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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5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Utseende: Gulbrun.
Lukt: Malt, svak fruktig.
Smak: Malt, svak fruktig, bitter avslutning.
Skum/kullsyre: Tykt dekkende heng.
Medium: Rating:8-4-5-4-5=5, Bottle@500ml, ABV@4.3%, Når@2026.05.15.
Hvor: Kjøpt@Vaaland, Bryne, Nydt@Hjemme.
Navn: SA (Bottle, Can & Keg)
Stil: BITTER - ORDINARY / BEST BITTER
Bryggeri: Brains
Lukt: Malt, svak fruktig.
Smak: Malt, svak fruktig, bitter avslutning.
Skum/kullsyre: Tykt dekkende heng.
Medium: Rating:8-4-5-4-5=5, Bottle@500ml, ABV@4.3%, Når@2026.05.15.
Hvor: Kjøpt@Vaaland, Bryne, Nydt@Hjemme.
Navn: SA (Bottle, Can & Keg)
Stil: BITTER - ORDINARY / BEST BITTER
Bryggeri: Brains
Tried
from Bottle
from
Vaaland 1889
on 15 May 2026
at 18:31
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
50 cl bottle from Factory Foods & More
Thick off white head. Clear light amber pour. Light bitterness
Thick off white head. Clear light amber pour. Light bitterness
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Mar 2025
at 18:44
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle from Home Bargains. Clear amber with nicely formed off-white head. Aroma of malt, toffee, grass, moderate sweetness. It has quite a moreish sweet toffee, malt, burnt bread crust with a slight herbal and grassy hop finish. Decent bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jan 2025
at 03:04
8/10
Tried
on 06 Aug 2022
at 17:50
6.1/10
—
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
6/10
—
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
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
6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Can @ Home. Pours deep golden with an offwhite head. Aroma of malt, caramel, little wood, flowers. Flavor is light sweet, little bitter, malt, caramel, bread, wood, light fruit, flowers. Medium body, average to lively carbonation. 050717
Tried
from Can
on 05 Jul 2017
at 10:59