About
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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6.5/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Half-pint, cask ale at Prince of Wales. Many thanks to the barman for this one. A misty pale golden body, covering white head, spotty lacing. Promising smell of fruity hops, citrus moments to the fore. Mixed taste character of oily hops, citrus, and bread-like malts. Satisfying piney bitterness to the finish. Decent. (Birmingham, 25.04.2025)
Tried from Cask at Prince of Wales on 25 Apr 2025 at 13:50

6.5/10 — Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
On cask at Old Bull's Head, Gornal - hazy yellow body with a lasting white top. Biscuity, cereal kind of malt vibe. Bit of a bitterness at the back. Decent one but not one to use as a session.
Tried from Cask on 19 Apr 2025 at 17:12

6.5/10
Tried from Cask at Joiners Arms, Lincoln on 01 Mar 2025 at 14:21

7.1/10 — Appearance 4 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
500ml bottle from brewery. Chestnut pour, small beige fizzy head, minor retention. Aroma is caramel and sweet malts for the most part but there is a hint of chocolate and dark berries. Taste is semi-sweet, caramel, malts, light berries, chocolate, modest bitterness. Medium body and fizz, slightly chewy and dry. Nice balance. Good stuff this and underrated I think.
Tried from Bottle on 11 Jan 2025 at 02:01

6.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 6
Cask at The Wellington, Birmingham. Clear gold, decent white head. Reasonable zesty and pithy citrus pale with a light hop tingle. However has a slight floral resinous-syrupy mouthfeel which is not great. Its ok.
Tried from Cask on 02 Jan 2025 at 03:06

7/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Half at the Wellington, Birmingham. Clear amber, small off-white head with good retention. Its malty, raisins, caramel, zesty bitterness. Smooth, soft carbonation. Quite tasty, enjoyed it.
Tried on 31 Dec 2024 at 02:23

6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Tried on 31 Dec 2024 at 02:15

6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Tried on 31 Dec 2024 at 02:15

6.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Tried on 31 Dec 2024 at 02:13

7.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Cask at the Wellington, Birmingham: Dark brown reddish brew with an good bitter taste and some hints of fruits and caramel.
Tried from Cask on 29 Dec 2024 at 11:39