Ottos Arthurs Mild Ale

On Cask at the brewpub. Pours dark brown with red hues, thick, creamy, off-white head, one finger thick. Great lacing. Nose is sweet malt with mild hop notes of earth and pine. Tastes smooth with mild, watery bread and a nice dose of balanced bitter. Subtle notes of earthy and piny noble hops at the end. Moderate mouth feel. Great bitter after. Balanced well. Drinkable. Good offering.

cask at Zeno’s, Penn State. Poured deep brown with creamy head with lacing. Nose and flavor was of sweet malt. Good creamy body that left a satisfying taste.

On tap at the brewpub on 5/16/07: Pours a dark mahogany with ruby hues and a dense, frothy tan head.with nice lacing. Slightly woody, grainy toasty malty aroma has a hint of tartness. Body starts fairly full and crystal malty sweet with a lightly tart balance and citrusy piny flavor hops toward a smooth finish. Very true to style.

8oz pour, cask. Pours a hazy reddish-brown color; fluffy light brown head with fantastic retention and lacing. Light, wet malt and dried fruits in the aroma. Light carbonation; just a hint. Medium, velvety mouthfeel: pleasant amounts of chewy nougat and caramel; hints of some red fruits; terribly drinkable, with lots of flavor and texture for 3.6%. Light finish, showing chocolate and citrus.

On Cask. Light warm aroma of bourbon fruits, grains and toothy caramel sugars. Gentle and caressing. Pours medium ruddy brown, with rim of cask tan. Flavor is a subtle, subdued sweet candy hops and orange rind. Great minty leaf smack for a great finish and smack. Toothy. Stellar drinkability, perfect ester profile, beautiful malt construction and deft hop balance. Awesome.

I must say that this was a truly splendid Mild. Being in England for 3 months earlier this year I sampled a good bit of Milds, and this one is probably the best I’ve had. Aroma was delicate floral English hops with some malt notes. The beer was dark brown with a lovely cask head that contained big bubbles. Flavor was roasted with coffee and many fruit flavors. Easy drinking palate. An excellent Mild.

On cask at Zeno’s, Penn State. Poured a very deep brown with creamy khaki head that left substantial lacing. Nose and flavor was of sweet malt. Chewy body with nice creamy mouthfeel.

Sampled on draft at the brewery this beer poured a dark brown color with a trace of a tan head. The aroma is an interesting mix of toasty malts, coffee and toffee. The flavor is roasty, a bit leathery and has an element I can only describe as "weak coffee". This one did not overly impress me.