Black Sheep Ale

I couldn’t stay off the subject of beer for long, so here is my opinion on Black Sheep Ale. I’m a bit of a Real Ale fanatic, so I feel I am pretty well qualified to give my view of this very tasty beer.

It’s difficult to get a really good bottled ale and it’s refreshing to say that I have found one here. The Black Sheep Brewery also produces Black Sheep Special Ale on draught. It’s very rare to see it on draught where I live (except when there are Beer Festivals), but it often appears in the bottled format in pubs and in supermarkets. I am quite fortunate to live near a wine seller who also stocks a variety of good bottled beers.

Black Sheep Ale is brewed at Masham, North Yorkshire by Paul Theakston. This famous brewing family produces some very famous and critically acclaimed beers, such as Old Peculier and XB. The Black Sheep Brewery is a very old premises, built onto the old Lightfoot Brewery. Paul Theakston’s grandfather took over the building in 1919 and much of the machinery dates from these early years. Paul Theakston started brewing on his own in 1992 and since then he has become one of the most popular Independent Brewers in the UK.

Black Sheep Ale is available in 500ml bottles and weighs in at 4.4% ABV. It is a very hoppy beer with a pleasant bright amber colour. It has a dry, but fruity aftertaste and is very easy to drink. Believe me on this point…..we had a very enjoyable evening’s drinking, at our local pub’s beer festival, when we decided to go onto Black Sheep.

The bottle itself has a creamy white label with the easily recognisable symbol of the brewery on it. This is (and this is probably perfectly obvious to you) a black sheep…No, surely not! Actually it has horns, so I think it is a ram, but who would be that picky?

The brewing process is very traditional; in keeping with the age of the Brewery perhaps. They use old fashioned cast iron, copper and slate brewing vessels and stick to good quality hops. The hops used are Goldings and Maris Otter barley.

This (and the taste of their produce of course) has seen The Black Sheep Brewery voted the Brewer of the Year by the Good Pub Guide. It has also taken many awards; it was even voted Parliamentary Beer Club Brewery of the Year in 1997.

It is an excellent session beer; one that you can drink for longer periods and still maintain a semblance of sobriety! Compared to some of the more hefty Real Ales, such as Orkney Skull Splitter (which is a scary 8.5% ABV), it is relatively harmless. As with all beers though remember to exercise caution and don’t forget to leave your car at home!

Price-wise, as with most beers, the cost varies considerably around the country. I’m not sure of the cost of a pint (only drinking it in glasses on rare occasions), but the last Beer Festival I attended was selling it at 80p per half pint. My local shop sells the bottles for around £1.60 a bottle, but generally expect to pay up to £2.00 for it in supermarkets and off-licenses.

I would certainly recommend it to potential drinkers as a good and easy to drink ale. Regular Real Ale drinkers have probably already come across it, but if you haven’t I would urge you to give it a try. Black Sheep Ale is beer as it is supposed to be; golden, bitter and lively with a good head. Go on, try some Black Sheep Ale, I’m sure you will be pleased you did!