How To Brew Dark Mild Beer: British Classic From UK Pubs to Your Pint Glass

Dark Mild as a beer is considered by some as the first session ale, which is a beer that is below the 5 percent alcohol by volume mark.

The comparison of a dark mild to a stout starts and stops by both beers being named as a descriptor to a beer as opposed to a beer style.

British Beer History

In the 18th Century there were two types of malt liquor: Beer and Ale. Beer was first brewed in the 1500s when hops were first being imported. Conversely, Ale had been brewed since Saxon times.

Ales were originally unhopped, but in 1700 there were a small number of hops made their way into ales.

So as a review: Ale=lightly hopped, Beer=heavily hopped.

Low – Hopped Beer

Milds date back to the late 18th Century. The name “mild” derived from the beer being low in hop bitterness.

Most beers in English pubs at this time were actually called bitter. Dark milds grew in popularity with the industrial laborers.

The Midlands, which was an industrial area in England, had many miners and factory workers grabbing milds after a hard day’s work.

Changes

This beer would go through several changes and eventually became the beer it is today. Milds decreased in strength through the 1900s largely due to restrictions on barley during war time and with an increased beer tax.

By the end of World War II, mild ales became darker in color changing from usually an amber color to a mahogany color. This was thanks to the common use of darker grains.

Changing tastes largely caused dark milds to become less popular by the 1950s. A decline in industrialization was partly the cause of this decline. Bitter grew in popularity at this time.

Style Profile for Dark Mild

Appearance

Color ranges from copper to mahogany. Head will range from off-white to tan with poor retention. Beer is usually unfiltered, but is clear.

Aroma

Malt character can offer up different aromas, usually consisting of low to moderate aromas such as: grainy, toffee, chocolate, light roast, nutty, or caramel.

Hop aroma is low and will contribute hints of floral or earthiness. Very light diacetyl is detected.

Mouthfeel

Low to low-moderate carbonation. Light to medium bodied beer. Some light astringency is present in versions using roasted malts.

Fuller mouthfeel is usually present with sweeter versions of this beer.

Taste

Usually a malt forward beer with flavors such as: sweet toffee, toast, roast, caramel, nutty, and chocolate. Yeast can give flavors of fruit, raisin, and plum. The hop bitterness and malt is balanced.

May finish sweet or dry; while roast forward beers finishing with a drying roast character. Hop and diacetyl flavors are low to none. Fruity esters may be moderate.

Food Pairing

Dark milds generally pair well with beef stew, smoked sausage, and bacon. This beer also does well alongside some Asiago cheese and mild cheddar.

If you are looking to pair a Dark Mild with dessert, look no further than fruit cobbler or a blueberry tart.

Tips for Brewing your own Dark Mild

Grain

The base malt for this beer is really important. As many people have expressed in the past, the base malt is the canvas that a brewer starts with when brewing a beer. American palt malts are usually one or two Lovibond lighter than British malt.

The darker British pale malts bring out more of the biscuit characteristics this beer is known for. If British pale malt is hard to come by, American 2-Row can be a substitute. Just be sure to add up to 10% Biscuit or Victory malt to achieve that biscuit flavor.

Darker crystal malts will give you the sweet caramel notes you are looking for with this beer. This is where experimenting with different crystal malts can really pay off.

Maybe do a smaller batch and play around with combinations of darker crystal malts such as 60,75, or 80. Keep the crystal malts at around 10% if adding other specialty grains and 15% if not.

If using dark roast grain, keep it at 4-6% of the total grist. Chocolate or black patent is a common choice. Again, experimenting a little can really pay off. Some brewers do not add any crystal malts and a little roast grain to achieve the color associated with a dark mild.

Hops

Traditional British hops are a good choice. Hops such as Fuggles, Northern Brewer, Goldings, Challenger, and Northdown are a few to choose from for this style.

There is very little hop flavor and aroma in a dark mild. Bittering hops at 60 minutes will be where you start. If you are interested in adding a little flavor, a small hop addition at the 20-15 minute mark before flameout would do the trick. A half an ounce will be what you need.

Yeast

A British yeast with moderate attenuation and low to moderate esters is what you are looking for with this style.Both Wyeast 1998 London ESB Ale and White Labs WLP002 English Ale are both good choices.

Safale S-04 or Danstar Winsor are the dry yeast choices.

Dark Mild By the Numbers

• Color Range: 12 – 25 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.030 – 1.038 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.008 – 1.013 FG
• IBU Range: 10 – 25
• ABV Range: 3.0 – 3.8%

Dark Mild Recipe

Grain

• 80% 6 lbs Maris Otter Malt
• 7% 8oz Amber Ale
• 7% 8oz Brown Malt
• 6% 8oz Pale Chocolate Malt

Hops

• 1 oz East Kent Goldings – Boil 60 min

Yeast

• 1.0 pkg Wyeast London ESB 1098

Directions

• Mash at 152°F (66°C) for 60 mins
• Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is English Dark Mild?

English Dark Mild, often referred to as English Mild Ale or simply Dark Mild, is a mild beer known for its lighter bitterness, reduced alcohol content, and distinguishing dark hue which sets it apart in the mild ale category.

What are the key ingredients in the Dark Mild recipe?

The Dark Mild recipe entails a mix of Maris Otter Malt, Amber Ale, Brown Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, combined with hops like 1 oz East Kent Goldings, and yeast, specifically 1.0 pkg Wyeast London ESB 1098 for fermentation.

What is the process to brew Dark Mild Beer?

To create this mild ale, commence by mashing the malts at 152°F for 60 minutes, followed by a 60-minute boil integrating East Kent Goldings hops, adhering to the Dark Mild Ale recipe.

How does the English Dark Mild differ from other mild beers?

Distinct from other mild beers, English Dark Mild exhibits a dark coloration owing to its dark malt blend, whilst preserving a light bitterness, moderate alcohol content, and a gentle palate akin to a typical mild beer.

How is the flavor profile of English Dark Mild crafted in the recipe?

The English Dark Mild’s flavor profile is orchestrated through a balanced blend of malts, emanating sweet toffee, roast, caramel, and chocolate nuances, with a touch of hop bitterness, embodying the essence of an English Mild Ale recipe.

English dark mild, or just English mild is by every category, a light beer. It’s light on the palate, light in bitterness and light in alcohol. Every category except color that is. This is effectively an easy drinking session beer that happens to be dark. And that makes it an interesting beer to brew up.

And while I’m brewing it, we’re going to take a look at measuring gravity.