MILD ORIGINATED IN BRITAIN IN THE 17TH CENTURY OR EARLIER, AND ORIGINALLY MEANT A YOUNG ALE, AS OPPOSED TO A "STALE" AGED OR OLD ALE. MILD EXPERIENCED A SHARP DECLINE IN POPULARITY IN THE 1960S, AND WAS IN DANGER OF COMPLETELY DISAPPEARING, BUT THE INCREASE OF MICROBREWERIES HAS LED TO A MODEST RENAISSANCE AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MILDS BEING BREWED.