About
At Brains we are proud to be Welsh & proud that we remain family owned.
Brains beers were brewed in the Old Brewery on St Mary Street from 1882 right up to 1999 when operating from such a tight city-centre site became unviable. Fortunately, the Cardiff Brewery behind Cardiff Central station was up for sale and Brains production moved to a new home. However exciting new redevelopments in the centre of the city have led to a further move and the building of the brand new state of the art Dragon Brewery in Cardiff Bay which was opened in March 2019.
Brains beers were brewed in the Old Brewery on St Mary Street from 1882 right up to 1999 when operating from such a tight city-centre site became unviable. Fortunately, the Cardiff Brewery behind Cardiff Central station was up for sale and Brains production moved to a new home. However exciting new redevelopments in the centre of the city have led to a further move and the building of the brand new state of the art Dragon Brewery in Cardiff Bay which was opened in March 2019.
Part of the group
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Near black with a small bubbly tan head and a soft milk chocolate and treacle aroma. Light to medium bodied, fresh up front with coffee bitterness, some dark fruits and soft roasted malt, finishes dry and bitter
Tried
from Cask
at
Shrewsbury Hotel
on 16 Mar 2025
at 12:40
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Pint on cask at the gate house.
Medium creamy beige head. Clear black pour. Lots of chocolate
Medium creamy beige head. Clear black pour. Lots of chocolate
Tried
from Cask
at
The Gate House (JDW)
on 14 Mar 2025
at 17:18
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Cask handpull at John Logie Baird Wetherspoons Hastings. Very dark cola colour near black. Lasting tan head. Drinkable porter woth flavours of chocolate and fig and dates and a little coffee. Decent condition some dryness on the finish. Yes bot bad. Some decent chocolate flavour and dark dried fruits. Ok
Tried
from Cask
at
John Logie Baird (JDW)
on 14 Mar 2025
at 11:30
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask at the Back of Beyond (JDW), Reading. Deep mahogany with a thick yellowy-beige head and a light sparkle.. Smooth creamy mouthfeel cut through with a touch of ash. Blackcurrant up front, tobacco, latte and a little milk chocolate follow with vanilla coming through quite strongly in the finish. Possibly a little too smooth for its own good, but still pretty enjoyable.
Tried
from Cask
at
Back of Beyond
on 12 Mar 2025
at 12:59
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Beer Number 22 at the Wetherspoon Spring Beer Festival 2025, leaving 6 of 30 still untried plus one of the two variations on the previously tried. Smoothish porter, enhances its dark to roasted taste by giving it a silky feel. Fair nose too.
Tried
from Cask
at
Lord Rosebery (JDW)
on 10 Mar 2025
at 15:03
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5.5
Texture 9
Overall 6.5
As one of the two Wetherspoon pubs in York is being refurbished it scuppered my plans to pick up a few more Ale Festival ticks on an extended 3 hour break between changing trains. I ended up with one at the one open pub, but that's allowed me to sample this new one for me in a new venue in the much visited city for me. Clear copper-glowing dark amber beer with a glorious head. Malty, and the bready name is not wasted here either, there's plenty of those notes too.
Tried
from Cask
at
Black Horse, York
on 10 Mar 2025
at 13:49
8/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 6
Flavor 9.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask at Square Peg, Birmingham. Pours a very dark reddish-brown with minimal (but lasting) tan head and good lacing. The aroma has roast malts and biscuits plus some hints of chocolate. In the mouth it is quite sweet with a creamy texture. Roast malts and chocolate in the flavour plus traces of vanilla with black wine gums and liquorice coming through later. A little bitterness in the finish. This is rather nice.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Mar 2025
at 00:00
Tried
from Cask
at
The Commercial Rooms
on 05 Mar 2025
at 10:04
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Old rating from 2010 - 500ml bottle, pours golden with a small white head. Aromas & tastes of light citrus, biscuit, dry crackers, tea leaf & earth. Moderate body. Dry mild bitter finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Feb 2025
at 11:26
5.6/10
—
Appearance 5
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Old rating from 2001 - Pint from the cask. Pours amber with a white head. Aromas & tastes of fruits, bread, grain, grass & malt. Medium body. Mild bitter finish
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Feb 2025
at 02:24