The Outlook is Mild for May.
There is more to real ale than just Bitter. Mild is one of the oldest styles of beer unique to the British Isles, and one that is sadly
neglected by many brewers. This traditional style of beer, dating back over 400 hundred years, has unfortunately disappeared from many
pubs and is in danger of becoming extinct in certain areas of Britain.
As its name suggests Mild, or Light as it's known in Scotland, is distinctly less bitter than Bitter. It is usually brewed from darker
crystal malts than Bitters and has fewer hops added. Typically, but not always, they are dark ales the best of which have rich fruity
flavours which belie their relatively low strengths. They are sweeter in flavour than Bitter, making them a good introduction for those
unaccustomed to drinking real ale. Mild is generally a fair bit cheaper than other real ales and you can have a sociable evening out with
friends and consume several pints of most Cask Milds without any adverse effects creeping up on you, but beware, this is a general rule,
it is a misconception to think that all Milds are low in strength; Great Gable Yew Barrow is a delicious fruity dark Mild but at 5.5% is
not suitable for session drinking!
Mild does not have to be dark, indeed some of our Cumbrian microbrewers produce some excellent Light Milds: Beckstones Leat, Great Gable
Liar and Foxfield Sands to name but a few. These are all Milds but don't have Mild in the name, in fact many brewers are choosing to remove
the word Mild from their pump-clips, not necessarily to deceive consumers but in an attempt to escape its unfashionable label. The 70s and
80s saw a movement towards lighter-coloured beers, mainly as a result of the advertising-led growth of lager. Mild was unfairly dismissed
as an "old man's drink" and therein lies the problem; people don't like asking for it. They'd rather be seen with something a little more
trendy. The fact of the matter is Mild is a connoisseur's drink, the flavours are subtler, more delicate than other styles but no less
rewarding for those with the taste buds to appreciate them. Milds can be as distinctive and interesting as the best of any other style
of beer.
During the 1960s Mild had the lion's share of the beer market but this has declined to around 3% in recent years. In an attempt to prevent
Mild from dying out completely CAMRA set up the Light and Dark Supporters (LADS) group who campaign specifically to raise the profile of
this great traditional beer style, which has become sadly endangered. CAMRA will be promoting Mild throughout May and celebrating National
Mild Day on Saturday 6th May 2006 why not suggest your local landlord stocks a mild for mild day and celebrate with us?
Graham Bell
Pubs in our branch area that regularly sell Mild include:
Swan, Kirkgate, Cockermouth - where Jennings Mild outsells lager
Horse & Jockey, Parsonby (Jennings Mild) ; Wasdale Head - Yewbarrow, their own brew
Woolpack, Esdale - Black Sail, their own brew
Currently in Bransty Arch, Whitehaven
Ocassionally available as a guest beer in Bush, Cockermouth.