Ottos Arthurs Mild Ale

Brewed by Ottos Pub & Brewery
Style: Mild Ale
State College, Pennsylvania USA

Draft. Pours hazy ruby with off-white head. Lovely appearance on this. Aroma of tobacco, caramel malt, vinous fruit, cabernet. Tastes vinous and fruity, like a fruity merlot, with caramel malt, tobacco, and some hop hints. This is a wonderful beer, and arguably the best mild I’ve ever quaffed.

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.

I had this beer on-cask at Zeno’s Pub is State College. Appearance: Dark brown - mahogany and extremely thick creamy foam like head (two fingers). The retention was and lacing was superb. Maybe due partly to the cask-conditioning. Smell: Although this was served on cask it seemed like the temperature was too cold. That may be what held the aroma in. it seemed reserved a bit in the nose. That said, it did have gentle caramel (brown ale) malt aroma. Taste & Mouthfeel: It was extremely sooth and malty in feel and gentle sweet taste. The dominant flavor was the sweet malt character and then there was a very gentle hop attribute balancing this dark mild perfectly. The finish had a bit of the hop bitterness that lingered in aftertaste. Drinkability: What I like about this style is the no frills beers can go with anything and be easily drinkable any time. Simple & Tasty! What else could you want =) Hope this is helpful. Cheers!

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.

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.

Draft at Zeno’s. I have to admit that I’m not that familar with mild’s, meaning I haven’t sampled enough. Very smooth and crisp aroma, very malty. Appearance leaves a thin head with dark amber look. Flavor is decent. Balanced with a satisfying taste that hits you in the end. Overall a very satisfying ale.