Black Sheep Brewery

Riggwelter Strong Yorkshire Ale

ABV 5.7% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Mid-price • Flavour 7
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From Paul Theakston's Black Sheep Brewery, the name of this beer derives from the Norse word for a sheep that's fallen on its back and can't get up, an obvious allusion to the beer's strength. It is a beautiful deep ruby-red/bronze colour with a thin but lasting greyish head, and an aroma of rich, smoky roast malt and maybe a touch of chocolate. On the palate it is also incredibly smoky with lots of rich, bitter, burnt malt flavours, but managing to avoid any residual sweetness. It is extremely nutty, with the taste of hazel and walnut easily discernible over the chocoatey malt, which otherwise coats the palate with a silky, though lively, smoothness. Hops are present, but swamped by the malt flavours - this is in essence a malty beer much like a spritely porter. A smoky malt kick accompanies the finish, which fades into a caramelly, treacley aftertaste. A top quality, full-flavoured offering from the black sheep of the Theakston family.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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Review updated 13 June 1999

Comments

Full bodied, smooth tasting, but don't have to much. (And what a name for a beer!)
Ad Bell and Helen Smith

My favorite.
Bill

Nice and strong, yet palatable. Currently unavailable locally, therefore Black Sheep Ale is the best option.
Glyn B

A superb drink for a dirty Yorkshire winter's night. Interpret that how you will. Cheers!
Simon

This is a superb drink. The more you drink the better it gets. Well worth a try especially at £1.29 on offer. I'd give it 7.5. Oh and reviewer,you're actually right for once.
Antony

Superb - one of my faves. Anyone tried "Holy Grail"? - that's a good one too!
Chris M

I agree with all the above, but found the bittering hops a bit more evident. Superbly easy drinking that rapidly ruins motor control.
The Beast

I had the great fortune to experience a car break-down in Middleham (just around the corner from Masham where they brew the stuff). The White Swan sells the stuff on draught - I was in heaven for 3 days whist my car was being repaired. Truly the finest ale on the planet!
BlindDog Sam.

Brewed by Paul Theakston, the black sheep of the Theakston brewing family, in the old Lightfoot's brewery that the Theakston family had bought up and closed down many years earlier. Black Sheep beers are bold and uncompromising. This is a good dark brew very much in the Old Ale style though leaning toward a stout or a porter. It has the dark twisted rooty taste of a stout, but with the sour fruit tang of a porter. A good old fashioned English ale. There is an interesting hop bitterness dancing around on an ever elusive malt body. There are chopped mixed nuts - some hazlenuts, some walnuts, some pecan - and assorted fruits - banana, fresh apple, grapes. There is toffee, caramel, licorice, some herbs and spices. There is enough going on to keep up interest to the end. And all this in a surprisingly refreshing body. The strength can quickly catch up with you - no wonder that damn sheep is rolling around cheerfully drunk!
Silk Tork

8/10, joint 8th in Xmas 2002 Gruntfuttocks challenge.
Beardy Gruntfuttocks

I was lucky enough to sample a pint on draught beside the River Wharfe recently, with upright grazing sheep in vision: arguably the finest drinking experience from malt and hops.
Mike Juniper

Just the perfect Beer. Bring it down on tap to Oxon
Andrew Sulley

Totally agree with Blind Dog - I also experienced draft Riggwelter at the White Swan (has accomodation) Quite simply the best beer I have ever experienced. Bottled is good, but does not compare with the real thing. PS If staying over make sure you drink plenty, otherwise the horses will wake you up at 5.30am (Middleham is the Newmarket of the North!)
Stevo

(500 ml bottle, bought in Denmark). Beautiful dark reddish brown colour, large head. Fine aroma of oak, toffee, dark chocolate and Colombian coffee beans. Full malty flavour with a little alcoholic bite, but not too much. Roasted notes, hints of English liquorice, bitter dark chocolate and smoke. The long aftertaste has strong black coffee notes with a hoppy bite. This is a first class beer! You’ll need more than one to make you a "ryggvelter", though. Baaah!
Sigmund, Norway

recently sampled this beer at brewery restaurant just superb!!
Charles Dawson

'tis beautiful Bernard - this really is my favourite tipple whilsts driving my combine
Stevie boy C

I agree a wonderfully balanced dark beer very much like a porter with very stout like aftertase only much more pleasant 8/10 very impressive!!
BEERBOD

To name a beer after a sheeps misfortune is genius, especially if you take on this misfortune while drinking it!
Rob on the Merrie City Boys Run

Lovely, now go try an Adnams Broadside.
Mark Chettleburgh

a champion of real ales,we drink this stuff all the time. also try owd roger,strong but quaffable.
dave and al

Another execellent Black Sheep Ale ....ideal for a Friday Night Quaff - really quite malty ("black" if you know what I mean) taste. Right ..where's that other bottle?....
Peter J

the ultimate beer, what more can be said
mark the hippy

Bitter to the point of unpleasantness, but somehow incredibly moreish - a bit like twiglets! Somehow it's gone in just a few minutes, and then... ooh, just one more please barman. A dangerous beer to get started on! (5/10)
wheresthepath

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