Join CAMRA’s Mild Magic Ale Trail and become a Mild Magician by taking part in the longest running and largest celebration of the beer style in the country.

The annual trail is organised by the CAMRA’s Stockport & South Manchester and High Peak branches as well as others in the area and runs from 31 March to 14 May.

From a modest start in 1994 with 50 pubs participating, the trail now encompasses no fewer than 100 pubs in Manchester and surrounding areas selling mild, some especially for the event. The pubs are divided into 72 geographical areas.

All you have to do is visit 12 pubs in 12 areas over a six-week period, drink a pint or half pint of cask-conditioned mild beer in each and obtain a sticker for your card. If you complete the challenge, you get a special T-shirt and a free pint of mild at Stockport’s Beer & Cider Festival in June. 

By increasing the number of pubs and areas you visit, you can upgrade to a polo shirt or sweatshirt, as well as enjoy additional free beer at the festival. Join in the optional Mild Magic Scrabble and even more free beer vouchers can be yours.

All qualifying participants can choose to be entered into a draw for a visit to either Hydes or Marble breweries in Salford in July. 

Hydes brews both light and dark milds available all year round. This year, Holts, from Manchester, will be brewing a special 4.3 per cent mild for the trail, and Bolton’s Brightside Brewing has just released a new brew in the style.

Last year, around 70 milds were to be found in participating pubs, including those from local breweries such as Cloudwater, Blackjack, Marble, Squawk and Thirst Class.

Organiser Darren Berry said: “I am very grateful to all the pubs which have supported the trail this year. To have a hundred establishments showcasing the mild beer style is fantastic.

“Thanks also to our sponsors, Hydes, and all the local breweries which will be making milds available for customers to try. Anyone can join in, so this is a chance to try something new and visit unfamiliar places. In doing so, everyone is supporting local pubs and helping to save this rare type of beer for the future.”

Full details, including a map of participating pubs, and how to enter can be found at:

http://www.ssmcamra.co.uk/campaign.htm#mild