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
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 3
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Half pint at The Yard, Cardiff. Reddish, dark brown body topped by a medium off-white head leaving great laceworks on the glass. Mild, dark malty aroma. Light malty taste with notes of smoked liquorice. Some vague bitterness in the finish. Watered impression (02.02.2007).
Tried
on 11 Feb 2007
at 07:27
6.1/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask: Almost black coloured, firm, creamy stable head; delicate aroma: fruit (raisins), roasted malt; mild, bitter (+a little bit sweetish) flavour; short finish: dry, roasted and bitter. A very pleasant, smooth beer, kind of a "diluted Guinness"........
Tried
from Cask
on 30 Jul 2006
at 14:18
5.8/10
β
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask half-pint at NERAX on 5/4/06. Medium-deep, chocolate brown pour with an almost deep purple/violet sheen on the edges. Dark beige head is poorly retained, with some light bubbles forming a ring on the edge. Clarity is high. The nose is fudgy, almost like moist chocolate cake, but muted by soily, nutty-like hops and a touch of some meatiness? I donβt know if itβs DMS or just a strong vinousness mixing with the chocolate, but it is not clean and not welcomed by the chocolate and touches of roast that seem much more delicate. Flavor again shows this quality, lightly meaty, almost smoked, I suppose, with a salty, heavy cream-like flavor and lightly boisterous purple berry notes on the end. Very unique, and the puzzling thing is that everything is very muted and mild (though my descriptions donβt make it sound so). Fairly watery, though not outlandishly so, ending quite bland and very lacking of malt sweetness. Light roast and touches of creamy sweetness, with some roast peanuts, or salted meat. Odd. But on the plus side, itβs not worty at all, I didnt even realize it was only 3.5 abv and it drinks like a 4.5 or higher beer.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 May 2006
at 21:36
6.4/10
β
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
[Cask at GBBF, 2004] A red-brown beer with no head. The aroma is sweet with primary notes of caramel and lesser notes of chocolate. The flavor is cask flat, sweet with notes of roasted malt, bitter hops, and hints of flowers leading to a dry end.
Tried
from Cask
on 09 Apr 2005
at 14:13
5.9/10
β
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask. Fruity aroma. Almost black colour, light brown head. Flavour is slightly fruity with a hint of liquorice and salt. Nice roasted aftertaste. Slightly watery, easily drinkable. Some might find it boring, but it is not bad for its ABV. The first cask ale I ever learned to enjoy.
Tried
from Cask
on 11 Jan 2005
at 11:49