Previous medal winners in the Champion Beer of Britain Mild Category are being celebrated by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to mark the resurgence of this delicious beer style.
Mild was once Britain's most popular style of real ale, but had fallen out of fashion in favour of other beers. However there are still many brewers who are enthusiastic about the future of Mild and CAMRA is dedicated to making sure their beers get the credit they deserve.
May has been designated as Mild Month by CAMRA and the consumer organisation is urging beer lovers to seek out milds in their local pubs and rediscover this wonderfully flavoursome beer.
CAMRA has developed a map of the UK which shows 11 previous medal winners in the national Champion Mild Category, as well as six highly recommended milds, so drinkers can find out where their nearest recommended mild is brewed and ask for it at their local.
CAMRA Press Officer Owen Morris said: “Fashions and tastes in the drinks market can change almost overnight - as proved by the recent resurgence of cider. CAMRA and many brewers believe once drinkers try mild and enjoy the delicious roasted malt and barley flavours then demand will increase, but it is up to the consumer to create that demand.
“Using CAMRA's map beer drinkers can find their nearest champion mild medal winner, but there are many other breweries around the UK that produce this wonderful beer, so order a pint of mild in May and let the comeback commence.”
Bateman's brewery in Lincolnshire has seen year on year sales figures rise by 60 per cent for its two-time gold medal winning Dark Mild. Managing Director Stuart Bateman said: “I think what goes around comes around, and drinkers are going to come back to the traditional taste of mild.”
Medal winning breweries featured on CAMRA's Mild Map are:
Bateman's Dark Mild, Lincolnshire (Gold 1997 & 1999)
Bazens' Black Pig, Gt Manchester (Bronze 2003)
Brains Dark, Cardiff, Wales (Gold 1991 & 2001, Silver 2003,2004, 2005)
Elgood's Black Dog, Cambridgeshire (Bronze 2005, Silver 2006)
Grainstore Rutland Panther, Rutland (Gold 2005, Bronze 2006)
Lees' GB Mild, Manchester (Silver 2004)
Mighty Oak's Oscar Wilde Mild, Essex (Gold 2006)
Moorhouse's Black Cat, Lancashire, (Gold 1998 & 2000)
Timothy Taylor's Golden Best, West Yorkshire (Gold 1989)
Triple fff Pressed Rat & Warthog, Hampshire (Gold 2002)
Woodforde's Mardlers Mild, Norfolk (Gold 1993)
View the map or download it at
www.camra.org.uk/mildmap
Owen Morris added: “If you are looking for events in your area, visit
www.camra.org.uk/mild for a comprehensive list of CAMRA branches' Mild Month activities.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Mild is one of the most traditional beer styles, and is enjoying a revival in today's real ale market. Usually dark brown in colour, due to the use of well-roasted malts or barley, it is less hopped than bitters and often has a chocolaty character with nutty flavours.
However despite finding favour among breweries and real-ale drinkers, Mild can be difficult to find at the handpump in many parts of the country.
For more information contact CAMRA Press Officer Owen Morris on 01727 798443.