Mild at Steel City Beer Festival 49
Published: 04-Nov-2025 (08:36); Viewed: 129; Difficulty: 1 out of 10Rating: N/A
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About Mild
Mild ales are an old British classic, known for their soft maltiness, low bitterness, and gentle strength. They're often underrated and, sadly, underrepresented at many festivals. So I decided to focus on every mild available this year, rate them honestly, and see if any could stand out.Tested Milds
- Sun Goes Down (3.3% ABV, Thornbridge) - 4.5/10 A pleasant dark mild with a light aroma but too watery. The promised richness never appeared. Disappointing for such a respected brewery.
- Tom's Mild (3.4% ABV, Stancill) - 5.5/10 Smoother and fruitier, but still missing depth. A nice everyday pint but far from memorable.
- XL Mild (4.0% ABV, Burton Bridge) - 6.5/10 The best of the lineup. A fuller body with caramel and toffee tones, yet still a little thin compared to classic Midlands milds.
- Dark Horse Mild (3.7% ABV, Uttoxeter) - 5.0/10 Balanced sweetness and mild fruitiness, but over-carbonated and lacking in aroma.
Conclusion about Milds
After trying all four, it was clear that this year wasn't a strong one for milds. Each beer had pleasant qualities, but none achieved that deep, creamy malt character that defines a truly great mild. Still, festivals like this keep these traditional styles alive, and it's always a pleasure to support real ale culture.Sun Goes Down - 4.5/10 Tom's Mild - 5.5/10 XL Mild - 6.5/10 Dark Horse Mild - 5.0/10
Even if the milds didn't impress, the Steel City Beer Festival remains an unmissable event for beer lovers. Every visit brings new discoveries — and sometimes, even disappointment can be part of the adventure.
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