The English Mild plays an important role in the evolution of the ales we enjoy in America today. It once dominated the pub scene in England (and still does in some pockets) where it is known as a full-flavor, sessionable beer that is just as easily enjoyed over conversation as it is contemplation. For us, The English Mild also plays a large role in the evolution of the ales we drink and brew at BKS Artisan Ales and Rockhill & Locust is where it all began.
At a time when BKS Artisan Ales was just a dream we created and fine-tuned the original recipe of Rockhill & Locust in the basement of our house which just so happens to be right on the corner of Rockhill Road and Locust Street in Kansas City, MO. Inspired by several award-winning English Mild ales that we admire, we aimed to craft a beer within the same style parameters but with our own unique twist. We began by deciding what flavors we wanted highlighted in the final product and then worked backwards, writing a recipe with ingredients that we believed could achieve the flavor profile we were looking for.
It worked. The beer was light in body (but not too light) and full of flavor (but not too full). It was a balanced and restrained beer that we found incredibly pleasant. So did everybody else.
Combining different traditional English pale malts with unique specialty German malts we created a layered malty base that possesses clear notes of caramelized pecan, toasted bread, figs and subtle chocolate. With just enough East Kent Golding hops to provide a slight floral balance, the mahogany beer has a hint of sweetness that never becomes cloying.
When we first moved from our humble basement brewery into our brewing space at 63rd and Holmes we knew Rockhill & Locust would have to be the first beer we brewed on the shiny new system. And of course it was featured on the tap list when we first opened our doors in 2017, just as delicious as it had ever been.
Rockhill & Locust English Mild Ale has been continued to shine. It earned a gold medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) awards in the English Mild or Bitter beer-style category. The beer was also reviewed by Craft Beer and Brewing magazine and was given a 95/100 score by a panel of expert judges.
As we evolve as a brewery we continue to acquire fun new toys that enable us to make more beer and make that beer even better. Rockhill & Locust has become more refined over time yet it remains true to the recipe we wrote back in our basement. It will always have a special place in our hearts and as we increase our capacity we can’t wait for it to enjoy a more consistent place in our rotation of beers.
