King and Barnes Mild Ale

Formerly brewed at Gribble
Style: Mild Ale
Chichester, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Cask Conditioned, at the Wenlock Arms, London.
Lovely dark brown ale with a clinging tan head. Roasted malt aroma is forward and giving. Toasted malt, coffee and espresso notes. Clear and clean flavour that expresses itself succinctly. Very nice mild indeed.

Cask (handpump). Old notes from circa 2000 (hence they relate to the original K & B brewed version) which I’m allowing myself as I’m not at all sure this beer is available any more. A quite red coloured milt with a watery body and a shortage of flavour. Tastes like the bitter with added caramel. A purely functional pour-it-down-yer-neck mild from the old school. I’m led to believe that the Gribble-brewed version is rather different, but I’ve never seen it, so can’t comment.

Cask@The Eel Pie, Twickenham. Pretty soft mild and sweetish, hints of caramel/choc/roast, with some anise, sweet and light, some acidity. OK.

Cask Conditioned at The Falkland Arms, Gt. Tew, Oxon. Dark red, black beer with beige head. Thin fruity beer with an odd mushroom aroma, watery with some malty notes. Not the beer this used to be.

Chappel Beer Fest, Gravity. Reddish black mild appearance - no head. Red grape aroma and blackcurrant. Very light malt taste, slightly musty. Not as good as I expected from the reputation that King & Barnes had - I don't think that Hall & Woodhouse are doing the K&B beers justice.