About
As the No.1 Brewer in Wales, S.A. Brain & Co. Ltd are fiercely proud of their Welsh heritage and the fact that they remain family owned. Founded in 1882 by Samuel Arthur Brain and his uncle Joseph Benjamin, S.A. Brain & Co. Ltd have been brewing beer in Wales’ capital for more than 135 years.

In 2012 they opened the Brains Craft Brewery which allowed them to brew in smaller batches and be more experimental with their flavours. To date they have produced over 100 craft beers, and the Craft Brewery has become an integral part of the Brains beer range.
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berkshirejohn (10479) reviewed
Boilermaker from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.1/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 4.5
33cl bottle from Morrisons. Attractive golden amber colour with a loose cream head; malty aroma with some wishy-washy hops; rich malty flavour with lots of caramel, and short burst of rather indistinct hops; and then perhaps a hint of whisky at the finish. At least they are trying to do something exciting down at Brains.
Tried from Bottle on 09 Apr 2013 at 15:33
Theydon_Bois (48345) reviewed
Boilermaker from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
5.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Bottle at Chriso Easter "Flags of many nations" Tasting, 31/03/13 thanks to Leighton. Clear mid amber with a thin off white head that departs edgeward. Nose is malt, bready dough, light spice, wheres the hops and not really getting the whisky either? Taste comprises caramel, sugars, malt, light hops. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Drinkable but mediocrity screams from this one!
Tried from Bottle on 08 Apr 2013 at 13:50
jimgreen (22359) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.3/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottle from Tesco. Poured a dark amber with a thin white head. The aroma is malty and a little hoppy leading to a medium bitter flavour with lots of hops and a nice bitter palate. Deserves a higher rating IMO.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Apr 2013 at 12:12
Deanso (16228) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.5/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
33cl bottle courtesy of and shared with JMGreenUK. Thin creamy white head. Clear golden blond pour. Subtle hoppiness. Nice brew.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Apr 2013 at 12:03
Tommann (7797) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
330ml bottle. Pours orange gold with a large head. Aroma is bready malt, with a little acrid lemon and lime hops. Taste is mostly sherbet lemon with a gassy finish.
Tried from Bottle on 03 Apr 2013 at 14:38
cagarvie (40318) reviewed
Boilermaker from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
bottle at chris... amber ... soft fruit nolsr ... soft nellow fruits ... peachy and aprioct... soft fruits ... mellow fruit ... light peach zezt
Tried from Bottle on 31 Mar 2013 at 10:09
berkshirejohn (10479) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
33cl bottle from Morrisons. Golden amber with a ring of white head; the aroma is spicy and malty, with traces of raw alcohol; the body is sweet and malty with some orangey fruit; the hops are definitely there but do not make much of an effort, adding some boiled cabbage before a dry and lightly spiced finish with a touch of citrus. Good to see a major brewer experimenting like this, but they are someway off the mark.
Tried from Bottle on 12 Feb 2013 at 11:55
laiti (11644) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
33 cl bottle @ Gastropub Soho, BBE 08/2013
Aroma has fruits, English hops, hay and toffee. Flavour has English hops, hay, toffee and some nettles. "An American style IPA" says the label but this is still too british.
Tried from Bottle on 12 Feb 2013 at 03:49
danlo (13924) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.2/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
330ml bottle. Clear golden dark amber colour, bubbly white head leaving some lacing and citrus hop aroma. Sweetish caramel malt taste with tangy grapefruity bitterness and orange, pear & biscuit notes. Slick mouthfeel with moderate carbonation, warming dry bitter finish. OK
Tried from Bottle on 06 Feb 2013 at 12:49
Jamesie1857 (4757) reviewed
Barry Island IPA from Brains Craft Brewery
13 years ago
6.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 4 Overall 7
330ml bottle - A great looking golden body, white fluffy head, loads of grapefruit in the nose along with some bitter tropicals and a hop laden nose. Surprisingly thin on the palate, but the taste is pretty stereotypical IPA, with the usual tang and a bitter finish. It’s okay, but the way this was marketed I’d hoped for so much more.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Jan 2013 at 15:34