If you’ve ever been handed a pint that looks more like soup than beer, you’ve probably wondered — why do some pubs serve flat ale?

At The Old Cross Tavern, we take pride in pouring a proper pint — one that breathes, not fizzes. But that fine balance between life and lifelessness is easy to get wrong.

The truth is…

Cask ale isn’t supposed to be fizzy like lager — it’s naturally conditioned, gently carbonated, and full of subtle flavours that pressurised keg systems would ruin.

But if a pint’s gone truly flat, that’s usually down to:

Overaged beer – a cask left on too long after tapping.
Poor cellar care – wrong temperature or inconsistent venting.
Tired lines or pumps – a sign someone’s not cleaning properly.
Rushed service – pulling the pint too hard or too fast.

The fix?

Patience and pride. A good publican tastes, tests, and changes casks at the right time.
That’s why you’ll always find eight immaculate handpulls at the Old Cross — never a flat pint in sight.

Cask ale’s natural condition is what makes it special — here’s how it differs from keg →