Mild Thing
Harmon Brewing Co.

Shaker pint on draught at Harmon, my mandatory pit-stop for waiting out traffic on the way home from Seattle while eating their nacho's, which are about the best I've ever had.
Appearance is a cloudy dark gold with a small off-white collar leaving no lace.

Smell is all malt, loads of caramel and a bit of bread.

Taste is similarly malty, though perhaps more bread then caramel, but they're both present. Really more like a low hopped pale ale then a 'mild', or ESB as it's designated here. But tasty nevertheless, clean and well made, a lingering fresh malt finish. There's a touch of minty/herbal hops on the finish as well that keeps it's refreshing and cut's the maltiness, but it's really not overly hoppy by any stretch. But if it is a PNW interpretation of a 'mild', then of course by UK standards, it's strong and hoppy. Let's just call it a nice little pale.

Mouthfeel is still, which gives it a thickness that beguiles it's medium light body.

Drinkability is pretty good, a tasty beer, it could use more carbonation perhaps, or maybe just the cask treatment to align the expectations. I dug it, though I'm not sure how sessionable it was - I'd rather having a hoppier beer, or have the gravity match the flavor. But that's really a matter of preference, and not something I've scored it on.

Poured a nice deep amber color with a decent dirty white head. On the nose you know its slightly bitter and well hopped. Most Harmon brews (ESB, IPA and Pale) have a citrus, piney nose but Red Diamond was right about the Caramel. Its full bodied, well balanced and quenched my thirst. A pretty good beer from Harmon, as usual.

Mild Thing is brewed to ESB potency but retains understated bittering and hop flavor, showcasing smooth caramel malts throughout. In fact, I’d call this is a textbook example of caramel flavor and smell. Allowing for the sedate nature of the style, the low to no carbonation and complete lack of suds are still detractions. But Mild Thing delivers the goods with a full body, smooth flavor, and good sustain. Look for it on cask.