You’ve got a work friend named Jim. Jim just got back from a two-week “sabbatical” in the UK. Now Jim comes in every day wearing a tweed vest, Oxford shoes, and he won’t stop talking about renovating his “flat.”

But the worst part? Jim used to be into all kinds of beer. Now he just laments that there aren’t any light, malty brews in the States fit to “hunker down all day and watch football matches with.” And he’s talking about soccer… ugh.

Jim actually has a point here. Even as an avid craft fan, finding English-style Ales from an American brewery is more rare than seeing a Brit ride a bull at a rodeo.

But then you hear one of your favorite Washington breweries, Matchless, just made a beer called Brewers Gone Mild. It’s an English Mild with 7 different malts. It’s an easy-going 4% ABV. And best of all, it features cold brew coffee from the Oregon java legends at Stumptown. Finally — a perfect beer for Jim!

When you hand him a can after work, Jim is skeptical, as expected. He starts explaining how difficult it is to make an English Mild, how it takes a seasoned brewer to balance toasty malt flavors in a clean, sessionable body. How “if you can’t dip your morning doughnut in it, it’s not a Mild.” You finally coerce him into taking a sip. Seeing Jim’s stupefied, delighted reaction makes enduring his cringe-worthy British slang worth it.

And damn… after tasting the robust, dark roast Stumptown coffee flavor packed into such a lean brew, Jim actually might be onto something. You could pound this Mild through 1000 runs of cricket. Okay, fine — you’re starting to get into that, too.

You aren’t particularly surprised that Brewers Gone Mild met Jim’s high standards. Matchless nails every style they make, from Lagers to IPAs to Stouts. You are, however, somewhat surprised by the intensity of Jim’s reaction when you say you bought him a case: “Jolly-o, good chap!” he bellows, clapping you on the back with alarming power. “Follow me and we’ll load it into the boot of my Jaguar.”

As you walk to Jim’s car, you roll your eyes. But this time, it’s with a smile.

Packaged On October 22nd, 2018