Pint-Size Mild

[Cask at Eldon Arms, Reading] I’ve heard that this Waddy’s - tied pub sells more Mild than any other pub in the country. I don’t know how true this is (given the small size of the pub I somehow doubt it...) but having tasted the house mild it could well be true. I’ve never had another beer quite like this. Pours a very deep winey red (it stains everything it touches, so be careful!) with almost no head. Smells deep, rich and smokey. Tastes like - well, imagine you could barbecue Ribena. Smoke is dominant, with strong blackcurrant and a hint of sharp damson. There are deep oaky flavours in there too, with -surprisingly - a bit of spice, like a good aged Rioja wine. some black coffee does come through in the aftertaste, although I didn’t find this as strong as others on this database. Leaves a dry, smokey, oaky, sexy mouthful that leaves you begging for more. My friends tasted some, and expressed some surprise that I would drink such a strong beer during a long session - they were absolutely astonished to be told it was only 3.3%. The depth of flavour is such that I think they’re right - you couldn’t physically drink too many of these. But that is the great thing about it - I’d had a Rochefort 10 a couple of nights before, and I honestly believe that this mild could give it a run for its money. A great beer to prove to the Belgian afficionados that strength isn’t actually what gives a beer flavour, I think that this is second only in milds to Brewdog Edge - and I’d be interested to have an opportunity to taste test them against each other.

Cask conditioned at the Robin Hood, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol. Dark, reddish brown with almost no head. Thin bodied with roasted coffee flavour. Easily drinkable.

Gravity, Victory Arms, Old Marston. Brown, a few tan bubbles. Pleasant, simple grainy aroma, chewy simple grainy flavor. A decent mild. I liked my pint.

Cask Conditioned at The Falkland Arms, Great Tew, Oxon
Brown beer with slight head. Fully flavoured mild, quite bitter and dry fo a mild though. Big impact of roasted coffee in the body but with a toffee / caramel background. Malty, biscuit finish. Not bad at all.

Cask conditioned - gravity dispense - Bedford BF. A chestnut brown coloured beer with a reddish hue and a white head. The aroma is nutty and malty; maybe a little sour. The taste is thin with some caramel and nuts. Plainish but perfectly quaffable.