Brains Brewery#Hancocks brand

File:Royal Oak, Adamsdown, January 2021 05.jpg, in stained-glass]]

The original brewery, believed to be the oldest in Cardiff, was established by the Thomas brothers in the 18th-century. In 1882 it was acquired by Samuel Arthur Brain, a brewer from Bristol, England, and his uncle Joseph Benjamin Brain, Chairman of the West of England Bank.{{Coflein|num=33325|desc=Brains Brewery, St Mary Street, 49, and Caroline Street, Cardiff|access-date=3 February 2024}} Part of the building dated from 1713 and it had been a brewery since at least 1822.{{cite web |url= http://quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/538 |title=SA Brain & Co Ltd |work=The Directory of UK Real Ale Brewers |publisher=Quaffale |date=24 April 2011}}{{cite book |last=Glover |first=Brian |year=2007 |title=Brains: 125 Years |publisher=Breedon Books |isbn=978-1-859836064 }}{{page needed|date=January 2015}}

In 1882, the brewery produced 100 barrels of beer a week and operated 11 pubs. By 1900 this had grown to 1,000 barrels of beer a week, supplying 80 of their public houses. The company became a limited company, S.A. Brain & Co Ltd, in April 1897 and purchased the business for £350,000.{{Citation |editor1=Lesley Richmond |editor2=Alison Turton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_8xRAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA77 |title=The Brewing Industry: A Guide to Historical Records |page=77 |publisher=Manchester University Press |year=1990 |isbn=0-7190-3032-3 }}

Brain's expanded the Old Brewery in 1914 by having a new brewery built in St Mary Street.

In 1997, Brain's took over Crown Buckley in Llanelli. It closed Crown Buckley's brewery and transferred production to Cardiff. In 1999, Brain's bought the former Hancock's Brewery just south of Cardiff Central railway station. In 2000, it moved production there, and in 2003 the Old Brewery was redeveloped as a bar and restaurant complex.

File:The Old Arcade, Cardiff, March 2020.jpg

Ownership remains in the Brain family; until 2009 the chairman was Chris Brain,{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/business/business-news/christopher-brain-recalls-life-beer-2087777|title=Christopher Brain recalls a life in beer|first=Aled|last=Blake|date=August 11, 2009|website=WalesOnline}} and since that date the company has been led by John Rhys, the great-great-grandson of the company's founder Samuel Arthur Brain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/brains-built-new-brewery-cardiff-15983280|title=Brains has a new brewery and Prince William just opened it|first=Marcus|last=Hughes|date=March 16, 2019|website=WalesOnline}}

File:Duke of Wellington, Cardiff, 2011.jpg

In March 2019, the new Dragon Brewery, at the Pacific Business Park in Tremorfa, was opened by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, who was taken on a tour of the new facility by head brewer Bill Dobson.

In December 2020, Brain's handed over the running of its 156 pubs via a 25-year lease-back deal to Marston's{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/brains-pubs-marstons-takeover-beer-19509901|title=Marstons takes over all 156 Brains pubs in Wales|date=23 December 2020}} Ninety-nine Brain's pubs were later put up for sale.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58847939|title=Brains Brewery: Cardiff firm puts 99 pubs up for sale|date=8 October 2021|website=BBC News|access-date=5 November 2021}}

In May 2022 it was announced that Brain's had sold the freehold and leasehold of 95 of their pubs to Song Capital, with the proceeds used to pay off existing debts.{{Cite web |last=morningadvertiser.co.uk |date=2022-05-25 |title=SA Brain sells 95 pubs to Song Capital |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2022/05/25/sa-brain-completes-deal-to-sell-95-pubs-to-song-capital |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=morningadvertiser.co.uk |language=en-GB}}

In December 2023, Brain's announced that, following the sale of their pubs, they had recovered from the debt that forced the sale following the pandemic.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-30 |title=Cardiff brewery Brains recovers from debt after Covid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-67577951 |access-date=2024-05-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In September 2011 the company diversified into coffee shops, buying the Cardiff-based coffee house chain, Coffee#1.{{cite news |author=Chris Kelsey |title=SA Brains buys Coffee#1 chain |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/sa-brains-buys-coffee1-chain-1803542 |work=Wales Online |date=4 October 2011 |access-date=10 January 2015 }} In mid-2018, S.A. Brain announced that they wished to sell a majority stake in Coffee#1, after a strategic review. In January 2019, Caffè Nero bought a 70% stake in the business, which at that time had 92 outlets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/wales/sa-brain-sells-majority-stake-in-coffee-1|title=SA Brain sells majority stake in Coffee #1|last=Morris|first=Josh|date=30 January 2019|website=Insider Media Ltd|language=en|access-date=29 March 2019}}

In February 2022 it was announced that Brain's had sold their remaining stake in the business to Caffe Nero.{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Sion |date=2022-02-15 |title=SA Brain & Co sells remaining stake in Coffee#1 to Caffe Nero |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/sa-brain--co-sells-23108103 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Business Live |language=en}}

File:BThe Brewery Tap.jpgs with badges of some of the Brains range]]

Brains SA, the company's flagship brand, is a light-coloured malty best bitter which is colloquially known as "Skull 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 also a 'smooth' variant.

