Ansells Mild (Cask)

Leeds (Carlsberg UK)
Formerly brewed at J.W. Lees
Style: Mild Ale
Leeds, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker

Cask, The Salmon, Leicester. Dark brown, red with a thin head. Aromas are weetabix and chocolate malts with autumn fruit and mixed spice. Flavours are sweet weetabix and mellow chocolate with lemon. Dry on the finish. A decent mild.

Cask. 3.5% ABV. The Salmon, Leicester. Black body, medium white head. Apple, hop.Bittersweet. Dry finish.

Cask. The Wenlock Arms, London. Labeled as Lees’ Ansell’s Mild. Brown colour. Fruity, malty and lightly roasted. Dark fruits and chocolate. Light bitterness and dry finish. Light bodied.

Cask-conditioned at The Wenlock Arms as JW Lees’ Ansell’s Mild 23/0909 - the landlord told me the contract to brew this has been shifted across from Thwaites. As the Thwaites’ brewed rating is here, so is this one. This was dark brown with hints of red and a slight, off-white head. Big malty aroma of cereals, chocolate and dark fruits. A bit thin in the mouth, with more chocolate, a trace of sweet fruit and lightly bitter finish. Drinkable.

(Cask at Lion Tavern, Liverpool, 19 July 2009) Dark brown colour with frothy, beige head. Roasted, malty nose with chocolate, prunes and raisins. Roasted, malty taste with notes of cola, chocolate and dark fruit. As expected quite thin body, but well balanced and tasty. Good mild. (According to Good Beer Guide -09 it is now supposed to be brewed by Thwaites for Carlsberg UK.)

On draught at The Wenlock Arms as Thwaites Ansell’s Mild. Very dark brown with an offwhite head. Dark fruit and hints of chocolate. Short finish. Quite interesting.

Cask conditioned - handpump - Wootton WMC. A ruby coloured mild with an off-white head. A very mild mild with fruits and caramel. A short finish. Sweet yet bizarrely dry at the same time. Ordinary and neckable.

This is the best mild. Exactly half way between a bitter and stout. Sublime sweetness. Simply superb.