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.
For the collaboration, Brains Black becomes Cardinal Black, This brings together two names with deep Welsh roots and a shared history in the pubs, venues, and communities which have helped to 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.
As part of the collaboration, a 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.
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!”