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 was a keg beer at 4.5% ABV. It was launched in 2006 in Cardiff as a competitor to strong lagers such as Stella Artois. 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. It was discontinued in 2011.{{cite news |url= http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/02/18/brains-to-discontinue-premium-lager-45-91466-28195134/ |last=Gaskell |first=Simon |title=Brains to discontinue premium lager '45' |newspaper=South Wales Echo |date=18 February 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011}}

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.{{cite web |url= http://www.andrewwilcox.net/2010/03/01/brains-black-welsh-stout-guinness-beware-in-the-welsh-valleys/ |last=Wilcox |first=Andrew |title=Brains Black Welsh Stout – Guinness beware in the Welsh valleys |work=Blog}}

Barry Island IPA originally launched in June 2012 as part of the Brains Craft Brewery range, Barry Island IPA is an American style IPA brewed using a trio of American Hops. In 2019 it got a new look and became part of the core range.{{Cite web |title=Brains Craft Brewery Barry Island IPA |url=https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brains-craft-brewery-barry-island-ipa/176447/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=RateBeer |language=EN}}

Bayside Lager is a 4.3% lager launched in August 2020. It is a crisp and light lager and currently only available in draught form, although it is available in mini-keg online.{{Cite web |last=Wiggan |first=Dylan |date=2020-08-03 |title=Wales’ leading brewery is back with new menus and a brand-new lager |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/special-features/wales-leading-brewery-back-new-18695787 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}

Brains bought the Llanelli-based Crown Buckley in 1998. It continues to brew three Buckley's beers, all at its Cardiff brewery: Buckley's Bitter, Buckley's IPA and Reverend James best bitter.

Hancocks HB is a 3.6% session bitter first brewed by Hancock's brewery. Formerly Wales' biggest brewer, the brewery was founded by William Hancock (father of Frank, Froude and William Hancock) and bought by Bass in 1968. Brains bought Hancock's in 1999, but initially Bass kept the rights to the brands.{{cite web |url= http://www.tastingbeers.com/school/regional_focus/12008042.html |last=Evans |first=Jeff |title=Putting the ales into Wales – Regional Focus |publisher=Tastingbeers.com |access-date=15 August 2012}} Production later came back to Cardiff.{{cite web |url= http://quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/741 |title=William Hancock's & Co Ltd |work=The Directory of UK Real Ale Brewers |publisher=Quaffale |date=24 April 2011}}

Seasonal beers' include St David's Ale, which is brewed to celebrate St David's Day and is available in February and March. Taff End is available in June and July and celebrates sponsorship of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Brains' Bread of Heaven', named after 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.

File:Cardiff PenarthRd bridge.jpg

Brains sponsored a number of railway bridges over roads in Cardiff to have its advertising slogans painted on them. They include "It's Brains you want!" in Clare Road and Leckwith Road and "People who know beer... have Brains" in Penarth Road.

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Brains was the shirt sponsor for the Wales national rugby union team from 2004 until 2010. As French law forbids alcohol sponsorship logos from appearing on rugby jerseys, when the team played in France the branding was changed. In 2005, "Brains" was replaced with "Brawn",{{cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4284211.stm |title=Rugby stars swap Brains for brawn |publisher=BBC News |date=21 February 2005 |access-date=15 August 2012}} in 2007 it was changed to "Brawn Again", and in 2009 it was replaced with "Try Essai", a pun on the invitation to "try SA".{{cite news |url= http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2010/06/26/brains-rugby-sponsor-deal-ends-91466-26728438/ |last=Henry |first=Graham |title=Business – Business News – Brains rugby sponsor deal ends |newspaper=South Wales Echo |date=26 June 2010 |access-date=15 August 2012}}

{{main|Old Brewery Quarter}}

In 2003, Brain's vacant Old Brewery was redeveloped into the {{convert|85000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} "Old Brewery Quarter" .It is a mixed development of {{convert|55000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} 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 Chiquito, La Tasca, Lava Lounge, Nando's, Pancake House, Starbucks, Thai Edge and the S.A. Brain's owned flagship venue, the Yard Bar and Kitchen.

{{reflist|2}}

{{commons category|Brains Brewery}}

• [https://www.sabrain.com Official website]

{{Economy and industry of Cardiff}}

Category:Breweries in Wales

Category:food and drink companies based in Cardiff

Category:British companies established in 1882

Category:Welsh brands

Category:Food and drink companies established in 1882

Category:1882 establishments in Wales