I had a pint of the Brains IPA cask earlier in the week at the always a pleasure to go in pub, Goat Major.
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A light, copper colour ale with a fresh, hoppy taste and a clean, bitter finish. Brewed with two varieties of hops, combined with pale and crystal malts.
I liked it – as a session beer it would be fine as its a very weak 3.4% (what we seem to get from Brains anyway :))
I was a bit like Crown IPA (CPA?),which of course was taken over my Brains many years a go
I used to drink with my grandfather in his valleys club, it was more easy drinking than their not nice at all keg IPA Smooth.
When we are seeing barn (or shed) storming hoppy IPAs from the like of brewdog, it’s a disappointed that Brains could not gives us more flavour and show us that they are still a brewer of note and not just a pub/restaurant/hotel chain that brews half decent but predictably beer.
Iam not saying it was not a good pint, but it’s in a range of very similar beers from the Welsh brewery, they could have blown our red socks (with dragons on) off.
of course I will be having it again (once my tablets have worn off) but the price point will not win any fans (£2.60ish) when you can get a decent guest ale in other city centre pubs.
It will be a winner with the valley rugby fans coming down to the smoke, mind you.. but if in doubt have a pint of Brains Dark.
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