SA
Brains in Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales 🏴
Bitter - Ordinary / Best Bitter Regular|
Score
5.91
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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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6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle from my “cellar” – been there for years ! Aroma is toffee sweetness with some faint hops. Pours a dark amber with a vigorous off-white head. Creamy texture in the mouth but low carbonation. Flavours dominated by malt, but also nuts, caramel and some orange peel. A dry bitter finish at the end. Pleasant but unremarkable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Jun 2020
at 17:04
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
Cask at DoW. Medium golden with a tight, creamy head. Light, sweet malty aroma. Taste becomes more white bread, light malty notes. The cask body saves it though, smooth and silky.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Nov 2019
at 15:24
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle. Amber in colour, with a slight, off-white, head. A malty bitter, with a funky edge, caramel notes and moderately bitter finish. Ok.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Sep 2019
at 10:10
4.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 3.5
From cask at Crosse Keys, London, 24.08.19. Translucent golden amber. Slighty sour and oxidized aroma and taste, with some grass, sorrel and malt. Sourness and some bitterness is lingering on.
Tried
from Cask
on 24 Aug 2019
at 14:48
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
11 Feb 19. Mørk gyldenbrun. Lavt tett skum. Nøttearoma. Smaken tørket aprikos. Søt tørr avslutning.
Tried
on 15 Feb 2019
at 21:41
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Hand-pulled cask pint on 13th Nov 2018; The White Ball, a Wetherspoons in Tiverton, Devon. Golden amber body, creamy head in colour and texture, decent lacy too. Malty lead in both the aroma and taste, light sweetness throughout on a fruity hop base. Had this many times, but somehow it's never been rated by me before. I like it.
Tried
from Cask
on 16 Nov 2018
at 20:31
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at Ashbridge Inn, Cwnbran. Amber colour, white foam head leaving lacing and fruity malty aroma. Taste is sweetish, malt, fruity, floral hop with earthy bitterness. Light to medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry bitter finish. Quite OK.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 May 2018
at 17:39
8/10
Tried
on 09 Jan 2018
at 23:17
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 4.5
500ml bottle from RusBeerShop. Pours clear amber with a small white head. Aroma is malt, caramel, nuts, faint hops. Taste is malt, caramel, light bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2017
at 08:41
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5
Bottle. Backlog rating from bottle collection and historic scoring. Source not recorded. No tasting notes kept, just rating.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Sep 2017
at 13:51