Brains The Rev. James
Brains
- From:
- Brains
- Wales, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
Ranked #145 - ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #35,955 - Avg:
- 3.52 | pDev: 14.77%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 31
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 25, 2026
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2005
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
The Rev. James beer is one steeped in history. Acquired after the purchase of Crown Buckley, Rev. James is brewed to an original recipe dating back to 1885. The beer is named after one of the original owners of Buckley Brewery, the Rev, James Buckley, a business man with two conflicting roles – saving souls and satisfying thirsts.
The Rev. James is brewed to a traditional recipe and has been described as having a flavour not commonly available these days. Full-bodied and warming, The Rev. James is rich in palate, spicy and aromatic with a deeply satisfying finish.
The Rev. James is brewed to a traditional recipe and has been described as having a flavour not commonly available these days. Full-bodied and warming, The Rev. James is rich in palate, spicy and aromatic with a deeply satisfying finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by James94 from England
4.14/5 rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark copper in colour, good head, good lacing
S: Fudge, yoghurt, malt, toffee
T: Biscuit, copper, malt, dark fruit
F: Low-medium bodied, slightly overcarbonated
O: 4.25
Jan 26, 2023S: Fudge, yoghurt, malt, toffee
T: Biscuit, copper, malt, dark fruit
F: Low-medium bodied, slightly overcarbonated
O: 4.25
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
2015: Cask half pint at The Cottage, Cardiff. Copper colour, moderate off-white head. Pleasant malty and nutty aroma. The flavour is moderately malty but still quite dry first, sweeter in the middle with a hint of caramel, and a dry and "dusty" finish. (The score is for this version.)
RBESG 2016 in Barcelona, Grand Tasting. 500 ml clear bottle, ABV 4.5%. Copper colour. Toffee, grain and dust in the aroma. Toffee and too weak hops in the fairly uninteresting flavour.
Oct 12, 2022RBESG 2016 in Barcelona, Grand Tasting. 500 ml clear bottle, ABV 4.5%. Copper colour. Toffee, grain and dust in the aroma. Toffee and too weak hops in the fairly uninteresting flavour.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.91/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had on cask. Clear brown pour with a tan cap but tons of thick lacing. Sweet malt, hint of tea, and light brown yeast in nose. Taste has sweet malt but now with some toffee to it, yeast with a helping of dried berries that is odd but fun, brown biscuit and a finishing kiss of grass. Feel is thicker in a frothy way, but not much dynamics or texture going on. Still, this was a unique twist to the style that was interesting
Oct 12, 2022
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.46/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Cask at Owain Glyndwr. Dark amber, clear, velvety head. Light malty aroma. Taste brings some nutty flavors, and plenty more malt. Creamy feel, light sweetness, tiny bitter bite.
Jan 06, 2020
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.65/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Cask at Duke of Wellington, Cardiff, Wales
A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high dense off white head that has excellent retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Moderate aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of fruity yeast and dark fruits and dark malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and is rather smooth with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I really liked the smooth mouthfeel of this beer. It was dark and complex for an English Bitter.
Serving type: cask
Oct 26, 2019A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high dense off white head that has excellent retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Moderate aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of fruity yeast and dark fruits and dark malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and is rather smooth with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I really liked the smooth mouthfeel of this beer. It was dark and complex for an English Bitter.
Serving type: cask
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.01/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.01/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
L- Very nice chestnut colour. Pours with thin white head that clears swiftly to lacing.
S- Rather indistinct to me, perhaps I'm congested.
T- Fresh on the front. Rather thin tasting in the middle considering it's 4.5%. Balanced hoppy dryness coming in at the end.
M- Light and refreshing. Sessionable.
O- A well balanced beer, on the lighter side of the dark beer spectrum. So, I'd drink it again, but I doubt I'd buy more myself as it's quite un-distinctive and there are many beers I know I can readily get that I enjoy far more than this.
Aug 02, 2018S- Rather indistinct to me, perhaps I'm congested.
T- Fresh on the front. Rather thin tasting in the middle considering it's 4.5%. Balanced hoppy dryness coming in at the end.
M- Light and refreshing. Sessionable.
O- A well balanced beer, on the lighter side of the dark beer spectrum. So, I'd drink it again, but I doubt I'd buy more myself as it's quite un-distinctive and there are many beers I know I can readily get that I enjoy far more than this.
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