... This beer is one that’s suitable for an addition in the “Beer Bible” – Its name is Reverend James!
Rev. James is brewed by S. A. Brain & Company Ltd. Brains Brewery is based in Cardiff, South Wales and has been brewing since 1882. This is when Samuel Arthur Brain and Joseph Arthur Brain ... Read review
Advantages: A good traditional ale. Disadvantages: Not available all the time in my area..I may have to move to Wales!
...Reverend James!
Rev. James is brewed by S. A. Brain & Company Ltd. Brains Brewery is based in Cardiff, South Wales and has been brewing since 1882. This is when Samuel Arthur Brain and Joseph Arthur Brain decided to start the business. They acquired the Crown Buckley Brewery in 1897 and bought out the Crayshaw Street Brewery from Bass in 1999.
They now own 202 pubs and deal with a number of free trade outlets. They ... ...had the chance to sample Rev. James!
The Brewery has been continuously owned by the same family ever since, and is now officially recognised as the National Brewer of Wales. Rev James is actually named after the founder of the old Buckley Brewery. He was a Methodist Minister who helped to develop this premium ale; a recipe that is now centuries old and has been well received in pubs throughout both England and Wales.
I did try, but I couldn’t keep away from writing about beer for long! So here is the latest instalment in “tange’s Beer Bible”: The essential (?) guide to what’s what in the world of ale. This is about a brew I came across the other Friday evening in The Portland Hotel, Chesterfield; one of my local Wetherspoon pubs. This beer is one that’s suitable for an addition in the “Beer Bible” – Its name is Reverend James!
Rev. James is brewed by S. A. Brain & Company Ltd. Brains Brewery is based in Cardiff, South Wales and has been brewing since 1882. This is when Samuel Arthur Brain and Joseph Arthur Brain decided to start the business. They acquired the Crown Buckley Brewery in 1897 and bought out the Crayshaw Street Brewery from Bass in 1999.
They now own 202 pubs and deal with a number of free trade outlets. They produce cask ales and bottled beers, which they supply to outlets Nationwide. It’s nice to see that they continue to brew the beers from the Breweries they took over; often older brews are lost or renamed. With Brains this is not the case – It’s a good job, or I may not have had the chance to sample Rev. James!
The Brewery has been continuously owned by the same family ever since, and is now officially recognised as the National Brewer of Wales. Rev James is actually named after the founder of the old Buckley Brewery. He was a Methodist Minister who helped to develop this premium ale; a recipe that is now centuries old and has been well received in pubs throughout both England and Wales.
The Company produce a number of traditional ales, as well as brands of lager, stout, wine and spirits; they even make soft drinks too! Their beers include a seasonal selection (e.g. Merlin’s Oak – 4.3% ABV) and their all year round selection (e.g. Brains Dark – 3.5% ABV and Crown’s Pale Ale – 3.4% ABV).
Rev. James weighs in at 4.5%, so, although not the strongest Ale that I could mention, it still is classed as a strong ale. What it lacks in strength it makes up for in taste and quality, so it’s certainly a beer worthy of respect.
It is brewed using Challenger and Goldings hops and is often described as having a “classic flavour”; something that is lost a lot of the time these days, (eeh, when I were young, beer tasted like beer!) with new brewing processes and (new-fangled) electric beer pumps!
Looks wise, Rev. James is a mid- brown, nutty colour with a thin creamy coloured head. Mine had a few bubbles in, but I think this was more to do with the way it was poured than any fizziness in the beer! When it settled it was crisp and clear and looked very inviting.
It is quite a full bodied brew with an aroma that is a pleasant combination of the hoppy and the spicy. It tastes quite strong, again with a spicy quality that makes your mouth tingle slightly when the beer hits it. It’s a very traditional taste and pretty much what I would hope for from a quality Premium Ale.
Taste wise the balance of malt, fruit and hops works really well. It’s rich on the palate and you get a nice warming feeling when you are drinking it. It’s a very pleasant drink to sample on a spring evening. The finish and after taste is malty and very satisfying; I would describe it as an aromatic and tasty beer!
Price wise, the cost, as usual, varies from pub to pub and place to place. My pint cost me £1.49, as a guest beer at the Wetherspoon pub. Rev. James is on their spring selection menu and, the best thing about that (apart from Wetherpsoon’s wonderful prices!) is that it’s on a “Try Before You Buy” basis. It’s great because you can see if you like it before risking a whole pint.
I tried, I liked, so I BOUGHT! I liked so much that I even went on to buy another…and another! HIC! If it was a regular feature in my local I could see it becoming a pleasant and enjoyable session ale.
I would recommend that you give Reverend James a try. Its flavour would make it appeal to a broad section of drinkers. On one had, it is interesting and tasty enough to be appreciated by Real Ale drinkers. On the other, it isn’t so strong so as to alienate general drinkers.
Overall, a tasty, warming and consistently good quality drink! One that hasn’t disappointed me, and beer drinkers all over England and Wales, for over a hundred years……not a bad recommendation then!
BREWERY DETAILS~~~~~~~~~
SA Brain & Company Ltd, The Brewery, Crawshay Street, Cardiff, , CF1 1TR Tel : 029 2040 2060, Fax : 029 2040 3344 Email : sales@sabrain.co.uk
