Highgate Black Pig

Brewed by Highgate (HWBC Ltd)
Style: Mild Ale
Walsall, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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UPDATED: JUL 25, 2010 May, 2003 Cask, Westgate Inn, Canterbury. Highgate have been around since 1898, though they were taken over by the Birmingham brewery Mitchells & Butler in 1939, which merged with Bass in 1961. There was a management buyout in 1995, but, under financial pressure, they accepted a take over by Aston Manor in 2000, subject to them retaining independence over the brewing of their own ales. Highgate are most famous for their Dark Mild which has been brewed continuously since 1899. This is another mild, and a very good one at that. It has the distinctive dark mild colour with a lazy oatmeal head. There’s a delicate aroma of cheese and wine. The beer has a low carbonation and a winey mouthfeel with a flavour of soy sauce up front. This is followed by some apricot fruit, then a nice spreading tang in the finish. A beautifully balanced and fairly complex mild - bags of evolving and constantly shifting flavours. [3.7]
May, 2010 JDW, Rochester. Diacetyl notes immediately. Butterscotch and caramel with a raspberry finish. OK. [3.0]

Tasted this in the Saltcot, Saltcoats (JDW) in May 2010. Cask, handpump dispense. Clear ruby black in colour with a thick buff creamy head. Black treacle present in the short aroma. Thin but creamy mouthfeel and superb lacing throughout. Dark malts give a rich sweet note of black treacle toffee, damsons and bramble. Bitter chocolate notes appear later. Dusty hop resins give a short bitter aftertaste that fades fast. Finish has sweet raisins and caramel notes to it. A very good mild and highly recommended..

Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading. Deep espresso coffee black in colour with a ruby hue and a beige head; intense plum aroma; the body is soft but fully bodied and creamy with purple fruit flavours; the finish is dry and gently bitter. An excellent mild.

Cask, handpump at The Four Candles, JDW, Oxford 25-05-10 Pours black actually its not totally black there are some reddy glints towards the bottom. There is a creamy (textured) off-white almost cappucino coloured head. Nutty and caramel on nose, touch sweet but pleasant. Taste is a little nutty but smooth, creamy and with some toffee and lightly roasted flavours, really likeable and served in bloody good nick. A7 A4 F7 P4 Ov14 3.6

Cask at The Regal (JDW), Cambridge. Very dark red brown with a small off white head. Sweet blackcurrant fruit aroma. Sweet fruity taste with some ripe apple. Slight bitterness. Very acceptable, though served a trifle warm.

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 24/05/10. Near black with attractive red hints and a decent, off-white head. Dark fruits, some caramel and a lick of liquorice with a gentle, bitter finish. Enjoyable.

Cask at The Metropolitan (JDW) by Baker St tube. Deep red-brown with a clingy fine tan head. Tart plums on the nose, plus a little red wine. Smooth and fruity, with plums and redcurrants and more vinous hints, soft bitterness in the finish, along with notes of dark chocolate and roast nuts. Rather more-ish.

Cask @ Hengler’s Circus, JDW. Colour is dark reddish-brown with a medium foamy off-white head. Aroma of slight roasted malts and fruits. Flavour is sour fruits, hint of roasted malts, a bit of licorice, red wine. A bit disappointing, keeping in mind the high ratings so far (although the most recent is from 3 years ago). Not enough roastiness, not enough body.

Cask Dark brown, thin head. Sweet burnt malt aroma. Surprisingly hoppy for a mild. More like a porter, but that’s not a perfect match either. Very well-rounded combination of burnt and roasted malts - sweet and a little spicy - with subtle, but quite emphatic, hoppiness. Great mild.

UPDATED: MAY 25, 2010 1. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich (JDW) 31/10/2001 Dark coloured smooth on the palate with earthy aromas. Very bitter. Dry hop finish. 2. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich 12/05/2003 Dark red and sugary sweet. Slightly dry roast finish. 3. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich 15/10/2004 Dark coloured and fruity. Slightly dry pleasant malt finish. 4. Cask Handpump at the Palladium JDW, Llandudno 03/05/2010 Fruit and some liqorice aroma. Small white head. Black smooth and a little rich on the palate with a hint of dryness in a liqorice roast finish.

Cask Conditioned @ JDW, Soton. MAlt liqourice and nut against a faint fruity background. Falls between refreshingly dry and sumptuously sweet and fails to satisfy on either count.