Brains Milkwood

Brewed by Brains
Style: Bitter
Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales

Serve in English pint

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UPDATED: APR 8, 2011 At last! Having seen this today in the Old Contemptibles, I recognise it as the beer I supped 2 pints of, immediately before walking to the church to get married. Consequently I have tremendously fond memories of this silky smooth, nutty brown ale. Sweet, moreish, keg-style and delish. Even though I had a vicar, a lovely wife and church full of family to get to, I almost didn’t want to leave the Covered Wagon (Moseley/Sparkhill) to get hitched. 3.6 (5/3/2011) RE-RATE: Sampled again as part of Wetherspoons Real Ale fest 2011. I still liked this, but with no wedding to go to, it didn;t seem quite as exciting so I’d score it a 3.4, knocking the average down to 3.5. (8/4/2011)

Mohogany brown with a full creamy lasting eggshell white. Smell of caramel malt with a light fruity. But faint. Medium to full thin body. Caramel malt, with a light vinigar lingering element. Berry peach with hops. Nice but confused between a nice caramel malt bitter and a fruity bitter. Bitter ash aftertaste.

Cask. Rich nutty coppery brown. Steady tan head. Not much on the nose, mostly due to a thick foam. A slight vinegar and some maltiness. In the mouth, lots of hay, straw and wood. Tastes of farmyard. Some bramble fruits. Quite smokey and charcoals. Finish is bitter and smokey. Excites the tastebuds and saliva glands in a surprising and unexpected way.

March 2011: Lovely mid-amber colour with a creamy head (both in colour and texture) that produced some good lacing. Rye crystal and malted oats gives it the colour and aroma, challenger and Goldings give it the bitterness. Easy to drink and very, very smooth. Most likely the best beer tasted during the session at a Wetherspoons Beer Fest.

Cask at The Gate, Northwood. An amber coloured pour with a small off white head on top. Fruity, malty aroma. Tastes fruity, caramel, malty, slight bitterness. Quite an interesting brew.

[cask at the Haymarket Bar, Edinburgh] Brown bitter on the eye – but not on the nose. Treacle, caramel all kinds of sweet, burnt sugar on the nose. On the palate too. Plenty of molasses on the flavour, some fruit trying to get out. I passed this to a non-RB friend and asked his opinion – instant ’treacle toffee’ response, which is bang on [22032012]

On tap @ the Haymarket. Pours dark red brown with a proportionate head. The nose is of apple strudel. The taste is almost all of malt with burnt raisins. The palate seems pleasant and balanced at the start but from the middle to the end it is a little too burnt and astringent. Overall, so-so.

On cask at The Haymarket. Pours a dark amber colour with a decent beige head. Aroma of treacle, caramel, chocolate and alcohol. Similar flavours with moderate carbonation and an oily mouth-feel. Reminds me of Daim bars.

Mid brown beer with a thick white head. Light malty aroma with some fruit. Dry on the mouth. Bitter taste of biscuity malt and dry, slightly resinoous hops. Dry finish.

A - caramel A - dark-gold and frothy T - sweet with mid bitter P - mid and soft O - decent

Cask Handpump at Wetherspoons, Leeds City Station 27/03/2011 (As Milkwood Nut Brown) A little roast aroma. Amber coloured fruity and slightly rich on the palate with a hint of dryness in a bitter and nutty roast finish.