Brains Brewery
Encyclopedia
Brains is a regional brewery
founded in 1882 in Cardiff
, Wales by Samuel Arthur Brain. The company owns over 250 pubs across South Wales
, Mid Wales
, the West Country
and particularly in Cardiff. The company took over the Llanelli
brewery Crown Buckley in 1997, and the Hancocks Brewery in 1999, moving to its current location, behind Cardiff Central railway station
in 2000. The Old Brewery, in Cardiff city centre
, has been developed into a modern bar and restaurant complex.
The company produces a range of beers under the Brain's, Buckley's and Hancock's brand names.
Brains use shirt sponsorship for the Welsh rugby union team
and the Crusaders as part of their marketing strategy.
The Old Brewery was expanded in 1914 when a new brewery was built in St Mary Street
. The company took over the Llanelli
brewery Crown Buckley in 1997, closing down the Llanelli plant, and transferring production to Cardiff.
The former Hancocks Brewery was purchased by Brains in 1999 and production moved to the larger site just on the southern side of Cardiff Central railway station
during 2000. The Old Brewery has been developed into a bar and restaurant complex.
The current owner is Chris Brain.
Attack". Its formulation has undergone several revisions since the beer was launched in the early 20th century; the most recent revision was launched in early 2006 and increases the quantity of hops
in the brew.
Brains Dark is a dark mild ale with an emphasis on roasted malts. There is a smooth variant, which has a smoother texture than its standard equivalent.
Brains Bitter is the brewery's standard bitter and the most commonly available in Cardiff. Many Brains pubs serve only Bitter from a cask. When served pasteurised and Nitrogenated it is termed Brains Smooth.
Brains IPA, an unusually malty example of the India Pale Ale style, is usually seen on cask only in the valleys outside Cardiff, although some pubs stock it as keg beer or in bottles in Cardiff proper.
SA Gold, the newest addition to the line, is - according to a release note sent out to Brains pubs in early 2006 - Brains' attempts to "branch out" into both the English and youth markets, areas in which Brains is visibly struggling. Its official launch was June 2006, but many houses retired it in favour of the bi-monthly guest ale rotation. The beer is hopped with Cascade, Target and Styrian Golding hops.
45 is a keg beer at 4.5% ABV. It is being test-marketed in Cardiff as a competitor to strong lagers such as Stella Artois
, though tastes different. In March 2007, the recipe was radically altered from the original used in the January launch after slow market growth and poor in-house response. Feb 2011 - Brain discontinues '45'
The Rev. James The Rev. James is a 4.5% ABV dark best bitter carried over from the Buckley's range after the two breweries merged.
Brains Black is a 4.1% ABV Stout launched on St David’s Day 2010 Launch info
-based Crown Buckley in 1998. It continues to produce three Buckley's beers, all at their Cardiff brewery: Buckley's Bitter, Buckley's IPA, and Reverend James best bitter.
, Froude
and William Hancock
), acquired by Bass in 1968, and sold to Brains in 1999, but initially Bass retained the rights to the brands. Production later came back to Cardiff.
End is available in June and July and celebrates sponsorship of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Brains' "Bread of Heaven", named for a traditional Welsh rugby anthem
, was launched in 2005 in commemoration of the sponsorship, and is mostly sold during the Six Nations Championship
and Autumn internationals.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
(Land Of My Fathers) was launched in 2006 to commemorate the 150th anniversary
of the Welsh national anthem
. It is a golden ale brewed with Welsh honey
.
. As French law forbids alcohol sponsorship logos from appearing on rugby
jerseys, when the team plays in France the word is changed. In 2005, "Brains" was replaced with "Brawn", in 2007 it was changed to "Brawn Again", and in 2009 it was replaced with "Try Essai".
In 2003 Brains vacant Old Brewery was redeveloped into the 85000 sq ft (7,896.8 m²) "Old Brewery Quarter." It is a mixed development of 55000 sq ft (5,109.7 m²) of leisure space around an open-air piazza in the heart of Cardiff’s growing city centre together with 42 long-leasehold loft style apartments and penthouses.
The development has attracted a range of bar and restaurant operators including Starbucks
, Nandos, Thai Edge, Pancake House, La Tasca, Lava Lounge, Chiquito's and SA Brain's own flagship venue, the Yard Bar and Kitchen.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
founded in 1882 in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales by Samuel Arthur Brain. The company owns over 250 pubs across South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, Mid Wales
Mid Wales
Mid Wales is the name given to the central region of Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the National Assembly for Wales covered the counties of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionydd. A similar definition is used by the BBC...
, the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
and particularly in Cardiff. The company took over the Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
brewery Crown Buckley in 1997, and the Hancocks Brewery in 1999, moving to its current location, behind Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
in 2000. The Old Brewery, in Cardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre is the central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bounded by the River Taff to the west, the Civic centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations - Central and Queen Street - to the south and east respectively...
, has been developed into a modern bar and restaurant complex.
