Black Country Ales

Microbrewery in Dudley, West Midlands, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated with 36 Venues

Established in 2004

Contact
69 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, Dudley, DY6 7FD, England
Description
The Black Country Ales Brewery has been established through a genuine love of traditional ales. We brew our outstanding selection of beers using only the finest ingredients to the highest possible standards. Brewing started on the site around 1834 by Edward Guest, taken over by the Bradleys in 1870, and moth balled after WWII. Much of the original equipment is still in use, and we’re very proud to still be holding on to our connection to the brewers of yesterday.

When we bought The Old Bull’s Head pub in 1999 it came with a boarded up brick building at the rear that was referred to by the estate agents as “a two storey outhouse”. Imagine our amazement after the purchase when we finally entered the building to find three magnificent wooden fermenting vessels and other brewing equipment going back years. We love running pubs but there had never been any plan to brew our own beer until this great find. It took a few years to set up and we have had a lot of mistakes to learn from too but in 2004 beer started flowing again from the Gornal brewery.

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6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at the Wellington Arms, Bedford. Slightly hazy amber/copper. Strong malt in the aroma, along with raisins, forest floor and sourdough. A bit of astringency. The taste is an improvement on the aroma: sweetness with a wallop of sour-bitter thrown in. A hint of woodsmoke in the finish. Fruity, bittersweet aftertaste. Medium body, slightly oily.

Tried from Cask on 18 Feb 2019 at 00:00


8.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Cask at the Craven Arms, Birmingham on 29th December 2018. Rated as a novelty ale. Dark brown copper with a pale tan foam. Sweet plum fruit aroma with biscuit malts and cheesecake. Fresh blend of tart and sweet plums in-mouth with a transient hint of cherries. Some upper mouth bitterness in an otherwise cherry plum finish. Full marks for not over sweetening this beer. Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel. Very enjoyable.

Tried from Cask on 29 Dec 2018 at 17:47


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask at the Swan, Oldbury. A mid golden yellow coloured pour with a lasting creamy white head. Aroma is subdued, earthy grains, light tang. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, Base malts, light lemon zip, tangy, grassy hop. Palate is semi sweet ok cask condition.

Tried from Cask on 28 Dec 2018 at 16:09


5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the Swan Oldbury. A nut brown, muddy coloured pour with a creamy beige head. Aroma is sweet, jammy fruits, apricot jam, earthy toasted malts. Flavour is composed of medium sweet, plum jam, nutty twiggy malts. Palate is quite sweet, creamy, ok.

Tried from Cask on 28 Dec 2018 at 16:09


7

Tried from Cask on 29 Nov 2018 at 18:06


6.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Half pour (cask) at The Wellington. Light amber with small creamy head. Gentle malty aroma and taste, creamy feel. Chewy.

Tried from Cask on 18 May 2018 at 15:36


5.3
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4

Rerate May 2018: not great, but not as bad as the initial review suggests. There's an odd minty note which doesn't belong in a mild. The weakest link in Black Country's stable. ------------ Original rating May 2013: Odd tasting dark mild. Sweetish chocolate aroma. Notes as diverse as pork scratchings to mouthwash and a couple of other things besides. Not to my taste, but we can’t like everything can we?

Tried on 08 May 2018 at 23:00


5.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask @ Royal Oak, Shrewsbury. Copper-brown, clear, with a creamy head and a session texture. It has light malts and a light sweetness.

Tried from Cask on 25 Apr 2018 at 16:34


7.5
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7

From cask at Imperial Tavern, Worcester, Worcestershire, with OGJ 02.01.18. Clear mahogany. Dense and persitent beige head and lacing. Aroma and taste of dark crystal malt, dark caramel, brittle and dark berries. Soft and silky mouthfeel.

Tried from Cask on 02 Jan 2018 at 13:25


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Craven Arms, Birmingham on 28th December 2017. Crystal clear brown with lasting pale tan foam and no lacing. Rich, sweet toasty malt aroma. Roast caramel malt in-mouth and a fruity finish. A good body and smooth mouthfeel.

Tried from Cask on 28 Dec 2017 at 15:04