Read About Mild

Black Country Mild

CAMRA traditionally supports and campaigns for the continued production of Mild Ales. The style of beer is not universally produced across the whole country but tends to be the favoured drink of many in the West Midlands. Within our Black Country heartland we have many famous versions of Mild Ale from Strong to Weak and from Very Dark to almost Pale.

CAMRA’s Good Beer guide describes Mild Ale as

“a beer with its roots in the 18th and 19th Century, developed as a result of demand from drinkers - mainly from agricultural or industrial labour- for a beer that was sweeter, lighter in body and cheaper than the prevailing dark and heavily hopped Porters and Stouts of the time.”

Most Mild Ales these days tend to be weaker but the Black Country has its own unique Strong Mild from Sarah Hughes Brewery in Sedgley. Dark Ruby weighs in with a 6% ABV and has developed a cult following across the country. It is described as a Dark Ruby coloured strong ale with a good balance of fruit and hops, leading to a pleasant, lingering hops and malt finish. Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby was runner up in CAMRA’s Strong Mild competition held at Stoke beer festival in November 2009. It can be found at the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley, the home of Sarah Hughes Brewery and in selected free trade outlets.

Holdens Mild is a totally different type of drink with an ABV of 3.7%, described as a good red/brown mild: a refreshing light blend of roast malt, hops and fruit dominated by malty flavours throughout. It is available at the Park Inn, which is the brewery tap in Woodsetton, the Great Western in Wolverhampton and at nearly all of the 19 Holdens outlets throughout the West Midlands Region.

On the South side of the Black Country you will be able to sample a Mild from one of its newer breweries. Sadlers, set up in 2004, is in the centre of Lye, easily accessible by train from Birmingham Snow Hill, and its beers are available in the Windsor Castle Inn. Sadler’s Mild ale is a 4% beer described as a Black Country dark mild with hints of chocolate flavours and a dry finish.

Not far from Lye is the Vine, more often known as the Bull and Bladder, the infamous home of Batham’s brewery. Batham’s, better known for its Best Bitter, is run by fifth generation family members, Tim and Matthew. Its Mild is only 3.5% and is a fruity, dark brown mild with a malty sweetness and a roast malt finish. Batham’s Mild is also available at the Britannia in Upper Gornal, a National inventory listed pub because of the rear tap room with its wall mounted pumps. The pub is known locally as Sally’s, after its former long time landlady.

Throughout the region there are many outlets for Banks’s Mild. Banks’s are the world’s biggest producers of Mild and are firmly committed to this high volume product from their brewery in Wolverhampton. Banks Mild is 3.5%, an amber coloured well-balanced, refreshing session beer. In support of CAMRA’s mild month they are also producing Hanson’s Mild. Originally brewed in the Dudley brewery of the same name it was discontinued shortly after Banks’s closed the Dudley site. Hanson’s mild was described as a mid to dark brown mild with a malty roast flavour and aftertaste with an ABV of 3.3%. The parent company, Marston’s PLC, will also be making available Merrie Monk which should also be available in the region. Try searching for the pub that’s got all 3 milds available.

To the North East of the region, Highgate Brewery, in Walsall, produce Highgate Dark Mild at an ABV of 3.4%, it is a dark brown Black Country mild with a good balance of malt and hops and traces of roast flavours. It is seen infrequently in the central parts of the Black Country around Dudley and intrepid mild hunters will need to head to the Walsall area in search of this gem.

Not far outside of Walsall is Beowulf Brewery. Beowulf Dark Raven is a stronger mild at 4.5%. Winner of CAMRA’s West Midland strong mild competition at Stoke beer festival in 2009 and runner up in the region’s overall competition for Beer of the Year.

Another of the stronger milds in the region comes from Black Country ales. It’s Pig on the Wall Mild at 4.3% and is a rich dark brown full bodied mild. It is brewed at the company’s brewery in Lower Gornal, behind the Old Bulls Head pub. Its availability across the region is pretty widespread. If you arrive in the region via Birmingham, pop in to The Wellington on Bennetts Hill, 5 minutes walk from New Street Station. In Dudley itself it can be sampled at the Courthouse, near to the Police Station.

Just outside of Dudley, in Netherton is the Olde Swan. Here you have the choice of two milds although both are very different. Olde Swan Original is an example of an almost extinct type of mild, a light coloured mild. Its strength is 3.5% and is described as a straw coloured light mild, smooth but tangy, and sweetly refreshing with a faint hoppiness. Dark Swan is a much more robust drink. Its strength is 4.2% and is a smooth, sweet dark mild with a late roast malt flavour in the finish.

The Black Country has a significant number of freehouses and most of them support CAMRA’s mild month at some time during May often providing a Locale Mild from breweries like Enville, Kinver, Church End, Toll End or Hobson’s. Try the Olde White Rose in Bilston, the Waggon and Horses in Halesowen, the Fountain in Lower Gornal or the Jolly Crispin in Upper Gornal for something a bit more unusual.

If this has whetted your taste buds join us on 8th May for a tour of some of these excellent pubs and try a selection of the finest Mild Ales that the Black Country has to offer.

Further details visit www.dudleyCAMRA.org.uk

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