Ballards Midhurst Mild

Brewed by Ballards
Style: Mild Ale
Petersfield, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Normally only from the cask this was Bottle Conditioned exclusively for the Pig's Ear Festival. A nice little take home. Tastes like the real thing. Big sulphury nose with dark malts lurking around beneath. You either like the sulphur or you don't - I like it. I'm not a big fan, but I do like it. It smells like...........victory. Really dark brown with a scarlet mahogany glow. Attractive, but not overwhelming - just right. Soft mouthfeel, pleasantly touched by dark malts. Invites you to drink more. I may be enjoying this more than normal because I just poured away a miserable Hefeweizen Dunkel (Franziskaner), but the big difference is that I really couldn't face any more of that beer, while this one is making me gulp away like a man possessed. Spanking little drink. OK, the flavours are a bit muddy and nothing is clearly defined, but it goes down a treat, and that's what I like.
OK - I left enough in the glass for the sulphur to burn off and reveal the coffee tones that had been laying in wait beneath.

Cask at the Wandsworth Common Spring BF, London. Pours clear, red-brown with a foamy-bubbly, white head. Smells like dirty leather. Lightly sweet wth more dirt, leather, wet earth. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Faint cocoa to finish with more wet leather, faint fruits and dirt. Not too good.

Cask at the Four Chestnuts, Chichester. Deep ruby red with fine beige crema, roasty malt nose, dry palate with hints of tart fruit and coffee, then a dry bitter choc finish.

scura buona schiuma media persistenza naso delicato fruttato un tocco di cioccolato e cafe leggero toffe poco amara ma non dolce

Cask at Southampton Arms, London. Dark brown color. Dark caramel, toffee, apple skin and leather. Some nuts and chocolate also. OK drinkable mild.

Cask@Southampton Arms, London. Very deep amber colour, close to black, with a small beige head. Aroma is fruits, wood, raisins and some mild wooden notes. Flavour is much the same. Pleasantly balanced.

Sweet caramel and m&ms on the nose. Lightly smoked, chocolaty, dark roasted flavours.

Cask, gravity at Merton Winter Beer Festival 05-01-10 Pours brown with caramel showng heavily on the nose. There is some diluted milk chocolate, a little fruit tang provides a nice little excursion, its nice, its simple , its absolutely fine. A7 A4 F6 P3 Ov13 3.3

17th April 2008 Pale amber in colour - malty nose and a malty taste but with enough of fruity zing to keep it interesting. Easy going beer.

Cask (Guide Dog, Southampton) - Brown with some orange tinges. Roasted aroma with hints of caramel, chocolate and coffee. The taste is nutty with more roasted notes featuring caramel and chocolate. Enjoyable.

Cask @ the Harlequin Sheffield, after the Grand Tasting. Dark brown color. Caramelly aroma with hint of apple syrup. caramelly bitter flavor, with notes of apple and roast. Almost medium bodied. Drinkable.