A true classic Brains Dark has been brewed continuously since the 1920s and is still winning awards today. For many years it was our biggest selling beer and it remains one of our most popular and recognisable pints.
Chocolate malts help create this distinctive treacle coloured yet easy-drinking ale with its distinctive creamy head.
Chocolate malts help create this distinctive treacle coloured yet easy-drinking ale with its distinctive creamy head.
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5.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading. Pitch black with a beige head; sweet malty aroma; thin and watery body with diluted fruity malts - a bit like a week fruit squash; the finish has some light, dry, roasted malts.
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Apr 2009
at 09:21
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
(Bottled, ABV 4,1 %, BB 07/2009). Dark brown color, good creamy beige head. Sweet caramelly, a bit metallic aroma. Quite carbonated. Roasted, coffeish, a bit caramelly and milky. Some hops in the aftertaste. Good beer, but overcarbonated. Not sure if this is really "bottle conditioned".
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Oct 2008
at 05:45
6.5/10
â
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask conditioned (hand pump) at the Brains bar at the GBBF 2008. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Moderate tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of malts and chocolate. The flavour is moderately roasty with a slight acidity.
Tried
from Cask
on 16 Aug 2008
at 17:36
5.8/10
â
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5
Cask@GBBF.
Appearance: Very dark brown. Tiny amount of head. Aroma: Quite sweet and fruity. Berries. Taste: Very dry, some malt and hops. Watery. Bitter-ish aftertaste. Info: 1/3 pint, 8/8-2008, 180/300
Appearance: Very dark brown. Tiny amount of head. Aroma: Quite sweet and fruity. Berries. Taste: Very dry, some malt and hops. Watery. Bitter-ish aftertaste. Info: 1/3 pint, 8/8-2008, 180/300
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Aug 2008
at 17:49
6.3/10
â
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask @ GBBF 2007, London. Dark brown color with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, milk chocolate, toffee, brown sugar, light smoke. Flavor is moderate sweet and light light bitter with a average duration. Body is light to medium, texture is watery, carbonation is flat. (090807)
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Oct 2007
at 15:53
6.4/10
â
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
(Cask at GBBF, London, 8 Aug 2007) Black colour with brownish notes, brief beige head. Roasted, malty nose with notes of chocolate. Roasted, malty taste with some chocolate and toffee. Rather dry, with a delicate hop character. Classic, traditional mild
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Sep 2007
at 08:45
6.6/10
â
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask@GBBF2007. Dark amber colour, small brown head. Atroma is leather, some caramel, wood and grass. Flavour is wooden, quite dry, hoppy and slightly yeasty. A bit boring. 6 4 6 3 12
Bottled@Teerenpeli, Tampere. (4.1%). Very deep brownish amber colour, mediumsized brown head. Aroma is rye and mild roast. Flavour is smoked wood, roasted malts with a slightly vegetably edge. Ashy and grassy finish. Very richly carbonated. Didn’t seem that bottle conditioned to me... 7 4 7 3 14.
Bottled@Teerenpeli, Tampere. (4.1%). Very deep brownish amber colour, mediumsized brown head. Aroma is rye and mild roast. Flavour is smoked wood, roasted malts with a slightly vegetably edge. Ashy and grassy finish. Very richly carbonated. Didn’t seem that bottle conditioned to me... 7 4 7 3 14.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Aug 2007
at 04:00
6.8/10
â
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Pours a near black colour with a strong tan head. aroma of roasted coffee, dark chocolate and dried fruit. Smooth and light in the mouth, the flavours were of coffee and liquorice with a dry finish. Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jun 2007
at 14:17