Grand River Mill Race Mild

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

300ml draught
3.5% ABV
The Beerbistro (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
May 20, 2010
The beer was dark brown with a tan coloured head. The aroma was grainy malts, with a weak hoppish presence. The mouthfeel was very thin, almost watery, with only mild carbonation. The flavour was very weak. Some graininess, nuttiness, and a weak bitterness to finish with.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Bottle: Poured a clear dark brown color ale with a quite large foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of fruity ester with some light toffee malt. Taste is also dominated by light fruity ester with notes of toffee and caramel malt. Body is about average with good carbonation. I thought this one really packed lots of character while maintaining good balance.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Sampled fresh from a growler purchased at the Brewery on 15/01/08. Deep mahogany body sits under a billowing froth of beige foam. Excellent head retention and minute lacing throughout the drinking experience. The aroma is initially roasted barley and burnt malts. It is also quite toasty and nutty. Just a touch of vanilla extract and mineral. The flavour profile is surprisingly well rounded and full, but that just goes to show you that full flavoured beers don’t have to be high in alcohol. This beer is quite full of sweet burnt malts, toasty barley, quite nutty, with a just enough of a hop presence to create a perfect balance. The finish is dry and lingering. Well done Grand River Brewing!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

What exactly is a 'mild ale'? Is this the light version of an ale similar to a light lager? Anyway I've tried this a couple of times on draught and still not sure what to make of it. It pours a deep brown colour with an off-white head. The aroma is roasted malt, with some fruity and spicy tones, and just a hint of hops. The flavour profile is slightly sweet (sugary) followed by some nutty flavours before giving way to a slightly bitter finish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Pored from a fresh growler, we get a decent clear mahogany colored ale with a tight tan cap that lasts well enough. Light toast and some roasted husk "char" in the nose, light hay-like hop tones. Medium body, rocky, sharp mouth feel malty character with a mild astringency. Hard watter gives the hops more of a sharp edged "bite" than is common in most milds. Malty-toasty in the front side then the bittering hops kick in and compliment the roasted barley char astringence leaving mild lightly dry, roasted finish....light metallic after taste. Fairly true to style for a mild although I would like to see some fruity esters from better ale yeast in this brew, even though it is not necessary for style adhesion....which is a "mild ale" not "traditional". Drinkable and clean...but just too much like the so so dark milds from F&M which I have never been partial to