Serve in a pint at 10-13 °C
What it tastes like
Mild is one of England's oldest pub styles. In the past mild meant young, fresh beer as opposed to aged and soured stock, not low strength. Through the twentieth century it became the everyday ale of industrial towns, brewed weaker and darker, and today most milds sit between 3 and 4 percent.
The skill lies in getting real flavour into so little alcohol. Brewers use crystal, chocolate and sometimes brown malt to give caramel, toffee, cocoa, light coffee and dried fruit. They mash warm to leave some unfermentable sugar for body, so a good mild never tastes thin or watery. Hops are kept low and English, there for balance. English ale yeast adds a little fruit. Most milds are dark, but pale versions exist. The best ones are served fresh on cask with low carbonation, and they are made to be drunk by the pint over a long evening.
Style profile
- Look
- Dark copper to dark brown, often near black, clear, with a modest tan head.
- Aroma and flavour
- Caramel, toffee, cocoa and light coffee from dark malts, some dried fruit, gentle earthy hops and soft yeast fruitiness.
- Mouthfeel
- Light to medium body that feels fuller than its strength, low to moderate carbonation, and a soft finish.
- Ingredients
- English mild or pale ale malt with crystal, chocolate or brown malt, a little English hop, and a fruity English ale yeast. Some use brewing sugars.
In India
Mild is almost unknown in India, mostly because our market rewards strength, and a 3.5 percent dark beer is a hard sell on a menu. That is a shame. In the heat, a flavourful beer you can drink slowly without feeling it makes a lot of sense,. Cask conditioning is rare here, so any Indian version will be on keg. Ask brewers to make one.
At the Indian table
Food pairings contributed by Anuradha Rao
- Chettinad chicken curryThe beer's malt sweetness softens the black pepper and kalpasi heat without adding alcohol burn.
- Sabudana khichdiNutty peanuts and a soft, malty beer make a gentle, savoury match.
- Mutton keema pavRich minced meat and cocoa malt share a deep savouriness.
- Mysore pakGhee and gram flour sweetness meet the beer's toffee and caramel.
Brewed in India
We could not find a verified Indian mild yet. Ask your local brewpub, as it is an easy style for a brewer to make on request.
Want the long read? English mild