The company produces a range of beers under the Brain's, Buckley's and Hancock's brand names.
Brains use shirt sponsorship for the Welsh rugby union team
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and the Crusaders as part of their marketing strategy.
History
The company was founded in 1882 by Samuel Arthur Brain and his uncle Joseph Benjamin Brain, when, due to the owners' debts, they acquired the Old Brewery in Cardiff from Thomas Brothers. A portion of the structure had existed since 1713, and brewing had been carried on there since at least 1822.The Old Brewery was expanded in 1914 when a new brewery was built in St Mary Street
Cardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre is the central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bounded by the River Taff to the west, the Civic centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations - Central and Queen Street - to the south and east respectively...
. The company took over the Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
brewery Crown Buckley in 1997, closing down the Llanelli plant, and transferring production to Cardiff.
The former Hancocks Brewery was purchased by Brains in 1999 and production moved to the larger site just on the southern side of Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
during 2000. The Old Brewery has been developed into a bar and restaurant complex.
The current owner is Chris Brain.
Brains brand
Brains SA, the company's flagship brand, is a light-coloured malty best bitter which was colloquially known as "SkullSkull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
Attack". Its formulation has undergone several revisions since the beer was launched in the early 20th century; the most recent revision was launched in early 2006 and increases the quantity of hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
in the brew.
Brains Bitter is the brewery's standard bitter and the most commonly available in Cardiff. Many Brains pubs serve only Bitter from a cask. When served pasteurised and Nitrogenated it is termed Brains Smooth.
Brains IPA, an unusually malty example of the India Pale Ale style, is usually seen on cask only in the valleys outside Cardiff, although some pubs stock it as keg beer or in bottles in Cardiff proper.
SA Gold, the newest addition to the line, is - according to a release note sent out to Brains pubs in early 2006 - Brains' attempts to "branch out" into both the English and youth markets, areas in which Brains is visibly struggling. Its official launch was June 2006, but many houses retired it in favour of the bi-monthly guest ale rotation. The beer is hopped with Cascade, Target and Styrian Golding hops.
45 is a keg beer at 4.5% ABV. It is being test-marketed in Cardiff as a competitor to strong lagers such as Stella Artois
Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:...
, though tastes different. In March 2007, the recipe was radically altered from the original used in the January launch after slow market growth and poor in-house response. Feb 2011 - Brain discontinues '45'
The Rev. James The Rev. James is a 4.5% ABV dark best bitter carried over from the Buckley's range after the two breweries merged.
Brains Black is a 4.1% ABV Stout launched on St David’s Day 2010 Launch info
Buckley's brand
Brains purchased the LlanelliLlanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
-based Crown Buckley in 1998. It continues to produce three Buckley's beers, all at their Cardiff brewery: Buckley's Bitter, Buckley's IPA, and Reverend James best bitter.
Hancock's brand
Hancocks HB is a 3.6% session bitter originally brewed by Hancock's brewery. Formerly Wales' biggest brewer, the brewery was founded by William Hancock (father of FrankFrank Hancock
Francis Escott "Frank" Hancock was an English-born rugby union centre who played club rugby for Somerset and Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth threequarter player, which changed the formation of rugby union play that lasts to the...
, Froude
Froude Hancock
Philip Froude Hancock universally known as Froude Hancock was an English rugby union forward who played international rugby for the British Isles XV on two tours, the 1891 and 1896 tour of South Africa.-Personal life:...
and William Hancock
William Hancock (ophthalmologist)
William Ilbert Hancock F.R.C.S. was an English ophthalmologist who worked as an assistant surgeon at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital...
), acquired by Bass in 1968, and sold to Brains in 1999, but initially Bass retained the rights to the brands. Production later came back to Cardiff.
Seasonal beers
St David's Ale is brewed to celebrate St David's Day and is available in February and March. TaffRiver Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
End is available in June and July and celebrates sponsorship of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Brains' "Bread of Heaven", named for a traditional Welsh rugby anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
, was launched in 2005 in commemoration of the sponsorship, and is mostly sold during the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
and Autumn internationals.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales. The title – taken from the first words of the song – means "Old Land of My Fathers", usually rendered in English as simply "Land of My Fathers". The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents...
(Land Of My Fathers) was launched in 2006 to commemorate the 150th anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the Welsh national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
. It is a golden ale brewed with Welsh honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
.
Marketing
Brains is the shirt sponsor for the Welsh rugby union teamWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. As French law forbids alcohol sponsorship logos from appearing on rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
jerseys, when the team plays in France the word is changed. In 2005, "Brains" was replaced with "Brawn", in 2007 it was changed to "Brawn Again", and in 2009 it was replaced with "Try Essai".
The Old Brewery Quarter
The development has attracted a range of bar and restaurant operators including Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Nandos, Thai Edge, Pancake House, La Tasca, Lava Lounge, Chiquito's and SA Brain's own flagship venue, the Yard Bar and Kitchen.