Mason's Dark Mild
Mad Fox Brewing Company

 

 

On-tap at Capital Ale House, Richmond, VA

A: The beer is clear amber in color. It poured with a thin light beige head.
S: Light aromas of pale and toasted malts are present in the nose along with hints of coffee beans.
T: The taste has light flavors of roasted coffee beans along with hints of pale malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is quite easy to drink given its lighter body but is very flavorful.

Serving type: on-tap

 

Light tan head that leaves a film on the surface. Beer is a dark brown opaque color. Really good look.

Smell and taste are good. Dark and moderate roasted notes. A nice earthy hop bitterness as well. Light toffee with a slight side of barely traceable chocolate to balance the roast.

Light body but on the heavier side. Biting carbonation makes it drinkable. Smooth and thin as it should be.

Overall, great bitter and great session beer. Definitely worth getting .

 

On tap at brewpub:
Pours a deep brown, maybe a tad reddish when a little light hits the side. Looks almost black with a little shadow. Head is nice foamy-towards-creamy tan. Sheets of head cling to the glass on a sip, but quickly return to the surface.

Nose toffee cut with a hint of English bitter notes. Initially I got some chocolate roast notes, but warmth seems to bring out the toffee more and more.

The taste holds the roast notes longer, starting a bit chocolatey, but slowly turning more to coffee and eventually weak coffee as vegetal bitter notes make their presence felt as I get deeper into the beer. Feel is medium light early on and as the taste goes from bolder roast notes to more bitter, it seems to tend to feeling lighter. Carbonation is nice throughout, hitting the tongue with a little tickle even late I the pour.

First few sips I was really impressed. Through the pour I enjoyed it a little less. Overall though, I was quite impressed, still, and I thought this a decent substitute for a porter. Will not hesitate to grab it again.

 

 

 

 

On draft at Churchkey in D.C.

light mahogany body with russet tinges. Aromas of chocolate, malt, bread. Some nutty, earthy character in the flavor. Mild dose of chocolate. Nice amount of flavor packed into a low abv brew. Good stuff.

 

 

 

 

On tap at Mad Fox. Pours clear moderate brown color with off white head. Nose has slight roasted malt, chocolate, an a slight nuttiness. Flavor is similar with roast on the tongue and a chocolate finish. Body is a bit too thin. Probably needs a slightly-higher mash temperature, at least for my taste. Quite nice and very drinkable.

Poured from the cask into a pint glass at Churchkey DC.

Light tan and classic big bubbled soapy head. However, I was watching this thing for about a good 10-15 minutes without touching it and it never even fell. Body color is super dark walnut/brown to black, there might even be some red hues along the sides. Nice start to this.

What a great nose on this. Fresh brewed morning drip coffee! Dark chocolate bitter notes! Lots of cream too, some light tobacco comes out too! Real killer.

Palate fills with all the great richness hinted on the nose. Coffee, chocolate etc.. Lots of ash like quality to this and carbon burnt gravy mixing nicely. Classic wet body as to be expected but pretty much giving the notes in the palate some say.

Overall just a lovely mild out of the cask, very enjoyable.

 

Served at the source in a pint glass. Beer is ruby and clear / brown with a thin tan head of small bubbles, low retention, no lacing, low carbonation.

Aroma is a little sweet but very faint.

Beer is light in body and sweet on the start, thins out to a watery grainy beer at the back but not necessarily in a bad way. I enjoy it mostly and move on. A good 3% beer for sure. I might have it again.