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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7.5/10
Bottle @ Herøya. Clear, deep amber body under a slightly pale, beige head. Nice aroma of dark mslt and dark chocolate. Taste simular to aroma, moderat bitterness. Smooth, balanced and tasty. Very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Gulating Kristiansand
on 18 Jul 2026
at 14:14
5.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4
Utseende: Sort.
Lukt: Kaffe, lakris, sjokolade.
Smak: Kaffe, lakris, svak syrlig avsluting, anelse vassen.
Skum/kullsyre: Dekkende skum, heng.
Medium: Rating:8-6-5-4-4=5.3, Bottle@500ml, ABV@4.1%, Når@2026.05.15.
Hvor: Kjøpt@Vaaland, Bryne, Nydt@Hjemme.
Navn: Dark (Bottle)
Stil: MILD - DARK
Bryggeri: Brains
Lukt: Kaffe, lakris, sjokolade.
Smak: Kaffe, lakris, svak syrlig avsluting, anelse vassen.
Skum/kullsyre: Dekkende skum, heng.
Medium: Rating:8-6-5-4-4=5.3, Bottle@500ml, ABV@4.1%, Når@2026.05.15.
Hvor: Kjøpt@Vaaland, Bryne, Nydt@Hjemme.
Navn: Dark (Bottle)
Stil: MILD - DARK
Bryggeri: Brains
Tried
from Bottle
from
Vaaland 1889
on 15 May 2026
at 19:23
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Old rating from 2014 - 500ml bottle, pours near jet black with a beige foamy head. Aromas & tastes of dark fruits, chocolate, coffee, flora & roasted malt. Medium body. Creamy finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Apr 2025
at 10:33
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Pours black with moderate sized beige head, lovely lasting top with lacing. Aroma is light roast, coffee, treacle, fruity. Taste is sweet, coffee, nuts, fruity, some chocolate. Nice depth to this mild.
Tried
on 31 Dec 2024
at 02:23
5.1/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Mørk uklar brun med kort beige topp som blir liggende som et tynt slør. Aroma; Malt, lett karamell, brødtoner, hint av sirup. Smak; Malt, karamell, brød, sirup, mørke urter. Kort. Kjøpt på qoop, på Riksgrensen.
Tried
on 15 Jun 2024
at 17:30
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
How: Bottle.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Dark brown colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Malt, chocolate, some liquorice, caramel.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, chocolate, some liquorice, caramel.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Dark brown colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Malt, chocolate, some liquorice, caramel.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, chocolate, some liquorice, caramel.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jun 2024
at 16:47
6.5/10
Tried
on 08 Jun 2024
at 10:18
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle. Dark brown/black sporting a good beide head. Aroma of malts and dried fruits. Taste of chocolate, malts, raisins, molasses and dried fruits with tiny hints of liquorice. Distinct bitterness. Low carbonation. Thin but also creamy mouthfeel. Very neat and a little bit more tasteful than the cask version I reckon.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Nov 2022
at 17:50
6/10
Tried
on 06 Aug 2022
at 17:48
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Panda at home, thanks to SHIG, 30/08/21. Light black with a good sized tan head that stays for the show. Nose is cocoa powder, toffee, dried fruits, brown bread, nutty tones. Taste comprises brown bread, fruit slice, cocoa sprinkle, brown sugar dusting, raisins. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Solid flavoursome mild.
Tried
on 30 Aug 2021
at 17:42