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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8.8/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
I love, love, love this beer. This is the one that turned me on to cask ale. This rating is from the Cricketers Arms, Bedford. Almost black. Full sandalwood head. Aroma of charcoal, liquorice, malt. Sublime taste. Sweet and full ending with a bittersweet finish. Dense mouthfeel for its strength. One of the best milds available.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 Oct 2013
at 14:23
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask-conditioned and tried on several occasions. Near black with tight, off-white head. Pleasant mild with a pronounced chocolate edge and touch of roast in the finish. Good.
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Sep 2013
at 17:09
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
GBBF 2013 backlog.
Head: coffee, small, frothy to creamy, avg. retention. Colour: red-brown, almost black.
Aroma: caramel, honey, sweet, burnt sugar, butty.
Taste: toasty, dusty/tarry, some chocolate.
Head: coffee, small, frothy to creamy, avg. retention. Colour: red-brown, almost black.
Aroma: caramel, honey, sweet, burnt sugar, butty.
Taste: toasty, dusty/tarry, some chocolate.
Tried
on 23 Aug 2013
at 08:59
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
From cask. Pours dark brown to black with a small tan head. Aroma is roasted malty, light breadish. Bitter, toffee malty and breadish. Bitter and toffee malty. Dry and roasted smooth malty finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 18 Aug 2013
at 08:34
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Gravity dispense at the Prince of Wales, Farnborough BF - 12/10/12. Dark mahogony brown approaching black in colour with a thin tan head. Dark malts on the nose, light mineral tones, a little toffee. Roast malt taste, toffee, touch of licqourice and a hint of chocolate. Medium bodied, light carbonation, fruity finish. Average but easy drinking.
Tried
on 14 Oct 2012
at 05:00
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 8
Gravity cask at the Bree Louise. Pours ruby-brown, no head. Light fruits and tar on the nose, with huge raisin notes. Mild dark malts in the flavor, very mild roast, very light sweetness. Medium in body with soft carbonation. Dry, extremely raisiny finish and, again, just lightly sweet. Alright beer, overall. I enjoy the raisin character but this aspect of the beer could stand to be bolstered by a bit more sugar.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Jan 2011
at 02:25
6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask @ Tennents Bar. Dark brown - ruby red colour with a creamy, dense tan coloured head. Nose has mild roasted malts, some coffee. Flavour has bitter roastiness, some fruits. A bit harsh. Fairly dry finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Sep 2010
at 05:08
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
Cask (Goat Major,Cardiff) - Very dark, almost black in colour with a tan head. Roasted malt aroma with a hint of coffee. Smooth tasting with coffee and a hint of plain chocolate. A decent mild.
Tried
from Cask
on 03 Sep 2008
at 18:52
6.5/10
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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