Holt's Mild
Joseph Holt Group plc

Pint on cask at the Bon Accord, Glasgow, Scotland
June 24, 2025

L: dark brown, almost black, topped by 2/3-inch tall head of creamy tan foam

S: roasted coffee, sweet dark chocolate

T: espresso, charred wood, hints of sweet bready malt

F: soft but solid

O: solid dark mild on cask, a tad soft but still very enjoyable at a perfect session strength

Regularly drink this in The Crown in Horwich (Bolton) where it's one of the permanent cask beers. It's a beautiful mild, good sweet and creamy flavour, black colour and nice head. It is at the thin end of mouthfeel, but at 3.2% it is a great session beer, or in my case a two pints at lunchtime beer before going back to work.

On tap (probably from a cask and, if I recall, pulled by an engine) in Manchester in October 2004. Very fresh.
For a longer review, see Roger Protz' "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!" Bottom-line, I agree: wonderfully soft and malty.

2/16/26 Twenty-two years later, Holt is still independent and I appreciate Milds more. Pulled from a cask at Waterloo Tap, just outside of London's largest terminus. The softness from the cask makes this a pleasure to drink, even if every two decades. (I should have it again soon, just to make sure there is a third time.)

 

Pitch black body with rich thick cream coloured head.

Treacle Aromas coal soap and hints of continental coffee dark chocolate.

Liquarice tastes with heavy hittingcharcoal tastes with smokey tones before finishing on a slight hop and bitter kick.

Oh so easy drinking, lbreezy mouthfeel perfect cask offering in The Old Monkey Manchester city centre even when served in the the world’s crappiest plastic pint pot.

 

Served in a Holts' pint pot. I had this last night, the weather was warm and muggy and the beer could have been chilled a bit more. Perhaps the warmth of the beer spoiled my ratings but here goes anway.

A. Ruby red in colour with a thin white head.

S. Fruity malt. A weakish red wine aroma is also detected.

T. Fruity malt and red wine are up front. There is also the slightest touch of sourness which is reminiscent of some Belgian reds.

M. Disappointingly thin.

D. Easy drinking session beer that has a reasonable amount of complexity to it given its low %ABV, sadly it is let down by its 'thin' body. Worth trying though if you can find it. Holts' beers are reknowned in its home city of Manchester as one of those beers that have an 'acquired' taste.