Meaningful Mild

(5 gallons/19 L, extract with grains)
OG = 1.042 (10.5 °P)  FG = 1.012 (3.1 °P) IBU = 23  SRM = 27  ABV = 3.9%

Ingredients

4 lbs. (1.8 kg) amber liquid malt extract
12 oz. (0.34 kg) amber dried malt extract
0.5 lb. (0.23 kg) crystal malt (55 °L)
4 oz. (0.11 kg) pale chocolate malt (218 °L)
4 oz. (0.11 kg) Carafa® Special II malt (425 °L)
4 oz. (0.11 kg) black malt (550 °L)
6 AAU Fuggles pellet hops (60 min.) (1.5 oz./43 g at 4% alpha acids)
0.5 oz. (14 g) Fuggles pellet hops (0 min.)
White Labs WLP002 (English Ale) or Wyeast 1968 (London ESB Ale) yeast
1–1 1⁄2 oz. (28–42 g) corn sugar (for priming)

Step by Step

Steep crushed grains in 2 qts. (2 L) water at 140–160 °F (60–71 °C) for 20 mins. Strain liquid into boil pot, and rinse grains with further 2 qts. (2 L) hot water. Add 3 gallons (11.5 L) to collected liquors, and dissolve the liquid malt extract, then dried malt extract. Top up  to 5 gallons (19 L) with water and bring to boil. Add bittering hops and boil 60 mins; add rest of hops when heat is turned off. Cool to 65–70 °F (18–21 °C), and pitch yeast (preferably as a 1 qt. (1 L) active starter). Ferment five to seven days, then rack into secondary for up to one week. Bottle or keg with priming sugar, using as little sugar as possible (depending upon the residual carbonation level of the beer); 1–11⁄2 oz. (28–42 g) corn sugar would be my recommendation, as you are shooting for a beer at a little under 2 volumes CO2. Higher carbonation levels can “drown out” the nuances of this mild ale.