hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Black Sheep Best Bitter

Tap to rate

The beer the brewery started with: the first brew was on 14 September 1992, and it remains the flagship, sold on cask, on keg and in cans. A bold, sweet malt base carries Challenger, Goldings and Fuggles hops, added in the boil and the hop back, for a peppery, grassy aroma and a smooth, earthy hop flavour. Bitterness leads on the palate; fermentation in Yorkshire Square vessels leaves a crisp finish. Amber, brewed with torrefied wheat. Silver (2021) and Bronze (2022) at the World Beer Awards.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
deep amber17
PaceSession

AWARDS

Bronze · 2022
World Beer Awards
Silver · 2021
World Beer Awards
★Bronze — World Beer Awards
★Silver — World Beer Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
grassyearthyhoppy
grassy
earthy
hoppy
malty
spicy hop
wheat
Aroma
The nose leads with a pronounced Edelpilz hop character, clean and herbaceous with a subtle earthiness.
also:caramel
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Sheep Best Bitter

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown under light, with excellent clarity and a dense, tan head that clings persistently to the glass. Fine carbonation creates a steady bead rising through the body, and the lacing forms a distinct ring around the rim as the beer is consumed.

copper-browndense headexcellent lacingfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with a pronounced Edelpilz hop character, clean and herbaceous with a subtle earthiness. Beneath lies a restrained but present biscuit and light caramel malt foundation, with mineral notes that speak to the local Dales water and the crisp Yorkshire fermentation profile.

herbaceous hopsbiscuit maltmineral waterclean fermentation

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and dry, with hoppy bitterness that builds steadily across the mid-palate without harshness. A bready, lightly caramelized malt backbone balances the assertive bittering, while the minerality from the brewing water adds subtle structure and prevents sweetness from lingering.

crisp entrybalanced bitternessdry malt backbonemineral structure

◑ Finish

Clean, dry finish with the hops fading to a gentle herbal echo. Aftertaste remains refreshing and brief, with no cloying residue—the square fermentation process leaves nothing but a crisp, thirst-inducing conclusion.

dry finishherbal faderefreshing aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
84
Finish
81
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Sheep Best Bitter

More from Black Sheep Brewery

54 Lager
54 Lager
Helles Lager
4.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Ale
Black Sheep Ale
Amber Ale
4.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Blonde
Black Sheep IPA
Black Sheep IPA
IPA
4.6%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Milk Stout
Black Sheep Milk Stout
Milk Stout
4.4%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Respire
Black Sheep Respire
Session IPA
4.0%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Riggwelter
Black Sheep Riggwelter
Strong Ale
5.9%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Black Sheep Smooth
Black Sheep Smooth
Amber Ale
3.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Best Bitter

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

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →