Beer > Mild Ale

Advantages: Complex, tasty Mild that is easy to drink.
Disadvantages: Hard to find and still just a seasonal ale.

...will be reviewing Whim Ale’s Magic Mushroom Mild! The main reasons for this choice are that I am supporting Mild and also opting for a beer from a brewery that is local to me. ~~~THE BREWERY. Whim Ales started brewing in 1993. Their brewery can be found in the old outbuildings at Whim Farm, located in Hartington, which is a village not far from Buxton in Derbyshire. The owners also run Scottish Brewery Broughton Ales (although they are run independently) ...
...***A Bit of Background*** Magic Mushroom Mild is so called because of its unusual and complex mix of flavours, rather than the addition of any hallucinogenic veg! The name implies that it is something different and it is! For those of you who are unsure, a Mild Ales are generally classed as beers that are brewed using fewer hops than Bitter style ones. They are also usually produced with darker malt varieties, sugar or caramel, to give them a dark ... Read review

Advantages: A good and tasty Mild Ale from a great brewery.
Disadvantages: May not find it everywhere.

...these local beer producers is Spire Brewery. They have a brewery tap (a pub that is tied to them and serves their beer) in New Tupton, not far from Chesterfield, called the Britannia. It is here that we usually get to sample some of their excellent beers. One of our favourites at the moment is Dark Side of the Moon. THE BREWERY. Spire Brewery Ltd is based in two industrial units in Staveley, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The owner and head ...
...the UK. Spire use only natural ingredients - only malt, hops, yeast & water and no artificial additives. They are also as environmentally friendly as they can be - they are as energy efficient as possible and mainly supply beers to local outlets to cut down on transport (known as low beer miles). They produce a range of regular, seasonal and special beers, mostly in cask form, but some can also be purchased in bottles too. Of their range you may ... Read review

Advantages: Nice and Refreshing
Disadvantages: None

~~~~~~~ TIMOTHY TAYLOR'S - GOLDEN BEST ~~~~~~~ Timothy Taylor started brewing his own beer back in 1858 in small town called Keighley in West Yorkshire his brewing factory still remains there today. Timothy Taylor have won many awards for their real ales and beers but not surprising as they use their own natural ingredients - I bet the secret is the spring water they use from the Pennines on the Knowle Spring. There's a lot of competition out ...
...~~~~~~~ Other beers by Timothy Taylor are: Pale Ales LANDLORD 4.3% ABV BEST BITTER 4.0% ABV GOLDEN BEST 3.5% ABV Dark Ales DARK MILD 3.5% ABV RAM TAM 4.3% ABV Their Specials include: THE CELEBRATION ALE 5% ABV HAVERCAKE ALE 4% These beers were specially brewed to celebrate their 150th anniversary of the Knowles Spring brewery. ~~~~~~~ CONTACT INFORMATION ~~~~~~~ Timothy Taylor & Co. Limited Knowle Spring Brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire, ... Read review

Advantages: An excellent example of a dark coloured Mild ale.
Disadvantages: Not a golden coloured bitter!

...have managed to get some Brampton Brewery beers in a few of our local pubs and also ordered some for our beer festival in February. My favourite of their beers so far, and the subject of this review, is Brampton Impy Dark. ~~~THE BREWERY. The new Brampton Brewery is based in the old East Midlands Electricity Board offices on Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield. There is a team of five Real Ale enthusiasts behind the formation of the company ...
...a dream to see the Brampton Brewery name back on the bar around fifty years since the closure of the previous Brampton Brewery. Since their official launch in December 2007 their beers have fast gained popularity and have already won awards at their debut at Chesterfield Beer Festival in February 2008. Look out for their brews in pubs in the East Midlands area - and also further afield in the future. I have so far seen it in several of my local ... Read review

Advantages: Dark, tasty and easy to drink.
Disadvantages: Could do with a little more body.

...we settled on Highgate Brewery’s Black Pig. I have since drunk it in another pub (the Wellington in New Whittington, near Chesterfield) too. ~~~THE BREWERY. In July 1899 an old Victorian Brewhouse commenced production in Walsall in the West Midlands. Mitchell’s and Butler (known as M&B) purchased the business in July 1939 and were just about to close it down when history intervened! Germany invaded Poland, War broke out in Europe and rationing ...
...finding out much background about Black Pig, so I have really put the work into researching this time. I actually decided to email the brewer who created it and ask for his input ~ how about that for resourceful?!? He told me that he created Black Pig, but it was named by one of the managers at the brewery (called Paul Halsey). Highgate is located in the Black Country; an area of the country so called because of the blackness of the place caused ... Read review