Bracia
Thornbridge Brewery

BraciaBracia
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From:
Thornbridge Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
Ranked #1
ABV:
10%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,619
Avg:
4.23 | pDev: 10.17%
Reviews:
57
Ratings:
180
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 18, 2023
Added:
Apr 16, 2009
Wants:
  70
Gots:
  23
Bracia is the Celtic name for a beverage brewed in Iron Age Europe with reference found on a Roman inscription at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire. Little is known about this except it was high in alcohol, brewed with cereals and, most probably, honey.

Thornbridge's Bracia has been infused with a generous amount of dark and bitter Chestnut Honey sourced from the Alpine foothills of North East Italy.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and a bit of lacing.

This smells like heavily roasted malt, peat, light smoke, caramel, nuttiness, dark chocolate, and honey.

This is classified as a strong ale, but it’s really, really reminiscent of an imperial stout. There’s a ton of roast here, and just the lightest hint of earthy peat and dark smokiness. There’s some chocolate and a definite rustic nuttiness, along with heavily roasted coffee and caramel. The honey adds a pleasant sweetness that helps offset the bitterness here.

This is medium bodied and fairly creamy, with no real booziness to it.

I imagine this would take really well to barrel aging, given the sharp edges. I do really enjoy the sharp edges, however.
May 18, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I stumbled upon this one almost entirely by accident today at a local store that I haven’t been to in quite some time. I knew the name looked familiar when I saw it on the shelf, so I just had to check. As soon as I did, I grabbed a bottle. Let’s see what the highest rated English Strong Ale on BA is all about

Pours a very dark brown with a finger of tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

Oh man, this has an awesome blend of sweet malt and fruit notes in the nose that I’m really digging. I’m picking up on aromas of dates, sweet caramel, golden raisin, molasses, brown sugar, dark bread, port wine, toffee, light tobacco, and honey

While I still very much enjoy the taste of this, it doesn’t quite hit the same beautiful sweetness on display in the nose, opting for something a tad more boozy. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting tobacco, brown sugar, sweet honey, fusel alcohol, raisin, molasses, light toffee, and dry oak. The swallow brings notes of golden raisin, molasses, toffee, dark toast, sweet honey, fig, black tea, light tobacco, and a touch of cocoa powder

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes a tad watery but with a nice fruitiness to amp it up a bit

This is definitely a unique beer. Such an interesting blend of notes going on here that makes for something awesome. I might have to pick up some more
Jan 12, 2023
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.42/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Managed to find a bottle, no idea the year though, but by the taste I am guessing younger. Very dark brown pour with a tan head. Just as described in the menu: hazelnut, earth, honey, dark chocolate, mild roasted malts and a big finishing chestnut. Smell has some licorice and light raisin lingering in the honey, but otherwise similar though sweeter as the roast and nuts depth doesn't translate as much as in the taste. Malty the whole way, thicker than expected, smooth, very warm, and rich for style
Sep 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by cozmo from New York

Sep 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.33 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Aug 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by Tmappin from Canada (NS)

Aug 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.16 by _Adam_ from Maryland

Feb 19, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
500 ml bottle, as Thornbridge Hall Bracia, at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Mildly roasty, nutty and malty aroma, hints of honey and chocolate. Smooth and rich flavour with loads of malty sweetness, but not cloying. Roasty notes / mild coffee, also notes of chocolate, honey and nuts. Decent hops in the finish and aftertaste, which also has faint notes of peat smoke. Excellent beer!
Jun 07, 2021
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Mar 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Mar 10, 2020
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.29/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from fridge temp. This one looks really nice. Pours jet black with tan head. Nose is charred wood, licorice, raisin, coffee, and dark chocolate. Taste is black licorice (dominates), chocolate, lactose, malts, sweetness, slight bitterness, and honey. Mouthfeel is thick and viscous. Overall, an amazing stout.
Aug 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.85 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Apr 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.38 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Nov 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.21 by HopBelT from Belgium

Mar 18, 2018
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.24/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from Bottle Shop- Druid St. Dark and smoky, near black with bubbly brown head. Aroma is campfire, taste is more stout-y, some chocolate. Warmth sneaks up and makes you glow. Once acclimated, this one rocks.
Mar 05, 2018
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 1 pint .9 fluid ounce bottle into glass. No dating information found on bottle or label.
Opaque black body. Fizzy tan head settles to ring fed by bubbles. No lacing.
Aroma of dark fruit, caramel, licorice, coffee, a little chocolate, and sweetness. Peaty.
Taste is sweet honey, along with chocolate, coffee, licorice, toffee, and dark fruit/pear. Also bitter hops. Peat as it trails off.
Full mouth feel, somewhat coating, kind of hot.
A beer like a liqueur, lots of tastes involved, quite rich and heavy. Honey sweetness is balanced by the dark notes. I like the peat.
Feb 11, 2018
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a blackish body with minimal tan head that sticks around. Aroma is basically dark fruits like figs/raisins/prunes and some sugariness which I assume is honey. Beer is sticky, strong and slightly boozy so you get noes of dark fruits, honey/toffee, and also minimal notes of dryness like nuts and bitter chocolate and/or coffee.
Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.32 by TheCrowsEye from California

Jan 13, 2018
Photo of drmeto
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
L:
-pours a dark brown with faint ruby tinges and a small to medium,foamy,beige head
S:
-chocolate,banana,coffee,fudge,molasses,cinnamon,licorice,leafy
T:
-coffee,fudge,nutty,honey,chocolate,spicy,cinnamon,caramel
F:
-light to medium carbonation
-medium to full body
-alcohol noticeable
O:
A fantastic Dessert Beer.Not too sweet, not too boozy.Perfect for Winter.
Fans of Imperial Stouts should get this.
Dec 29, 2017
Bracia from Thornbridge Brewery
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 180 ratings