Types of Beer

What is Mild?

Mild is reckoned to be one of the oldest types of beer brewed in the UK. Milds tend to how a lower hops content than bitters, with many using darker malts and/or roasted barley to make up for the loss of character that is caused by the lower hops content.

These darker malts give Dark Milds their characteristic colour, with many being having a chocolate or nutty taste. CAMRA suggest that milds are also sometimes described as being “burnt”.

Milds often have an ABV of between 3% and 3.5%, but there are exceptions to the general rule. Some are considerably stronger and may not even be dark in colour.

Milds have not always been weaker than bitters – it was mainly as a result of malt rationing during World War I that saw milds reduce their alcohol contents.

The 2007 Champion Beer (Mild Class) was Hobsons Mild.

Previous winners are as follows:

2006: Oscar Wilde Mild
2005: Grainstore Rutland Panther
2004: Lees GB Mild
2003: Lidstones Rowley Mild
2002: Triple fff Pressed Rat and Warthog
2001: Brains Dark
2000: Moorhouse’s Black Cat
1999: Bateman’s Dark Mild
1998: Moorhouse’s Black Cat
1997: Bateman’s Dark Mild
1996: Tomlinsons Heritage Mild
1995: Ridley Mild
1994: Hoskins & Oldfield Mild
1993: Woodforde’s Mardlers Mild
1992: Taylors Golden Best
1991: Brains Dark
1990: Harveys Pale Ale
1989: Taylors Golden Best
1988: Bateman’s Mild
1987: Ansells Mild
1986: Thwaites Best Mild
1985: Ansells Mild
1984: No event
1983: Ansells Mild
1982: Tetley Mild
1981: Bank’s Mild
1980: Thwaites Best Mild
1979: Hanson’s Mild
1978: Thwaites Best Mild