Mild was a hugely popular style for more than a century (1800-1900s). Here, we have released two mild ales side-by-side.: two beers from opposite ends of that period, brewed by the same brewery. If you drink both, you will drink the same brand from the same brewery separated by 107 years. Over those years, Mild changed considerably: something these beers amply demonstrate. Though bearing the same name, X Ale, in character they could hardly be more dissimilar. By WWII, Mild was firmly established as Britain’s most popular style of beer, but the years had not been kind. The war years in particular had taken their toll on Mild, reducing its alcohol content. There had been other changes too. For example, the colour, 1945 X Ale was much darker, brewed from a blend of 5 malts and dark brewing sugar. Wartime shortages also dictated the use of flaked barley. This 1945 Mild contained just a fifth of the hops of 1838 version. This is Mild as we know it today: a low-gravity, lightly-hopped, dark beer. Drink the two side-by-side to see these changes in action.