"Boasting a smooth, rich flavour, Theakston Mild is a classic example of a Mild brewed to perfection."
Brewer: Theakston
Beer: Traditional Mild
ABV: 3.5%
Style: Mild
Colour: Black
Out: All year round
A lot of younger drinkers have been getting in on the real ale recently. With more and more joining CAMRA every year, I feel privelged in knowing that I am helping raise awareness of beer to people of my age every time I'm out and about (be careful if you see me, I can talk for hours and hours on the subject.)
However, one of the stereotypes that accompanies the younger drinker is that we prefer the golden, hoppy ales with no regard for classic bitters, and even less your dark beers. The mild is a drink that it is unfairly called 'an old man's' drink, a tag I try and quash every time I'm at a pub serving milds. CAMRA has also tried to raise awareness of good milds by dedicating May as 'Mild May,' in an effort to raise knowledge and purchases of this style of beer. As someone who was born and raised in the midlands, I feel it is my duty to keep the mild alive, with Banks's original often being cited as the best mild around and one of the true instigators of the style.
I recently returned home for christmas, and perhaps it says something about my character that the first thing I did was find a local pub I had never been too in an effort to sample some nice beer that differs from the stuff I'm used to in the south (St Austell, Adnams, Badger, etc.)
As I walked into the Duke Inn in Sutton Coldfield (a lovely, oldschool pub where everyone knew the landlady by name and vice versa) my heart leapt for joy when I saw a Theakstons Mild pump clip sitting proudly in front of one of the pumps. Immedietly I ordered a pint. The liquid poured dark with a nice, creamy head. It was ever so slightly chilled so I left it for a few minutes to warm up before taking my first sip.
The problem with milds is if they are not brewed well they can be very thin and watery - this, to my relief, was not one of those times. The first taste was exceptional. A rich, smooth taste greeted my mouth, with hints of roasted chocolate underlying the overall flavour. The tiniest amount of liquorice creeped in but not too much. I also noticed, unlike a lot of milds, this did not linger in the very bitter category, a hoppy aftertatse being prevelant but not overpowering.
The taste only got better as the pint went down. The liquid was almost velvet on the tongue, an exquisite, delicate flavour that left me wishing I had time for another one!
The ABV of this is typical of milds, clocking in at a very humble 3.5%, making it perfect to session or just the one if you fancy a quick pint on a busy day. I can imagine it would go great with a meal but I have never had the chance to experiment with that - yet.
Another great thing about milds is that, due to the lower ABV, they often find themselves being priced better than other beers. This pint cost me £2.38, a perfectly acceptable price for a small pub. Prices will undoubtedly vary from place to place.
Overall, this beer is a classic example of how to do a mild right. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of Theakston beers, their old perculier being pleasant but not brilliant, and the classic bitter and black bull bitter both not impressing me. This, however, is fantastic, a perfect blend of tastes that is probably a result of the three malts used in the brewing process (dark, crystal, and pale) that creates the superb, rich character of the beer.
For me, the mild is a lost style of beer that needs to be rediscovered by the general drinking public. While CAMRA has shifted peoples stilted attitudes towards ale in general, I feel milds still have an unfair tag latched onto them by people that are basing their opinions on ignorant stereotype. If you love milds and dont want to see them die out other than at beer festivals, please order one if you ever see it behind the bar at your local pub - or even ask the landlord/lady if they would ever consider stocking them, because when they are done right they are sublime.
Final Grade: 8.5/10
