Thornbridge Hall - Bracia
Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, England 🏴
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Honey Special|
Score
8.07
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Bracia is the Celtic name for a beverage brewed in Iron Age Europe with reference found on a Roman inscription at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire. Little is known about this except it was high in alcohol, brewed with cereals and, most probably, honey.
Thornbridge’s Bracia has been infused with a generous amount of dark and bitter Chestnut Honey. This was sourced by Head Brewer Stefano Cossi from Beekeeper Onelia Pin in the Alpine foothills of North East Italy. Aromas are of chestnut, honey, cappuccino, white chocolate, dark fruits, vibrant fresh peel. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich, with notes of coffee, chocolate, liquorice and hazelnuts with warming alcohol, cocoa and a little peat in the finish.
Malts: Maris Otter, Brown, Munich, Dark Crystal, Black, Chocolate, Peated and Roasted Barley.
Hops: Target, Pioneer, Hallertau Northern Brewer and Sorachi Ace.
Bracia can be cellared for up to one year, maybe longer. Its flavours will evolve so why not enjoy the experience of opening a bottle every once in a while.
Thornbridge’s Bracia has been infused with a generous amount of dark and bitter Chestnut Honey. This was sourced by Head Brewer Stefano Cossi from Beekeeper Onelia Pin in the Alpine foothills of North East Italy. Aromas are of chestnut, honey, cappuccino, white chocolate, dark fruits, vibrant fresh peel. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich, with notes of coffee, chocolate, liquorice and hazelnuts with warming alcohol, cocoa and a little peat in the finish.
Malts: Maris Otter, Brown, Munich, Dark Crystal, Black, Chocolate, Peated and Roasted Barley.
Hops: Target, Pioneer, Hallertau Northern Brewer and Sorachi Ace.
Bracia can be cellared for up to one year, maybe longer. Its flavours will evolve so why not enjoy the experience of opening a bottle every once in a while.
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7/10
A deep dark ale with a thick creamy brown head. In aroma, sweet fruity caramel malt with dark fruits, molasses, alcohol warmth, very nice. In mouth, a nice sweet fruity caramel chocolate malt with dark fruits, light peated notes, alcohol warmth, very nice. Bottle BB 25/11/2016. So 4.5 years old.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Apr 2021
at 22:05
8/10
Don't remember it being so..... Bitter on the after taste 👅
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Mar 2021
at 20:57
8.1/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Vintage 2015, BB 13/03/20, 500ml bottle, rich dark ale infused with chestnut honey, 10% abv
AROMA: mild oxidation notes (dry cardboard) that fades away after some time in the glass; surprisingly bright honey aroma on the nose for over 5 years old bottle, fore me more fragrant floral honey, hints of bitter chestnut honey in the back, soft port wine notes, toasted sugars, mild cacao powder & dark chocolate, toasted bread with honey spread, hints of bitter bread crust, perfume, subtle essence of tart plums, a touch of raisins and figs; soft spicy notes at the nose but no obvious sign of alcohol heat;
TASTE & MOUTHFEEL: soft & creamy carbonation with very tiny bubbles, medium body, slightly light feel on the edges, slick feel; moderate sweet onset of dark melting caramel, brown sugar, hints of butterscotch, soft honey presence in the middle that is quickly cut by quite a solid toasted, roasted bitterness that lingers on for a while; bitter bread crust, citrus zest (associating at orange/grapefruit peel), soft dark fruit esters on the exhaling along with the barley coffee, burnt malts (hints of ash) and dry/old grass in the aftertaste; alcohol is remarkably well hidden for 10% abv
OVERALL: that one aged nicely, oxidation note faded quite quickly away; smooth and well balanced dark ale with sufficient complexity of toasted, roasted malts and honey addition. Pleasant sipper on a cold November evening.
AROMA: mild oxidation notes (dry cardboard) that fades away after some time in the glass; surprisingly bright honey aroma on the nose for over 5 years old bottle, fore me more fragrant floral honey, hints of bitter chestnut honey in the back, soft port wine notes, toasted sugars, mild cacao powder & dark chocolate, toasted bread with honey spread, hints of bitter bread crust, perfume, subtle essence of tart plums, a touch of raisins and figs; soft spicy notes at the nose but no obvious sign of alcohol heat;
TASTE & MOUTHFEEL: soft & creamy carbonation with very tiny bubbles, medium body, slightly light feel on the edges, slick feel; moderate sweet onset of dark melting caramel, brown sugar, hints of butterscotch, soft honey presence in the middle that is quickly cut by quite a solid toasted, roasted bitterness that lingers on for a while; bitter bread crust, citrus zest (associating at orange/grapefruit peel), soft dark fruit esters on the exhaling along with the barley coffee, burnt malts (hints of ash) and dry/old grass in the aftertaste; alcohol is remarkably well hidden for 10% abv
OVERALL: that one aged nicely, oxidation note faded quite quickly away; smooth and well balanced dark ale with sufficient complexity of toasted, roasted malts and honey addition. Pleasant sipper on a cold November evening.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Pivoljub - The First Beer Shop in Slovenia
on 08 Nov 2020
at 20:16
7/10
500ml bottle with best before 13/02/20 (5 year's shelf life);Medium complex aroma of toasted dark sugars, nicely noticeable dark honey but
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Dec 2019
at 23:15
7.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle thanks to bursprak. Pours pitch black with a small brownish head. Aromas of sweet malt, light hoppy, dusty, light hoppy, roast, licorice. Taste has bitter roast, hops, licorice, leather, coffee, salmiak like finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2019
at 16:55
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. malty salty aroma with a hint of roastl. Malty sweet flavor with mango, citrus and salty notes. Tart. A bit like a roasted gose.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2019
at 12:06
7.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle thanks to Bob! Pours near black with a light brown head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has sweet grains, tobacco, light peat and toffee with a hint of bread underlying. Flavor has tobacco and toffee with some toffee, caramel and bread backing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Mar 2019
at 02:52
7/10
Tried
on 30 Mar 2019
at 21:50
7.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Medium strong, roast, caramel, cofee. Foam - quite thick, some roast, soft, little creamy, some sweetness and honey. Taste - roast, coffee, roast, bitterness in background, some caramel. Was expecting bit more from it, still ok.
Tried
on 20 Oct 2018
at 15:31
8/10
Backlog
Tried
on 06 Sep 2018
at 09:57