Brains Bitter - SA Brain & Company Ltd

rarbring

Sweden

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The brew is slightly hazy light amber, has an off-white small head with little lacing and small curtains.

Smelling of grains. grass and nuts.

The taste starts with bread and honey, then some pears and also bitter oranges.

Little carbonation, a fresh texture, medium body and a dry finish.

A good medium alcohol brew, sessionable. Gravity cask at The Bree Louise.

Serving type: cask

04-30-2012 16:07:31 | More by rarbring

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on caskinto a pint glass in a pub in Cardiff.

Pours a golden amber colour with a rather nice head.

Smells nicely of light malts and slight hops.

Tastes very well balanced between faint but nice and citrusy hops and light malts. Very refreshing and drinkable.

Overall a nice session beer.

Serving type: cask

03-17-2012 15:33:45 | More by CwrwAmByth

kojevergas

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-draught into an imperial pint glass in a bar in Cardiff, Wales. Reviewed from notes. It was called "Brains Smooth" at th e bar.

A: Pours a one finger head of lovely brilliant cream lacing, fantastic thickness, and great off-white soft mocha consistency. The head retains very nicely and is quite appealing. Colour is a semitransparent gold.

Sm: Cream, bland hops, and light malt. A very light aroma all around.

T: Marvelous cream opens to a simple full barley body with cream notes throughout. A good effective bitter, but a bit bland. It's refreshing, and built well for its aims. Nicely balanced, but then it's just one note. No alcohol comes through. Resembles a cream ale in a curious way.

Mf: Smooth, wet, and incredibly light. I don't know how they keep it this fragile without making it watery. Complements the creamy taste very well.

Dr: A refreshing bitter that pairs well with food. It tastes a bit like nothing, but that seems to be partly the intention. Amazingly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2011 22:11:44 | More by kojevergas

dansmcd

Australia

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Big craggy head leaving massive sticky lacing.

S - Not much aroma (as I have found typical for English Bitters), but there is a floral presence with a touch of malt.

T - Not quite bland but not exactly exciting either. Features some hops up front.

M - Full, smooth and creamy.

O - A pretty typical but well-balanced Bitter. Very sessionable.

Serving type: can

08-08-2011 00:42:10 | More by dansmcd

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on tap in a small pub in the western part of England. Served on cask, the beer had a golden-amber hue with a small creamy head. The aroma was faint, but presented a little pale malt and distant hops. The taste is the most interesting aspect of the beer. It has a pronounced acidity that creates a certain crispness, but also distracts from the underlying malt and hop flavors. The malt comes across next, with a constant undercurrent of flavor without sweetness. Hops are present, but remain firmly in the far background, except for a touch of bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with a moderate lightness in heft. It's a reasonably good session beer, and the acidity both adds and subtracts (it's a little overdone) from its attractiveness. Worth having, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way for one.

Serving type: cask

08-23-2008 13:05:59 | More by Suds

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A lovely welsh bitter... which i prefer in general to most english bitters... i enjoyed this New Years Eve in Cardiff at Dempseys across from the Cardiff Castle... this helped to make a great night...

A: Medium amber with a thin-medium off white head... fades nicely

S: Floral hops and bakery malts play off each other

T: The aroma profile plays a big part in the taste with the floral hops smashing up front and then giving way to rich malts typical of the bitter

M: Medium bodied... smooth and velvety

D: A good one. I'd enjoy again and again

Serving type: cask

02-20-2008 17:59:51 | More by callmemickey

doublediamond

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

In general EB is not my favorite style of beer but this is one exceptional beer. I've enjoyed Brains on several trips to the UK but unfortunately cannot find it anywhere in US ...but would love to have another one someday soon. Anyone know where it can be found in NJ/NY? This is one of those brews that if you can find it by them all of the shelf. Enjoy a few with prime rib, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach.

I love Brains

Serving type: nitro-bottle

08-26-2005 13:17:12 | More by doublediamond

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brains bitter on cask at both Dempseys and the Goat Major in Cardiff, Wales (both pubs are within a few blocks of the awe-inspiring castle grounds. Anyways...This one is light/medium amber with a nice head for a cask brew. The aromas are simple and quite one-dimensional here, but the hops and malts are in a very nice balance to one-another. The taste is floral and hoppy up front, and chewy and bready in the middle. Mouthfeel is good, as is drinkability. A nice pint when you are in Cardiff.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2005 08:00:17 | More by francisweizen