Grand River Mill Race Mild

Brewed by Grand River Brewing
Style: Mild Ale
Cambridge, Canada

Several pints, Volo. Dark brown, big white head. I was surprised how dark this was. Really nice aroma - lots of nuttiness and roast - very very nice. Taste - wow, that is a heck of a lot of flavour for 3.5%! I’m not ignorant to the possibilities of a great mild, I lived in England for a bit and had some nice ones pre-ratebeer, but man, this one is right up there with the greats, so full of flavour - lots of nuttiness and roast again. Nice roasty sweetness, mild hops in finish. My only small complaint is that it finishes way too quickly - it really does just stop. But wow, what a great unique accomplishment for the Ontario market. These guys really should be commended - this makes a perfect #1800 b/c it is a great Ontario brew by a brewery not afraid to take chances - kudos for breaking out of the too easy Ontario me too conservative slump. And I also chose it for #1800 because it really does indicate where I am at a few years into ratebeer. I started with Guinness and worked my way up to enjoying just about every style out there. I love extreme beers but I also love session pints like this - it doesn’t have to be one or the other which is something I wish some people would get straight. Hopheads might complain this is too boring while session freaks rally against extreme hop beers like Ian Paisley screaming about Catholics on July 12th. Settle down guys, beers like these can happily co exist. Anyway, end essay, great beer.

Growler sample at the 2007 GTAs. Ruby-brown with a wispy off-white head. Aroma is subtle at first, but after I let it warm up a bit, it really opened up - roasted malt, toasted nuts, a but of coffee. Soft mouthfeel. Flavour is very elegant and well-crafted, almost like a mild porter, with notes of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and dark fruit. Very nice job, I look forward to having a few proper pints.

500mL bottle, bottled Sept 11, 2008. Pours a bright, clear, dark amber-brown color; thin light-tan head with patchy lacing. Tea, dried fruits, and very light caramel in the aroma; some pleasant earthy and citrus bitterness on the perimeter. Medium mouthfeel: chocolate maltiness, roast, and light nuttiness; very crisp, lightly hopped (minerals, and earthiness), making for a highly sessionable and satisfying mild. Very good rendition. Medium finish: nuttiness, toasty malts, and touches of breadiness; the nutty notes last for a while.

Bottle: Poured a clear dark brown color ale with a quite large foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of fruity ester with some light toffee malt. Taste is also dominated by light fruity ester with notes of toffee and caramel malt. Body is about average with good carbonation. I thought this one really packed lots of character while maintaining good balance.

Draught. Copper dark mahogany body with a medium off-white creamy head. Aroma is pretty solid - nutty creamy almond, some lingering toast and caramel...maybe vanilla too? Flavour holds its own. Quite nice for 3.5% - nice malts, caramel, toast grain, and nuts. I’ve enjoyed this numerous times!

Brown in colour, small bubbly beige coloured head, no lacing. The aroma is quite toasty, a surprising amount of malt, light toffee sweetness, some light chocolate. The flavour is again quite toasty, mildly sweet, some fruit and light chocolate. Very mild mouthfeel, light body, light carbonation. Finishes quite mild, lightly sweet, lingering. An excellent session ale for sure, this packs more flavour then some of the "big" beers out there.

Cask at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? target=blank>Volo in Toronto, Ontario on October 20, 2007.

darker cola colored pour, notes of roasted malts, light coffee. Lighter bodied. lots of flavor, very easy drinking. great sessionable offering

Cask days 2007. Rich brown. Nose is rich malt, slight chocolate, slight burnt sugar, dark fruits. Flavor is burnt sugar, cocoa, hits of fruit.