First brewed in 1958 there has been much confusion around the legendary ale’s name ever since.
Does it stand for Special Ale? Or Samuel Arthur? Or is it Skull Attack? And to be honest its true meaning is so lost in myth and mystery that we aren’t quite sure anymore.
Back in the day, SA was seen as a much stronger alternative to the other brews on offer which gave it a certain reputation, yet despite its full flavour, it’s surprisingly session-able!
Over time SA has become the toast of the Welsh nation. Our renowned premium bitter ale is copper coloured and has a nutty richness derived from Pale and Crystal malts and three hops; Challenger, Goldings and Fuggles.
Does it stand for Special Ale? Or Samuel Arthur? Or is it Skull Attack? And to be honest its true meaning is so lost in myth and mystery that we aren’t quite sure anymore.
Back in the day, SA was seen as a much stronger alternative to the other brews on offer which gave it a certain reputation, yet despite its full flavour, it’s surprisingly session-able!
Over time SA has become the toast of the Welsh nation. Our renowned premium bitter ale is copper coloured and has a nutty richness derived from Pale and Crystal malts and three hops; Challenger, Goldings and Fuggles.
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6.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Pint from the cask at the Kings Head, Salisbury. Pours brown with a white creamy head. Aromas & tastes of fruits, caramel, biscuit, grass & malt. Medium body. Light to moderate bitter finish
Tried
from Cask
on 28 Jan 2025
at 12:28
6/10
Tried
from Cask
on 30 Nov 2024
at 12:30
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask. Amber color with off-white head. Aroma of grainy malt, caramel, touch of hops. Taste is grainy malty, touch of caramel, shy hops. OK.
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Oct 2024
at 17:21
5.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask. Amber beer with a cream head. Light malt. Light vinegar and light malt flavor. Medium bodied. Light vinegar and light malt linger. Started to turn.
Tried
from Cask
on 27 Feb 2024
at 18:01
5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
On cask at Cambrian Tap, pours a clear amber with a small white head. Aroma has gentle bready malt, some stale fungal notes. Flavour is more or less the same, with stale bready malt and some fungal notes. Shitty even for a cask bitter.
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Nov 2023
at 16:06
5.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
--Cask at The Isambard Kingdom Brunel (JDW), Portsmouth. -- Clear nut brown. Caramelly, leafy nose. Sweetish with light body and rounded mouthfeel. Cooked vegetables, leafs and caramel. Mid bitter finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Nov 2023
at 11:18
8.5/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Half pint at Rummer Tavern, Cardiff. An amber to orange, slightly cloudy pour with a fully-lacing, off-white, tight head that lasts forever. Aroma is tart apple reminds me of cider), caramel, quince, custard. No carbonation whatsoever. Dry onset, tart mouthfeel (again, pretty much like cider), medium bitter, very long finish. Boy, did I enjoy it.
Tried
on 30 Sep 2023
at 17:03
5.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
A little more flavour than the SA gold, but not a ton more. Dark copper pour with good head and lacing on cask. Light tangy finish. Cask at City Arms.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Aug 2023
at 17:35
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Another beer that I have been drinking for years, but not got around to rating. I first drank this at the Old Brewery Tap in Cardiff in 1986, when it was superb. Anyway, cask at Moon Under Water, Wolverhampton. Pours the classic ‘bitter brown’ with a small white head and good lacing. Has a subtle aroma of malts and grains. In the mouth it is sweet and fruity with some underlying bitterness. Floral hops cvan be detected as well, and the finish is fairly bitter. This beer is living on its past glories.
Tried
from Draft
on 08 Sep 2021
at 22:59
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 7
Historical tick which I am adding as a rate so that I can see the impact it has on my stats. 500 Beers To Try Before You Die. Ogilvie's, Woking. This just did not do it for me.
Tried
from Can
on 06 Aug 2020
at 09:53