Brains

SA Best Bitter

ABV 4.2% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Mid-price • Flavour 6.5
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This is a well-known and popular brew from the Welsh brewery. The SA comes from the founder's initials (Samuel Arthur Brain, who bought the brewery in 1882), although popular misconceptions and affectionate renditions include 'Special Ale', 'Same Again' and 'Skull Attack'. It has a light, bubbly and reasonably long-lasting head; the aroma is quite rich and malty, with distinct fruit notes (plums?). On the palate it is chiefly characterised by rich malt and dark fruit, with a hint of hoppy bitterness in the background. Aftertaste is rich, malty and bitter-sweet with some grape or raisin notes creeping in. With complexity beyond its gravity, this is a terrific session beer, ideal as a rugby-watching pint.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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Review updated 21 July 1998

Comments

A decent enough bottled beer but it really kicks ass on draught.
Gareth Davies

brains is the best beer ever. Does anyone know where the shop went in cardiff. I want to get a yard of ale brains glass. :-)
josh

It's Brains that you want when you go to Wales, especially since they bought up Crown Buckley. Brain's Special Ale is a well established and well loved cask ale with a devoted following in the Cardiff area. My non-conditioned bottle had enough malt base to provide a reasonably fresh tasting beer. Plenty of fruit and nuts with a little spank of rusty iron, and then a delightful sprinkling of dusty hops on top. A well balanced and engaging Bitter, finishing with a juicy burst of fruit which lingers for the longest time as the hops gently return.
Silk Tork

Just had my first pulled pint of SA in Blackheath. Outstanding. Very satisfying but not overly filling.
Joseph Crews

SA - Commonly thought to be named after "Samuel Arthur", but actually the initials refer to "Same Again", because if you find a pint of SA in your local.....that's how you'll be ordering it.
Make sure you try everything else, because you won't need to after your first SA.
Gareth Norman

I think SA stands for sore arse! because the morning after you would sure find out..
Gwyn Matthews

i really enjoy the great taste of jenlain!!
charlotte

Had this one in the Goat Major pub in Cardiff. I could see the damn brewery from the street, and it tasted as fresh. Best beer I had in the U.K.
Aaron

great beer best pint aroud sponsered us 4 years and now wales
gazz,cardiff blues supporter

I have never tried a better beer, I'm proud to be half Welsh! It's a pity now every other beer tastes a bit shoddy.
Will Jones

Skull Attack! Yayy!!!! Ok, I's from Kairdiff I is....
Taf

i know im only a humble welshman :) but by god this is a good drink
Happy lad

I love this beer. I come from London but went to university in Cardiff in the late 80's. I've been coming back regularly ever since to catch up on my Brains!
Marcus

Worth visiting Cardiff for! One of the best pints in Britain.
Alan

I'm from Neath, S.Wales & I love a pint of Brains S.A. 'n' proud to be Welsh t00! Good olde 'Skull Attack' always hits da spot... mmmMMM!! :P
Jason Pike

This beer is one of the many reasons us English should love Wales. Whenever i visit the land of the dragon i just can't wait to get my hands on a few pints of this lovely brew. Just got back home from there and brought 16 cans back with me. One thing that annoys me: WHY IS IT NOT AVAILABLE IN LEEDS? This MUST be rectified.
Bully

Brains bitter is awesome it is, SA being the best of the lot, (but Brains brrr is alright too mind).
Llewelyn Rees, Pontypool

Brilliant beer, the best, another one to watch out for is "Butty Bach" made in the Welsh border country, Wye Valley region. ITS BRAINS YOU WANT!
Glyn Williams, Herefordshire

fantastic beer nothing better to watch rugby with.
Rob, Berkshire

tidy it is
Rod Davies

For anyone spoiled by the crap served in American bars, this beer opens your eyes to what beer SHOULD be. It's Brains I want when I come to Cardiff!
Erich, Merrimack, NH, USA

My best mate and I drank Brains S.A. all night in the Waterfront in Gloucester in about 1993. (Now closed). The next day at work we both had the most evil hangover! He talked to another friend told us Brains S.A. is known as Skull Attack for the stated reason!
Peter Studd

BRAINS SA is the BEST bitter in the world, just pips Felinfoel's Double Dragon. South Wales is doubly blessed! If only we could have a local supplier of Brittany/France's Pelforth Brune and Barcelona's San Miguel (genuine, not the stuff from the B.Isles) my beer world would be complete.
Martin, Trefforest.

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