Mill Race Mild
Grand River Brewing

Mill Race MildMill Race Mild
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From:
Grand River Brewing
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
English Dark Mild Ale
ABV:
3.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 11.4%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 16, 2017
Added:
Sep 16, 2007
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  4
Darkly coloured and rich in appearance, this mild ale is brewed in the traditional style of British mild beers that are disappearing even from the pubs of London, England.

Grand River Brewing has revived this traditional style of beer that is deep in colour but doesn’t possess the harsh bitterness that many people associate with a darker beer. The pronounced creamy head welcomes you and is followed with a beautiful roasted barley flavour and a smooth creamy taste.

This is a beer that just makes you want to have another and with being a mild, go right ahead.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Pmicdee
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 19 2019
May 16, 2017
Photo of spikedlemon
Reviewed by spikedlemon from Canada (ON)

4.47/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
My favorite brew from GRB. A caveat to my notes: the recipe is currently changing and I've not had opportunity to taste the new ones yet; one notable change is an ABV increase
Mar 14, 2017
 
Rated: 4.53 by EdwardPW from Canada (NL)

Jun 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by Cycle69 from Canada (ON)

Jun 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by CurtisD from Canada (NB)

Apr 28, 2015
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.32/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
500 mL bottle picked up at the brewery; bottled on Jan 23 2015. I have been wanting to try this one for years now, as it seems to be one of Grand River's most highly-regarded brews in general - along with their Highballer Pumpkin, of course. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a rather attractive, deep, clear "old penny" copper-brown hue, topped off with a firm inch of creamy, off-white foam. Pretty good retention; it gradually dissipates over a period of five minutes or so, leaving behind a bubbly cap and collar, with a curtain of foamy lace around the edge. You can't look at a glass of beer like this and *not* want to drink it - unless you're a madman. The aroma is, well, a bit mild - roasted malts shine through with hints of milk chocolate and cappuccino. There's also a touch of vanilla, hazelnut and a distinct toffee/caramel sweetness.

Flavour-wise, toffee and caramelized sugar step up to the plate initially, followed by some light cocoa. The roasted malt features begin to take over in the latter half of the profile, with lightly roasted coffee joining up alongside the aforementioned chocolate. Suggestions of vanilla and hazelnut; their house yeast character is also noticeable toward the aftertaste, which is mostly dry. Light-bodied, but not at all thin/watery - the carbonation levels are quite restrained, giving this brew a luxuriously smooth, enjoyable feel on the palate. Much easier to knock back than most beers (or soft drinks, for that matter), but it's tasty enough that you'll probably want to savour what little you have. Unless you live in the KW-Cambridge area - you lucky sod.

Final Grade: 4.32, an excellent A. Mill Race Mild is undoubtedly one of Grand River's best products - which is why I find it all the more puzzling that it is not being distributed to LCBOs province-wide. Grand River has at least a few listings that I would not particularly miss, and this mild ale would be the perfect substitution - it's not like this is a style that is well-represented on shelves. Maybe they just don't think Ontario beer drinkers have any interest in this extremely light, flavourful style? Or more likely, it's some assclown at the LCBO who keeps turning it down? That would be a shame - because this is the perfect beer for a lazy afternoon - St. Paddy's Day or otherwise. A spot-on example of this highly sessionable style.
Mar 17, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by JavierGC from Spain

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Aug 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by nullbort from Canada (ON)

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Feb 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by yancot from Canada (ON)

Feb 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by dipso123 from Oregon

Nov 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by kinguy from Canada (ON)

Nov 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by Molson2000 from Canada (ON)

Sep 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Wordslinger from Canada (ON)

May 06, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by MattPS from Canada (ON)

Mar 03, 2012
Photo of hopsolutely
Reviewed by hopsolutely from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A brilliant example of an English mild.

Lovely dark amber, with red and brown highlights. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but full enough to be enjoyable.

Aroma of sweet, roasted malts is stunning. Flavours are well balnaced, from the caramelized malts to a bittering hop finish.

A very well crafted beer. Well done, Grand River!
Dec 23, 2011
Photo of korguy123
Reviewed by korguy123 from Canada (ON)

3.2/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottled Jan, 2011.

A- Such a, dark brown with ruby highlights. Minimal head with moderate lacing.

S- Toffee and caramel with biscuit notes. Like a bakery. Subtle chocolate.

T- Subtle chocolate, slight coffee and sweet malts.

M- Thin and watery. Prickly carbonation.

O- Well past it's prime imo. That's my fault, not the brewery. It's been sitting in the fridge far too long.
Nov 24, 2011
Photo of peensteen
Reviewed by peensteen from Canada (ON)

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Deep brown, near black, light ring of off white head, good retention. Smell is malty and nutty, lightly roasted, fruity and lightly lactic. taste is roasty, light butter notes that are quite pleasant and work well, nutty, molasses, fig and some darker fruits, lightly smokey with a bitter finish and aftertaste. Light to med carbonation, light to medium feel, medium body. Quite nice sessionable and enjoyable, another solid effort from Grand River.
Sep 19, 2011
Photo of liamt07
Reviewed by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle from the brewery, 500ml into a pint glass. Bottled June 27, 2011.

Pours a dark brown with some dark red and mahogany highlights. A few fingers of tan head are formed, that's slightly creamy and moderately thick. Some lacing and moderate retention. Nose has light chocolate notes, some roast qualities, nuts, hints of caramel and dark fruits. Taste has roasty and mild coffee qualities, nuts are still mildly present themselves as well. Touch of caramel as well. Mouthfeel is a light medium, slightly watery in texture. Carbonation is medium low, and gets there only with some swirling down. Very easy to drink, I can only imagine this being more fantastic with cask treatment.
Aug 15, 2011
Mill Race Mild from Grand River Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 54 ratings