Beer review: Eagle Rock Brewery’s Solidarity Black Mild Ale

Developed as a “brewer’s beer” that would be appealing to drink all day, Solidarity Black Mild Ale was the first commercial beer produced by Eagle Rock Brewery. The “black mild” is a creative take on a classic British style that defies convention and expectations while remaining approachable and satisfying.

Brewed with 13 different malts for a complex malt flavor and a dark, nearly black color, the beer pours nearly opaque, topped with a creamy, tan foam. The nose is sweet, with notes of roasted grain and fresh coffee and just a suggestion of wood smoke. On the palate, roasty flavors dominate with some added burnt toast and earthy cocoa without being heavy or cloying. The finish is dry and clean with a bit of lingering bitterness and a subtle tang like that of good dark chocolate (and a wisp of smoke if you’re looking for it).

Solidarity challenges the misconception that all dark beers are heavy. The definition of a quaffable brew, it packs a lot of flavor into a light body that will hold your interest sip after sip and pint after pint.

Style: Dark mild

Price: About $5 for a 22-ounce bottle

Where to find it: The brewery’s tap room in Los Angeles, (323) 257-7866; Whole Foods Markets; Sunset Beer Co. in Echo Park, (213) 481-BEER; and the Vendome Liquor locations in Toluca Lake, (818) 766-9593, Studio City, (818) 766-5272, and Beverly Hills, (310) 276-9463.

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