For more than a century the iconic tall red-brick chimney, stamped with the letters B,R,A,I, N and S, has been a mainstay of Cardiff's city centre skyline and a proud indication of the city's brewing heritage.
The Cardiff Brewery in Crawshay Street has been owned by Brains since 1999 and, over those two decades, it has pumped out millions of pints of beer as well as an accompanying hoppy aroma familiar to all those living in the city.
Originally built in 1889 for Hancocks, the brewery has survived two world wars, witnessed the boom and bust of coal mining, and overseen the striking transformation of an industrial city into one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK. But finally the pace of development has caught up with it.
Earlier this year Brains moved out, relocating their brewery and headquarters to the new Dragon Brewery site on the Pacific Business Park in Tremorfa.
Today the iconic chimney is dwarfed by cranes and shiny new office blocks in Central Square.
The brewhouse is abandoned and empty with weeds already poking out through the roof.
The massive silos are long gone and the complex network of pipes leads to nowhere.
The brewery is waiting to be transformed into 2.5m square feet of offices, apartments, bars and restaurants. Soon it will be one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects.
But Cardiff's brewing heritage will not be forgotten – the iconic Brains chimney and brewhouse will remain as the centrepiece of the Central Quay development, which will also include a Brains pub and visitor attraction.
Although Brains has moved out it has not abandoned the former brewery. It has partnered with Cardiff-based Rightacres Property to jointly develop the site.
Phase one of the scheme will include The Ledger Building, Wales’ largest-ever speculative office development, and a 650-space multi-storey car park.
Ever since it was founded by Samuel Arthur Brain, Brains has remained a family company, with the current chairman John Rhys being the great grandson of founder SA Brain.
Samuel was born in 1850 and brought up in Bristol before moving to Cardiff to train as a brewer.
The first pint of Brains Beer was brewed in 1882 at The Old Brewery in St Mary Street.
The original home of Brains, The Old Brewery was redeveloped to become the Brewery Quarter, now home to a dozen or so bars and restaurants, including Brains' own Yard Bar and Kitchen.
