Brains Brewery has teamed up with Welsh rock band Cardinal Black to celebrate the release of the band’s third album, Second Sign of Life, with a special-edition reimagining of its iconic Black stout.
For the collaboration, Brains Black becomes Cardinal Black, bringing together two names with deep Welsh roots and a shared history in the pubs, venues and communities that have helped shape the country’s musical heritage.
The partnership sees the word ‘Cardinal’ added to cans of Brains Black – the brewery’s smooth, full-bodied Welsh nitro stout – in a celebration of two names born, bred and brewed in Wales.
As part of the collaboration, a special film has been released exploring Brains’ 144-year history and the relationship between Welsh pubs, live music and the communities that have supported both.
The film reflects on Cardinal Black’s early years, when the band cut its teeth playing pubs and venues across South Wales, including Brains establishments, before going on to perform on some of the world’s most celebrated stages.
Founded in 1882, Brains has long been woven into the fabric of Welsh life, its pubs serving as the beating heart of communities across the country.
More than simply places to enjoy a pint, they’ve been places to celebrate, commiserate, share stories and forge lifelong friendships – and, for generations of Welsh musicians, the stages on which dreams first took shape.
Nick Payne, Managing Director of Brains Brewery, said:
“What makes this partnership so exciting is that, in many ways, Brains and Cardinal Black were born with the same instinct: make something with character, make it properly and never forget where you came from.
“Brains has always been proud of its Welsh roots, and it’s brilliant to work with a band that carries that same pride into everything it does. Adding Cardinal to our Black cans is a fun way to celebrate that shared heritage and the connection between our stories.”
Tom Hollister, frontman of Cardinal Black, said:
“There’s something quite special about this collaboration because Brains has been part of the fabric of Welsh life for as long as any of us can remember. Pubs have always played a huge role in music, particularly in Wales – they’re where bands, like ours, find their feet, where audiences first find them and where some of the best nights of your life happen!”
Tom added:
“We’ve been fortunate enough to play some extraordinary places around the world, but you never really forget those early gigs or the people who gave you a chance when you were starting out. To see our name alongside Brains on something so synonymous with home is a lovely full-circle moment. The collaboration is a celebration not only of two Welsh names, but of the places, people and shared experiences that have shaped them and the enduring role of pubs and live music in bringing communities together.”
Visit brainsbrewery.com for more info and to purchase the limited edition.
