Holden's Black Country Mild (Black Country Living Museum) By @SpectreUK

Probably my favourite beer and one I used to have in the house all the time was Banks's Mild. I say "used to have in the house" because for various reasons they stopped producing it during the pandemic. I'm hoping they're going to start making it again soon. I loved a can of Banks's Mild and a packet of pork scratchings or Ready Salted crisps in the afternoon with a good book.

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this Holden's Black Country Mild on sale in the traditional pub and also in the shop at the Black Country Living Museum. This 3.7% in volume Mild ale is only 0.2% higher than the Banks's Mild offering. It certainly has a stronger aroma on opening, with a deeper nutter smell to it, plenty of sweet malts and a little chocolate. Brewed with amber malt, caramalt, black malt, and English Fuggles hops it's almost black in colour compared to the deep brown of Banks's Mild.

On taste Holden's Black Country Mild tastes a little like a dark Porter, with rich sweet malts and a dark chocolate flavour, followed by a gentle bitterness. With it's rich chocolate flavour into the aftertaste, I'd suggest this is more of a pudding beer to enjoy a slice of afternoon chocolate fudge cake with rather than pork scratchings or Ready Salted crisps. Having said that I really enjoyed half a pint with my mini fish, chips and battered sausage, and the other half with some of my favourite fig biscuits. I'd more than happily enjoy another bottle or more. Cheers!