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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6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cardiff Mini-break Beer#11. Dark, not black, as some might expect. Has an interesting mix of bitter-sweet dark malts that provide lots of taste to what otherwise would be a slightly thinnish textured brew
Tried
from Cask
at
Duke of Wellington (Brains)
on 09 Mar 2026
at 21:55
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask. Black beer with a tan head. Roast aroma. Roast and light malt flavor with light cocoa. Medium bodied. Roast and light malt linger with light cocoa.
Tried
from Cask
on 15 Oct 2024
at 15:46
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Tap. Dark brown with beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, nuts, light roasty notes. Tadte is very similar. Good.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Oct 2024
at 17:13
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
On cask at City Arms, pours a deep dark brown with an amber tinge and a medium tan head. Aroma is very subdued, with gentle toasted bready, not much else. Flavour is smooth and clean, with lightly toasted bready. Not much else to speak of. It's clean and drinkable, but with little character. Fine.
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Nov 2023
at 14:29
8/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pint at The Old Arcade, Cardiff. A very dark, bright, almost black hazy brown pour with a finger of tight, tan head. Visually reminds me of a Guinness. Nose is also somewhat reminiscent of Guinness, but it tends more towards a stranger (and better) ale: Black Acid, a strange co-op between Lervig and Oud Beersel. So we have licorice and chocolate, but also lambic-y tinges of green apple and wild yeast. Cool. Mouth is dry, never full (nor even close), quite crisp but not tart. Bitterness is quite evident in the long finish. Best Brain's so far.
Tried
on 01 Oct 2023
at 20:38
7.1/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Roast and nut. A little coffee. Black pour with great head on cask. Light bitter end. Creamy consistency. Cask at City Arms.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Aug 2023
at 17:27
4.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Cask at Alexandra Hotel, Derby. Served through a sparkler. Pours deep brown with a beige towards tan cap. Aroma: toasted bread, caramel, also liquorice & chocolate hints. Taste: light sweet & bitter, dry, light roasted malts, bread, caramel. Light body with fine carbonation. Spot on, delicious!
Tried
from Cask
at
Alexandra Hotel
on 28 Feb 2022
at 23:08
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
Cask at Duke of Wellington. Almost black, some light comes in through the bottom of the glass and presents mahogany and ruby hues. Silky, creamy head. Aroma is light roast. More roast in the taste, light nutty flavors. Creamy, velvety texture. So full of flavor at only 3.8%.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Nov 2019
at 14:55
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Draft @ The Wellington, Brecon. Black with a very small head. Aroma of roasted malts. Taste is roasted malts with a hint of chocolate and liquorice. Very creamy mouthfeel but watery. Smooth. Low carbonation. All in all a very mild taste experience but what else to expect from a Mild? Nice and super duper sessionable.
Tried
from Draft
on 01 Apr 2017
at 05:53
5.4/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask @ Chelmsford Winter Beer Festival. Small head with short duration. Color is dark brown. Aroma and taste are grain, malt, bread, caramel and hops.
Tried
from Cask
on 16 Feb 2017
at 07:33