Sarah Hughes’ Dark Ruby Mild is something of a legend.

Produced at a Victorian tower brewery, where brewing started back in the 1860s,  it’s now brewed to the same pre-WW1 recipe, that was in fact LOST for something like THIRTY YEARS and is now a closely-guarded secret. To say this ale holds a special place in people’s hearts is something of an understatement. Last night CAMRA handed The Beacon Hotel (the pub on the front of the brewery where that, AMBER and SURPRISE ales are also served) its well-deserved Regional Pub of The Year status for the umpteenth time.

At 6% ABV the Dark Ruby Mild is more than enough to warm the cockles of anyone’s heart on a cold winter’s night. It’s thick, dark, creamy and sweet so for me – a massive dark ales fan – each sip was like floating on air. You definitely have to sip it because if you go in too hard on it, and neck it too fast, an ambulance may have to be called on your behalf

After experiencing my first taste of it at this year’s GBBF, visiting The Beacon Hotel in Sedgley in the Black Country was a MUST. So me, The Main Man  & some friends of mine (for whom the pub’s been their local almost since birth) hit the Hotel at 12 noon opening time one Saturday. We quaffed the Ruby Mild till the bell rang for closing at 3pm. I also tried some AMBER. Lush. Martyn Powell, Head Brewer took us up to the top of the tower and gave us a tour too – and in return he succumbed to my camcorder…

So if you like your dark ales, and you don’t mind a trip on public transport (cos it’s a regulation LEAVE YOUR CAR KEYS AT HOME scenario) then make sure you get down there. I’m pretty sure, we’ll be going at least twice again before Christmas cos I want to taste the SNOWFLAKE Christmas ale that goes on sale at the bar on December 1st!

PS I’ll upload clips from the brewery tour in the coming weeks