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Black Gold

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Black, full-bodied mild: a subtle hop and caramel nose, a smooth, sweet and mellow palate and a well-balanced bittersweet finish. A hoppy aroma sits quietly in a beer that stays slim at 3.8 %. Mild is its home turf: the East Midlands round of Champion Beer of Britain gave it Gold in 2013, 2014 and 2023, and Silver in 2017 and 2022. Served on cask.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark41
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2023
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Mild
Silver · 2022
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Mild Beer Style
Silver · 2017
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Milds
Bronze · 2014
Champion Beer of Britain
Milds
Gold · 2014
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Milds
Gold · 2013
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands)
Milds category
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands) (Mild)
★Silver — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands) (Mild Beer Style)
★Silver — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, East Midlands) (Milds)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycaramelmalty
hoppy
caramel
malty
clean
roasted
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate notes, followed by subtle wisps of dried plum and apricot.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Gold

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown in the glass with a dense, tan head that settles into a persistent collar around the rim. The body is opaque, with low carbonation visible as a gentle cascade of fine bubbles. Schaumhaftung is evident in distinct lacing that clings to the glass as you drink.

deep black-browndense tan headlow carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate notes, followed by subtle wisps of dried plum and apricot. Oats contribute a gentle sweetness and soft grain character without dominating. No aggressive alcohol burn despite the modest ABV; the aromatic profile remains restrained and inviting.

roasted coffeedark chocolatedried fruit notessoft grain

◐ Taste

The palate enters smooth and creamy, with the oats delivering a silky mouthfeel that coats without heaviness. Roasted malts unfold into coffee and subtle caramel sweetness through the mid-palate, balanced by restrained bitterness that arrives late and fades cleanly. Dark fruit undertones emerge in the background without competing for attention.

creamy mouthfeelbalanced sweetnessroasted maltsrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering coffee and a whisper of dark chocolate that persists for several seconds. No astringency or harsh alcohol bite; instead, a gentle fade leaves the palate refreshed.

clean finishlingering coffeemoderate length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Gold

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About Dark Mild

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dark Mild?

Dark Mild is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Dark Mild

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same full-bodied, smooth, sweet character as Black Gold will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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