Thwaites - Dark Mild renamed Nutty Black

A superb beer on form, but hard to find. The one Thwaites pub within reach of where I live hasn't sold it for donkey's years. If it's not available it won't sell.

Like Banks's Mild which became "Original" a fair few years ago. Seems the M-word has to go, as the image it conveys puts people off trying - the same people who'll drink [often similar] beers with novelty names like Gnat's Piss.

Recently I was pleased to see that a new chain pub-restaurant [of the scissors and microwave school of cuisine] not far from us was serving two Moorhouse's ales in really good condition. I hate the pub, the food, the atmosphere, but the kids love it [play area] and I have to grudgingly admit that there is good beer there and that's hard to find near us. So I found myself going there to eat after a day out with two other families and ordering Black Cat for the three dads ["what are you having - oh, go on, I'll give that a try as well..."]

You should have seen their faces as they were supping it and I told them it was mild. You'd think I'd played a sick joke on them. Nobody said they didn't like it, but sadly they went back on the smoothflow bitter when buying their round. I wonder what they'd have made of it if I'd not said the M-word?

What 21st century non-mild names can we come up with to rename all the remaining milds for the marketing men before they do it for us? Taylor's Dark Secret?

shame = Black cat mild is lovely! Why were they bothered?

Black Cat (mild) is often on at The Nook in Holmfirth and it is truly lovely!

nick

It's always on at the Pendle Witch in Atherton.. but it would be.. wouldn't it.

KW, Bolton.

Precisely because they realised that they were drinking mild. You could see the blinkers going down as they reacted to what I said. People laugh at me when I say I drink mild - I've a dry ironic sense of humour so they think I'm joking, then when I say I'm not they just think I'm a bit potty. These guys, who I don't know very well, being parents of my son's schoolmates, appeared to be ready to be guided by my apparent knowledge and enthusiasm for ale, and then felt cheated when [as they would perceive it] I made them drink mild. Scoff at my opinion if you like: If I'd called the Black Cat a stout [which it's not far off] I believe they'd have given it a fair trial. I think that mild has a future, but you have to change its name and dress it up [and probably put a clown hat on it] before it will get a second look from the average punter. Which is sad, but there you have it.

Last year when Rat and Ratchet in Huddersfield had a Mild festival, the place was jammed all day. Must have been about a dozen Milds on. Don't remember anyone scoffing or ridiculing Milds that day.

I was in the R&R only a few weeks ago. you and I know well that their clientele are not "average punters"

My Grandad used to tell me that Mild was made by tipping the contents of the drip trays into a bucket then serving it up in a glass. I have always assumed that it was not "proper" beer but have had it a couple of times in the last couple of years and enjoyed it.

However, I'm still not really sure what it is!

Can anyone explain what's the difference between Bitter and Mild, please?

Judith

Stories like the above I've heard dozens of times before... mild is a victim of misinformation and ignorance. Try

for an idea. There's a whole realm of mild from light almost tasteless stuff like Webster's Green Label [do they still make that?] to Sarah Hughes whopping Dark Ruby Mild. Most are low gravity low hopped brews, some are dark and malty, some are pale and delicate. Don't flinch from trying any of em, because you can't be sure that they will be around to try in the future. Fond memories of drinking Border Exhibition on the Old Custom House in Chester, ahhh... never to be tried again! :-{

Judith, Mild is similar to other hand-pulled, cask conditioned real ales. It is usually (!!) darker, a little less hoppy (not necessarily so) and a little less alcoholic (but not necessarily so). It's usually a soft, mellow, dark brew full of chocolate malts and roasted barleys with a lighter hand on the hops. Just a wonderful ale, often nutty and brown. Not stridently "bitter" but wonderfully full-bodied.

But I am a yank and wot should I know??

nick

Thanks (and to Nick too).

Judith

In message , snipped-for-privacy@googlemail.com writes

That'll learn you: another time, get them to say outright that they like it before you tell them it's mild. Then they'll stay with it rather than see how foolish they're being.

Ha! I think that if there ever is a next time they'll stick to what they know rather than giving me any opportunity to "corrupt" them any more. My card is marked.

.Shocking waste. I take it a tap blew off or something like that...