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Black Sheep Ale
May 7th, 2009BreweriesEvery time I have Black Sheep I expect it to be darker, heavier and harder to drink than it really is – my perception really does do it a disservice.
Whether it’s the overly dark bottle or the simple yet foreboding label, I find myself pleasantly surprised at Black Sheep’s drinkability each time I drink it.
My misperception stems from having spent a couple of comedy nights necking bottles of this at Hifi in Leeds, a situation that quickly leads to bloating and an early retirement; to be sure this isn’t a beer for a long session or a night on the town.
However, out of the bottle and enjoyed at a gentler pace, Black Sheep is a deep, amber coloured ale, rich in both colour and flavour, it’s body bittersweet as the label describes. It takes a few sips to accustom too, beyond which it can be sunk with an ease that creeps up on you. Within minutes it seemed my glass was dry, as was the bottle!
It’s difficult to describe the flavours of Black Sheep, so I might just say what it isn’t. It isn’t overpoweringly hoppy or malty, it doesn’t have a fruity edge or a tangy twist. It has an interesting aftertaste that can’t quite work out if it’s going to be sweet enough to send your taste buds into raptures or bitter enough to make you gasp for another sip immediately. At the same time this feeling isn’t harsh but gently crisp and completely satisfying. In the end you take another sip and another gulp without even realising, enthralled in it’s balanced body and lingering, malty finale.
Black Sheep is one of those beers that really is a “real ale”.It’s strength isn’t in outrageous ingredients nor pretentious marketing statements. Black Sheep is British ale as good as real ale gets – deep, mysterious and glorious in its simple yet rich aromas. There isn’t one overriding ingredient or flavour that defines Black Sheep, it is pure, balanced class, expertly crafted and a beer that Masham, Yorkshire, and the whole UK can truly be proud of.
Black Sheep Ale
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6 Responses to “Black Sheep Ale”
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Jo Theakston
Dear Fletch,
Many thanks for your excellent review and kind words on our Black Sheep Ale – I think you have summed it up brilliantly! Have you ever been up to see us at the brewery in Masham? You’d be most welcome to have a look round if you would like.
Cheers
Jo Theakston
Head of Marketing
Black Sheep
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Julian Clapson
Hi Fletch, hope you don’t mind me butting in here but i just wanted to say that I stumbled upon Black Sheep by accident several years ago on a trip to Masham (arranged by my wife dare I say, to visit the Theakstons Brewery), and I’ve been a fully signed up Fanatic ever since.
Unfortunately I live in Suffolk so we only see it occasionally as a guest beer locally but we do make a twice annual pilgrimage to Masham to visit the Brewery and the wonderful Bistro.
Whilst the Ale is truly excellent from a bottle, nothing can compare to a pint straight from the barrel and I strongly recommend you take Jo up on his offer.
Kind regards,
Julian
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FletchtheMonkey Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pmHi Julian.
Thanks for getting in touch, we certainly intend to take up the offer, and hopefully eat at the bistro too. We very nearly visited at Easter but time was against us, and I agree on tap it’s (so far!) been excellent. Lots of Black Sheep breweries that way when I do the Haworth to North Dales part of the Pennine Way in May so will no doubt get a few pints then too!
We weren’t a million miles from your neck of the woods recently at Norwich Beer Festival, one of our annual pilgrimages (with a stop at beers of europe on the wya down too!)
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Dave Blaxley
It was great to read this excellent review.
My brother (Bob Blaxley)and I have been drinking Black Sheep Ale in Calgary, Canada for about three 3 years now. It is truly our favourite brew and we have commented many times on how it reminds us of time spent in rural pubs in Britain. We’re hoping to make it over one summer for some hiking and a taste of the Black Sheep on tap.Dave Blaxley
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FletchtheMonkey Reply:
March 30th, 2010 at 7:31 am@Dave Blaxley, Well if you fancy a hike and a Black Sheep you can’t do worse than the Pennine Way, it passes right through Black Sheep country and you can get a fresh pint from one of their Black Sheep pubs high in the Yorkshire Dales. There’s also Golden Sheep now in bottles, a paler ale from the same brewer.
Glad you stopped by, thanks!
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FletchtheMonkey Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hi Jo, thanks for the comment and really pleased you read the review. How did you come across it?
I was actually very near to popping in to the brewery a few months ago (we were staying is Masham for a wedding) but unfortunately time conspired against us!
I’ll drop you an email and hopefully arrange something.
Cheers,
Mark
(Fletch is fine though, everyone calls me that anyway!)
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