Brains Black
Brains

Brains BlackBrains Black
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From:
Brains
 
Wales, United Kingdom
Style:
English Stout
Ranked #64
ABV:
4.1%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,303
Avg:
3.38 | pDev: 13.31%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
29
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 29, 2022
Added:
Aug 13, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  5
Brains Black is an exciting new stout from Brains. This finest Welsh stout has a bitterness and a distinctive dark malt flavour that is instantly recognisable as a true reflection of this style of beer. It has already proven extremely popular in consumer taste tests appealing to both new and established stout drinkers, and combined with its distinctive and contemporary identity, Brains Black is set to become a classic stout.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by laituegonflable:
Photo of laituegonflable
Reviewed by laituegonflable from Australia

2.57/5  rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours a very dark brown, almost black, colour. Head is creamy and dense with nice sticky lace. Looks nice.

Smells kind of banana-esque with a sweet grain nose mostly, but hints of fruit esters as well - banana yes, but also apple pear and sultanas. Hint of brown sugar as well; really could do with more dark or roasty aroma. Bit meh.

Taste is a little better. First impression is more very bland English ale stylings with that bland, slightly fruity grain note. Gets a bit of darkness midway, hints of some chocolate grain but never really gets off the ground and remains very bland, mild and uninspiring. Really not much to report and am a bit disappoint.

Watery again, not much to it. Quite smooth but also just thin and uninteresting.

Very sessionable beer, but I wouldn't really drink this if I had the choice.
Nov 18, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.52/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Black colour, creamy beige head. Moderate but nice aroma with mild roasty notes, liquorice and chocolate, some fruity hints too. Smooth mouthfeel. Smooth and mellow flavour too, very mild roasty notes, more of a dark mild than a stout, really. Hints of coffee and dark chocolate, but fairly dry. Minimal hops.
Mar 29, 2022
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.62/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nitro-tap at Duke of Wellington, Cardiff, Wales

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a half finger high creamy light beige head that has excellent retention properties and hardly died down at all.
S: Moderate aromas of dark malts are present in the nose along with hints of coffee beans.
T: The taste follows the smell and has lots of flavors of dark malts and espresso-like beans. There are some hints of roastiness in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The malts lend some dryness to the finish.
O: This is a classic and easy drinking stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap
Oct 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by TheGent from New Jersey

Aug 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.09 by arzt from Germany

Feb 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.63 by Oleg85 from Russian Federation

May 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by Fettpopps from Massachusetts

Dec 07, 2017
Photo of Hanglow
Rated by Hanglow from Scotland

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Nitro

Looks the part, low aroma, taste makes me think of a bitter with added treacle/molasses. Not the best
Dec 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.24 by Kiro from Russian Federation

Nov 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by 123321123321 from Alabama

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by MMansfield from Canada (NS)

Aug 10, 2015
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

3.14/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Right after opening I heard the nitro canister to expel its magic. Nice nitro presentation with a black color with red rays once exposed to light and a thick consistent beige head with eternal retention. The head was as dense as it could be.
Predominant aroma of milky chocolate, pretty straight forward. Maybe some pears.
Flavor with notes of English earthy hops, wood, vanilla, grains, toasted malt, tart coffee and a bit of ashes.
Dry and bitter aftertaste. Bitter comes definitely more from hops and roasted malt.
Very light body hidden between the smooth feeling that nitro gives.
Average stout with the differential on its clear present English hops. It sure could have a bolder body diminishing the watery feeling.
Apr 10, 2015
Photo of Roman_V
Rated by Roman_V from Russian Federation

4.3/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
One of the best stouts, maybe even better than Guinness draught.
Mar 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Fernando_Bastos from Brazil

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Sarmento from Brazil

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Antiantianti from Russian Federation

Oct 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Sam-B from England

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by lrowland270 from Pennsylvania

Aug 13, 2014
Photo of doktorhops
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia

3.42/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
This brew was spied in sitting on a shelf in Plonk, how could I resist? "Braaains, the drink of choice for zombies everywhere!*" - it was ripe for parody, and I'm always up for parody (as long it's safe parody - remember to always wear a crash helmet whilst reading or performing parody). So Brains is made in Wales, which probably makes it the first Welsh beer I've ever wrapped my gob around. The marketing is explicitly styled in the vein of Guinness, and at 4.1% ABV I'm not expecting much.

Poured from a 440ml nitro-can into a nonic pint.

A: "Black as the ace of spades they were" to borrow a Monty Python quote, with a creamy 2cm beige head.

S: Roasted coffee/barley and not much else at all. Is this disappointing? For an Irish Dry Stout not really - they usually have a one-dimensional aroma, it's all about the flavour baby!

T: Not bad, not bad at all - it's Guinness with a hint of smoke. So yeah, roasted coffee/barley with a touch of chocolate and a long dry (it is a Dry Stout after all) finish. There is a metallic twang in the after taste (I hate you metallic twang!).

M: Mouthfeel impressed me most of all, for a 4.1% ABV Ale it has more body than expected (which is mid to light) and flat carbonation.

D: Overall as Guinness-clones go this is one of the better ones, borderline Murphy's good [steady on there buddy!]. Yes it is light on things like: aroma, flavour, mouthfeel, ABV, everything else that matters, etc... BUT! And this is a big BUT - this is a style characteristic of ALL Irish Dry Stouts. Sorry to be emphatic with my caps-lock key - I really wanted to drive home that point rather than give it cab fare. Irish Dry Stouts can be a bit bland, which I account to the fact that your average Irish drinker is seeking instant (and appropriate) Irish level drunkenness, also referred to as "the craic" hence the numerous stereotypes about them (and my ethnic background is mostly Irish so yes it's ok for me to perpetuate this stereotype: I have SPC† from my Irish ancestors).

Food match: Irish cider with an Irish whiskey chaser... wait you want to know about food, right, Irish stew then.

*Specifically Welsh zombies.
†Stereotype Perpetuation Clearance.
Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Pigs from Georgia

Jun 11, 2014
Brains Black from Brains
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 29 ratings