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Riggwelter

Black Sheep Brewery
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🌍 United Kingdom · Strong Dark Ale · One of 1 Strong Dark Ales in hopIQ

Named after the Yorkshire dialect word for a sheep stuck on its back — a strong, dark Yorkshire ale with rich dried fruit, chocolate and roasty malt flavours tempered by peppery hops. Country Winner at the 2025 World Beer Awards.

ABV
5.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark25

AWARDS

Country Winner · 2025
World Beer Awards 2025
★Country Winner — World Beer Awards 2025
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Strong Dark Ale.
Malt character
roasted
chocolate
malty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
spicy
Hop character
hoppy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Riggwelter

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to dark brown colour with excellent clarity and a thick, persistent cream-coloured head that clings to the glass throughout the drink. Fine carbonation contributes to steady lacing and good foam stability. The visual presentation suggests a well-crafted, traditional strong ale.

deep mahoganypersistent headfine carbonationexcellent clarity

◌ Aroma

A complex, inviting nose dominated by dried stone fruits—raisins and plums—interwoven with toasted and roasted malt notes. Subtle chocolate undertones emerge alongside a peppery, herbal hop character that adds aromatic lift without overwhelming the rich Malz foundation. The overall bouquet is warm and layered, reflecting its Yorkshire heritage.

dark fruit, driedroasted maltchocolate undertonespeppery hops

◐ Taste

The palate enters with pronounced roasted malt sweetness and dark fruit character, supported by substantial body and slight cocoa dryness in the mid-palate. Peppery, earthy hop bitterness emerges gradually, balancing the fruit and chocolate notes without harshness. At 24 IBU, the bitterness is restrained, allowing the rich, warming malt complexity to dominate the overall flavour arc.

dark fruit, maltychocolate, roastpeppery spicesmooth balance

◑ Finish

Medium-length finish with lingering dark malt and subtle fruit notes, followed by a dry, slightly peppery aftertaste. The 5.9% ABV provides gentle warmth without evident alcohol burn.

medium dryfruit notes, persistent
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Riggwelter

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Riggwelter

About Strong Dark Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Strong Dark Ale?

Strong Dark Ale 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 Strong Dark Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, dark fruit, rich character as Riggwelter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →