If you’re a beer blog reader, you’ve read about this already. If you’re a die-hard PBN in fan (ha! that was funny) then maybe this is new.
CAMRA (the beer thugs overseas) have come together to deem May “Mild Month”. I won’t claim to know a whole lot about the intentions for this, but I have a few thoughts related to this I’d like to share.
- Milds are just not that common in the US. In fact, the only commercially bottled version I know of on the West Coast is the Deschutes Buzzsaw. I understand a few of you will be quick to remind me of beers I am missing, which is great, but bottom line is still the same – they are not common out here.
- What are Milds? Doesn’t it seem like Mild is a bad word in our society? It seems like salad, or white bread, or ‘plain’ coffee… We seem enamored with things that are spicy, big, packed with flavor and forever pushing the edge of what is palatable. I don’t understand this fascination, although I know I share this bent with many of you. I love double IPAs, Imperial Stouts and other extreme beers – if you listen to our show, you know this. However, what I fear is that our shows and writings and those of other beer enthusiasts are only sharing those beers that are ‘memorable’ or an event unto themselves. I don’t drink Double IPAs night in and night out. I don’t have Barley Wines in the summer. My fridge isn’t packed with beers 8% ABV and higher. No, my fridge is ‘unremarkable’ – a fridge probably not unlike yours. I am convinced we all enjoy a good light beer, but we don’t share these with others because… well, they’re everyday. It’s like a commute to work in contrast to your weekend getaway.
Now, I do know people who only drink big beers. I imagine you know them too. They’re not unrefined or immature – they’re just extreme. The friends I am thinking of who fit this category all have collections of hot sauce, eat rich and spicy foods and drink the darkest coffee you can find. It’s the culture. And I say, let them be. They’re living high on the hog and who can begrudge them that? I do ask something from them in return. Let me enjoy my ‘mild’ beer and don’t assume I can’t hold my sauce or don’t appreciate ‘real’ beer. If you see me eating my salad with light dressing and a Pilsner, instead of glaring perhaps lift your pint and know we’re reading the same book, even if we’re not on the same page.
Milds – yes, the dirty little word in our society of extremes. The beers that fit this style are great examples of brewer quality. It’s not easy to brew lighter beers, as alcohol and hops can hide a lot of flaws. If you find yourself a good light beer, like a good “mild” (brown ale), know that the beer is actually more troublesome for the brewer to make than that 12% monster released in the fall.
Milds, take four – so, what are milds anyway? Here’s the history according to guys who know more than I do – the folks at the beer judge cert program.
May have evolved as one of the elements of early porters. In modern terms, the name “mild” refers to the relative lack of hop bitterness (i.e. less hoppy than a pale ale, and not so strong). Originally, the “mildness” may have referred to the fact that this beer was young and did not yet have the moderate sourness that aged batches had. Somewhat rare in England, good versions may still be found in the Midlands around Birmingham.
Yeah, didn’t mean much to me either.
If you really need a definition for mild, think light brown ales, generally under 5% ABV. With the Buzzsaw example I mentioned earlier, it’s a 4.7% beer. These are great beers to enjoy after work, before dinner. They’re also a wonderful addition to your cooler for camping trips or in the fridge when you have buddies coming over to watch Golden State when the NBA title (that was funny too).
I am not a big stickler for the rules either. If you can’t find a Mild to enjoy in May – of if you just don’t like brown ales – find some light ABV beers and enjoy them. THEN, with all the bravado you can muster, brag about the beer to your beer enthusiast friends like you would your commute to work… well, hopefully with a little bit more passion and nicer adjectives. I am proud to say I like a good mild beer. In fact, I can’t wait to go to Vino’s tonight to have some freshly tapped Buzzsaw, or to crack open a few Full Sail Session lagers tomorrow as I work on my garden.
- Rick
“Hi, my name is Rick, and I love mild beer.”
I’ve been reading a lot of articles online lately about the nation’s need for more session beer – beers under 5% ABV that are refreshing and flavorful. I admit, I love me a big beer. My ‘favorite’ style is the IIPA. I go crazy for Russian Imperial Stouts. I seek out as many barley wines as a guy can find. I love big beer, but it just isn’t reasonable to enjoy them in quantity night in and night out.
That said, I seriously look forward to the Spring when craft brewers from around the country introduce beers missing the “Imperial” on the label. It pretty much begins in mid-April with the introduction of the year’s Maibock releases. Yes, they’re generally more than 5%, but not by much, and they’re full of flavor with a wonderful mouthfeel. Yes, when I see the Helles or Mai Bocks on the shelf, my liver, waistline and senses are happy.
My latest trip to the beer store today was even more encouraging, as it is now becoming easier to find beers I can start enjoying before dinner. Let’s examine some of my finds from the day, shall we?
Anchor Bock & Full Sail LTD 02 (6.4 & 5.5%) – Officially FS isn’t a Maibock, but the wonderful sweetness in these beers are wonderful on cool Spring nights. The Anchor Bock is dark, rich and with a nice roast character.
Full Sail Session (5.1%) – if you haven’t tried this beer, it may be the most perfect Summer time beer on the market. I’ve taken cases camping, buy them when I am doing home improvement projects or working on my ‘72 Ford Stepside. Light, crisp, refreshing and not lacking flavor.
Lagunitas Pils (5.3%)- I haven’t tried this years version, but my memories have this as another crisp, clean finishing beer that is easy to drink more than a couple of.
Deschutes Buzzsaw Brown (4.8%)- At under 5% this beer is shockingly full of flavor, like lightly toasted bread and moderate hop spice and bittering. A great beer and hard to comprehend it has less alcohol than Session.
There were others, but I wasn’t taking notes.
If you’re a blog reader you’re aware that May is mild beer month overseas – of course, celebrating the ‘mild’ style virtually unknown in the US. We don’t have a lot of traditional Mild beers here, but certainly it will be worth your time to search out some of these more mild beers. Use the list above, or do some label reading yourself to find a new beer you like that is low in alcohol and full of flavor. If you find one you like, be sure to let us know.
More Info
Mild Beer Month – Brookstone
Cooking with Milds – CAMRA
