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Black Sheep Ale

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The brewery's signature amber ale, sold in bottle and on cask. Malt leads: sweet biscuit and caramel, then raisin and pear-drop fruit from the house yeast. Generous amounts of Goldings hops add earthy bitter orange, so the whole reads a little like fruitcake, and the finish is long, dry and bitter. Dried fruit, orange and a roasted note on the nose. Fermented in Yorkshire Square vessels, which shape its character. Silver at the World Beer Awards 2024.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
dark22
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Silver · 2024
World Beer Awards
Bronze · 2025
World Beer Awards
Amber (Incl. Irish Reds)
★Silver — World Beer Awards
★Bronze — World Beer Awards (Amber (Incl. Irish Reds))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltyorangeearthy
malty
orange
earthy
fruity
caramel
hoppy
Aroma
The nose is dominated by warm caramel and toasted malt notes with a subtle nuttiness that adds complexity.
also:dark fruit,roasted
not found:juicy,bready,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Sheep Ale

◎ Appearance

Black Sheep Ale presents a rich dark mahogany to deep brown color characteristic of traditional English brown ales. The beer displays excellent clarity with a modest but persistent tan head that demonstrates good retention and fine carbonation. The visual presentation is inviting and quintessentially British.

mahoganydark brownpersistent headclear

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by warm caramel and toasted malt notes with a subtle nuttiness that adds complexity. Light chocolate undertones blend seamlessly with earthy, herbal hop character, while gentle fruity esters provide a soft, approachable bouquet. The overall aromatic profile is balanced and restrained, typical of well-crafted English ales.

caramel malttoastednuttyearthy hops

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich caramel sweetness and roasted malt character, followed by a mid-palate that showcases chocolate and toasted grain complexity. A subtle earthiness and modest hop bitterness (25 IBUs) provide excellent balance without overwhelming the malty foundation. The flavor profile is smooth and approachable with lingering nutty notes.

caramel sweetroasted chocolatebalanced bittermalty

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry with a pleasant fade of caramel and subtle roasted notes. The aftertaste is not aggressive, allowing the malty sweetness to gently diminish with a touch of earthiness.

cleanmoderately drymalty aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
80
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Sheep Ale

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, malty, orange character as Black Sheep Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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