Bracia – Thornbridge Brewery

Rich. Decadent. Legendary.

Beer Overview

Bracia is one of Thornbridge Brewery’s most celebrated creations—a luxurious 10% Rich Dark Ale brewed with an extraordinary addition of dark chestnut honey sourced from the Alpine foothills of north-east Italy.

Originally created in collaboration with the renowned Italian brewery Birrificio Barley, Bracia has achieved near-legendary status among lovers of strong dark beers. Velvety, full-bodied and beautifully complex, it layers rich malt character with the distinctive bittersweet depth of chestnut honey, creating a beer that’s both indulgent and remarkably balanced.

Expect waves of dark fruit, chocolate, liquorice and roasted hazelnut before a warming, lingering finish that makes every sip worth savouring.

Flavour Profile

Taste: Dark chocolate, raisin, fig and liquorice layered with roasted hazelnuts, caramelised malt and bittersweet chestnut honey.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, velvety and luxurious.
Finish: Long, warming and complex with gentle sweetness balanced by roasted malt and subtle bitterness.

Aroma

Rich aromas of dark honey, cocoa, dried fruit, toasted nuts and gentle smoke mingle with hints of molasses and warming alcohol.

Brewing Process & Uniqueness

At the heart of Bracia is its generous addition of dark, bitter chestnut honey, sourced from the Alpine foothills of north-east Italy. Unlike lighter floral honeys, chestnut honey contributes earthy, tannic and slightly bitter notes that complement rather than simply sweeten the beer.

A complex malt bill featuring Maris Otter, Munich, Brown, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, Black and lightly peated maltscreates exceptional depth, delivering layers of caramel, cocoa, coffee, toasted nuts and subtle smoky complexity.

The hopping regime of Target, Pioneer, Hallertau Northern Brewer and Sorachi Ace provides enough bitterness to balance the beer’s richness while allowing the malt and honey to remain the stars of the show.

The result is a beautifully integrated strong dark ale where sweetness, bitterness, roast and warming alcohol exist in perfect harmony.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at: 12–14°C in a snifter or tulip glass.

Perfect with:

• Blue cheese
• Sticky toffee pudding
• Dark chocolate desserts
• Roasted venison
• After-dinner cheeseboards

Often described as the godfather of the UK craft beer scene, Thornbridge have always brewed the finest quality beer with a passion helping to create an award winning range of beers.

• Innovation

  Consistently pushing boundaries whilst respecting the important traditions of ‘Crafting’ beer helps Thornbridge to create an award winning range of beers and always meant we would be at the forefront of the craft beer industry

• Passion

  Often described as the godfather of the UK craft beer scene, Thornbridge have always brewed the finest quality beer with a passion helping to create an award winning range of beers

• Knowledge

  Thornbridge knowledge in the craft beer scene means they are highly respected within the beer industry. Thornbridge recognise that not only quality but consistency and innovation are key to creating amazing and beautifully balanced beer. With over 350 Industry recognised awards we are proud to be part of such an exciting UK Craft Beer scene.

The Thornbridge story began back in 2005 when the founders Jim Harrison and Simon Webster recruited two young brewers to brew on a second hand 10-barrel kit in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall

The brewery was originally based in the outbuildings of Thornbridge Hall, surrounded by beautiful gardens within the 100-acre estate. The buildings were renovated in 2004 in preparation for the brewery installation. Jim Harrison and Simon Webster recruited two young brewers, keen to kick-start their brewing career. Their first brew was Lord Marples, a 4% classic bitter, which went on to become a core Thornbridge beer

Next, they were tasked with brewing something a little different, an IPA which packed a punch in terms of both flavour and ABV. In mid-2005 Jaipur was born. A 5.9% IPA packed with American hops and like nothing else in the beer industry at that time. Following an array of awards and national recognition, Jaipur catapulted Thornbridge into the spotlight, demand outstripped supply and the need for a new Brewery became clear.

In 2009 a brand new state of the art brewery was built at Riverside, Bakewell to meet with demand and allow Thornbridge to develop their range of beers. Brewing still takes place today on the original kit which has been moved to beside the Taproom at Riverside, which allows us to experiment with new brews, create bespoke Hall brews, collaborations and assist the main brewery in Bakewell.

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All beer is cold stored to ensure you get the best quality beer delivered to you and so you get to enjoy the beer as the brewer intended.