Once a designation for an entire class of beer, mild ale now refers to a beer style some describe as the "elixir of life for the salt of the earth." Mild is a beer that can be at once light or dark, very low or very high in alcohol, and either rich in dark malt flavour or light and crisp with a touch of hop flavour or aroma. The recipes included offer a wide range of interpretations for a style that has unparalleled flexibility.