Cask Ale Breather – Autovent / Race Ventilator

Cask Ale Breather – Automatic Cask Vent

The Cask Ale Breather, also known as an Autovent or Race Ventilator, automatically controls air entering a cask during dispense. It provides an alternative to manually managing hard and soft spiles and is suitable for both upright and traditional laydown cask ale systems.

Manufactured from high-impact-resistant, food-grade material, this automatic cask vent can also be used with compatible flexible ale extractors.

How the Cask Autovent Works

The breather contains a silicone duckbill non-return valve. As beer is drawn from the cask tap or served at the bar, the resulting vacuum opens the valve, allowing air into the cask.

This controls air admission during service and can help extend the serving life of your ale when correctly installed and maintained. Results depend on the beer, cellar conditions and cleaning practices.

This is an air-admitting Autovent, not a CO₂-fed cask breather.

Suitable for Upright and Laydown Dispense

The Autovent is suitable for:

• Traditional horizontal cask installations
• Upright cask dispense systems
• Compatible flexible ale extractors
• Pubs, breweries, taprooms and beer festivals

Installation

Prepare the opening in the cask shive using a suitable handheld venting punch or barrel vent peg, then fit the breather according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The breather comes apart for access to the internal valve:

1. Unscrew the cap.
2. Remove the silicone duckbill non-return valve.
3. Clean the components with warm soapy water or a suitable cleaning solution, following the manufacturer’s guidance.
4. Use a suitable cleaning brush to remove deposits, then rinse and reassemble.

Regular cleaning helps keep the valve operating correctly.

Key Features

• Automatic cask ale breather
• Also known as an Autovent or Race Ventilator
• Automatically admits air as beer is dispensed
• Silicone duckbill non-return valve
• High-impact-resistant, food-grade construction
• Suitable for upright and laydown cask systems
• Compatible with flexible ale extractors
• Removable cap and valve for cleaning