Brains Dark
Brains

Brains DarkBrains Dark
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From:
Brains
 
Wales, United Kingdom
Style:
English Dark Mild Ale
Ranked #26
ABV:
3.5%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,665
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 13.61%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
50
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 18, 2024
Added:
Dec 10, 2004
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  3
Once called Red Dragon the famous pint of Dark has always been synonymous with Brains particularly in Cardiff with the dock-workers of old, the male voice choirs and with rugby fans down in the Arms Park. Nowadays its popularity has expanded and is the biggest selling dark mild in Wales, continually winning awards both nationally and internationally.

'Dark' is treacle-coloured with a creamy contrasting head. A velvety smooth pint, Dark has a combination of chocolate, crystal and brown malts providing a clean palate with hints of liquorice and freshly ground coffee.
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Ratings by samEBC:
Photo of samEBC
Rated by samEBC from Belgium

4/5  rDev +4.7%

Jan 21, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Steve555
Reviewed by Steve555 from Wales

3.87/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look is dark brown virtual black, tan head. Clingy lines of lacing. Smell is estery. Taste is of burned toast followed by a dank bitterness and a sweet taste comes through right at the end. Mouthfeel is delicately light and sweet. Easily the best and most famous from this brewery.
Feb 18, 2024
Photo of James94
Reviewed by James94 from England

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L: Pitch black in colour, good head, good lacing
S: Chocolate, blackcurrant, burnt sugar, malts
T: Chocolate, black coffee, burnt toast
F: Medium-to-well bodied, slightly overcarbonated

O: 4.5
Jan 22, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.34/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Cask conditioned (hand pump) at the Brains bar at the GBBF 2008. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Moderate tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, notes of malts and chocolate. The flavour is moderately roasty with a slight acidity.
Mar 29, 2022
Photo of Pah246
Rated by Pah246 from England

4.68/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Brains Dark is splendid on tap and from bottle. It is, however, WELSH beer not ENGLISH.
May 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by Macamah from England

May 02, 2020
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Cask at Duke of Wellington. Almost black, some light comes in through the bottom of the glass and presents mahogany and ruby hues. Silky, creamy head. Aroma is light roast. More roast in the taste, light nutty flavors. Creamy, velvety texture. So full of flavor at only 3.8%.
Nov 29, 2019
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.77/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Cask at Duke of Wellington, Cardiff, Wales

A: The beer is nearly jet black in color and just has a few traces of dark red near the edge of the glass. It poured with a quarter finger high creamy tan head that has excellent retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Light aromas of dark malts are present in the nose along with hints of dark fruits and chocolate.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of dark malts with faint bits of chocolate-like malts along with a very slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, a bit creamy, and incredibly smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has an amazing mouthfeel, almost feeling like it was served on nitro-tap except when it was hand pumped out of a cask.

Serving type: cask
Oct 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.22 by Beer_Rabbit66 from England

Apr 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.84 by georgeanthorpe from England

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.29 by BarleyAndBrett from California

Sep 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by cryptichead from Illinois

Jan 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Aug 27, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Spent only one night in Cardiff, so I was glad to find this.
The hops/malt balance reminded of the English and the dryness of the Irish.
Since Wales is westernmost and is across the straits from Ireland, I guess all this makes sense.
I'd buy this again if ever I find it.

Reviewed in Roger Protz' " 300 Beers To Try Before You Die!"
MJ's "Guide" gave it 2.5 of 4 stars, characterized in the Dark Mild style and called it "distinctively toasty." He also noted the brewery's slogan "It's Brain's you want." Something to think about.
Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.31 by MMansfield from Canada (NS)

Aug 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by elasticfoot from England

Jul 05, 2015
Photo of Andrewharemza
Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep brown color with high long lasting brown head. Aroma of chocolate and caramel. Sweet malty taste with notes of caramel. Very thick and creamy body. Slightly bitter aftertaste
Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by stampfler07 from Colorado

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sam-B from England

Aug 16, 2014
Brains Dark from Brains
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 50 ratings