load of scrap metal.

We moved forward this past week with the biggest decision of all.   After some deliberation and lots of research we chose to purchase our 20 Barrel brewhouse from Premier Stainless from the Great debt ridden state of California.  Unfortunately, our purchase will do little to turn the economy around in California.  But it will, do the most important thing for the Civil Life project by becoming the vessel that brings Civil Life to the earth, in particular to a very small part of the earth located at 3714 Holt. A place that is currently over-run by large tractors that have ripped up concrete and by humans that are carefully laying the sewer lines, bathroom plumbing and of course the all important staple in any brewery, the trench drain.  

Deciding on a brewhouse was the second most important decision thus far.  It goes without saying that the first decision was to keep the “No Guns or Weapons Allowed” signs that were posted on the brewery entrance doors upon building purchase. Quite honestly, I am leaving that sign up in case we are ever robbed at gun point.  Can’t you just imagine the robbers disappointment after learning he (or she) must leave and come back without their gun.  Foiled I say, foiled by a sign.  

We, by we, I mean my brewer (to be disclosed at a much later date) spent the last few weeks checking references on our final two candidates and that process alone seemed to cement in our minds the decision to proceed with Premier Stainless.  Please note:  References taken in confidence can quickly unveil many things about companies.  Our emails produced responses: “Everything has worked extremely well”. “For a couple of very minor issues, I have found the guys at Premier to be very helpful.”  “They are my vendor of choice for new.”  But what really swayed us to Premier was this quote copied from somewhere on the net by me that captures my concerns.  “Purchasing from Company named removed is like winning a tiger in a raffle.” (Just kidding on that last one there is no Brewing Manufacturer by the name Company name removed.)

Moving on. Other updates, the new sewer line is set to be finished by this coming weekend and I am proud to announce that we have decided to go with indoor plumbing in our tasting room. Despite my traditionalist approach and attempts to save some money whenever possible (which so far has been deemed not possible) during this project we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to offer to our tasting room guests standard amenities.  We are also kicking around the idea of both heating and cooling the place.  Coming up:  the beer garden (next week) and I have been persuaded by my carpenter’s advice and have taken his recommendation to put walls up in the tasting room.  (Week after next)  

On another note,  I locked my keys in my car yesterday...with it running and had to have my dad bring my spare set from home.  First time ever on the running part and first time in 20+ years on the locked in my car part.  Prompting me to ask the question, “Should I be in charge?”  To which I answered, “No one else even works here.”  After which, I realized I was both questioning and answering myself thus causing me to repeat, “Should I be in charge?”  Continue then repeat. 

Stay tuned and buckle up... the ride is about to start.  Please keep your hands and feet inside of the brewery at all times.  
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10/9/2010

Big decisions

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This week it hits.

This week becomes a pivotal week for the Civil Life Brewing Company.  We are in the midst of deciding on a brewhouse.  Oddly, the brewhouse is more expensive than the warehouse in which it is going to reside.  I have spent a lot of time discussing with the warehouse the fact that as much as we love it, it soon will be acting merely as a structure to house our Micro-brewery.  Sure it’s sad but it’s happy at the same time. 

We have been toying with the idea of moving up to a 20 barrel size and have been sending emails all over the country reviewing references for the two companies which made our final cut.  

There is really only one driving force behind our decision.  Can the system we purchase make great beer?  And if we purchase the more expensive system will I ever be able to move out of my parents house?  Luckily, news came in this week that a friend of mine is getting rid of his van and that’s right, I know a little special place down by the river.  The truth is this, when embarking on this sort of adventure every dollar counts because as loans and payables increase the chances for success can be greatly diminished.  I have a very large Excel spreadsheet now which seems to be telling me something but numbers can’t always equate or bring upon correct choices.

To which, I will spend this week mulling over our options.  Oscillating and thinking.  Of course, this means I will be heading out a few nights this week to grab a beer.  I have determined my best and most clear insight arises after a mere 2 beers.   Oddly, due to the law of diminishing drink returns, my worst decisions come sometime after 6 beers.  That point between 2 and 6 though is rather quite nice.  

So, that being said... I am going out for only two beers at least 3 times this week.  

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10/1/2010

Putting it back together again

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Now that the building has been torn apart,  It’s time to start putting it back together.  Ray’s admiring his work and Jim is checking on the J Channel.  Ray is standing approximately where you someday will sit on our patio enjoying our beer. 

The destruction is done and it’s time to start moving forward.  Our Architectural plans have been approved and well there isn’t much else else to tear down.  

Jim, my carpenter and I spent a day getting the stucco and old windows out from the front of our building.  We then invited Ray to come on by the warehouse and give the front wall of our cool room a much needed exterior face lift.  By the time you are reading this, the front of the warehouse will already be primed waiting for a decision to be made about a final color.  

Jim and I will be there most of the rest of the year building and getting the place ready for next April.  Jim will be doing most of the building and I will be trying to make sure I don’t hammer my drinking hand to the wall. 

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    Hello earthlings. I have been sent here to open a brewery. I hope you have time over the next year to check in from time to time and see our progress (or lack there of at times).  

    I look forward to helping you come along for the ride through this blog. For me, there is no better feeling than creating a place and a product that becomes part of peoples lives. I am focused, immensely passionate and hopeful that each of you one day will toast “To the Civil Life.”  
    - Jake

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    Morning beer delivery at Tynan’s Bridge House Bar in Kilkenny, Ireland.

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Hours :
Due to COVID19 our Pub will remain closed until further notice.  We are now selling direct out of our online store at https://civil-life-online.square.site/ Until then, please look for our beer at St. Louis retailers and grocery.   If you have any further questions please use the email link below.  Thank you. 

Pickups are Fridays and Saturdays 2 to 6  & Sundays from 2 to 5 pm.  Orders will be only taken on line and will be paid prior to pick up.  

We appreciate your support. 
                                    Be Civil.    

NO PHONE NUMBER.  
  • Due to our small inside pub space we currently do not feel we could be safe to open for our staff and customers.  We currently are hoping to get our patios re-modeled during this shutdown and are hoping for an outdoor only opening in late September or early October. Hopefully.
  • Until then OUR PUB IS SADLY CLOSED FOR THE TIME BEING DUE TO COVID19.   WE WILL RETURN AND PROSPER.

PLEASE ALSO LOOK FOR OUR BEER AT LOCAL RETAILERS!
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  •  Please access our online store by clicking the link above 
  • ​PLEASE ALSO LOOK FOR OUR BEER AT LOCAL RETAILERS
The Civil Life Brewing Co. 3714 Holt Ave. St. Louis, Mo 63116, USA, Planet Earth 
  • BEER TO GO
  • Civil Blog
  • About us
    • Contact us
    • Locating Us!
    • EMAIL LIST
    • Social Media Feeds
    • OUR LOGOS
    • Q & A
    • Who Are We?
    • The Civil Solar Panels
    • Employment
  • On Line Store