Ale
Black Sheep Brewery PLC

AleAle
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From:
Black Sheep Brewery PLC
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #77
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,236
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 13.24%
Reviews:
369
Ratings:
590
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 31, 2023
Added:
Jul 13, 2002
Wants:
  26
Gots:
  68
Black Sheep Ale is a full flavoured premium bitter with a rich, fruity aroma. Brewed using generous handfuls of choice Golding hops, it has a perfectly balanced bittersweet, malty taste with a long, dry and bitter finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A 500ml bottle with a BB of March 2012. I can't believe this is the first Black Sheep beer I'm reviewing - the brewery is a classic.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A faintly hazy orange-amber colour with low carbonation. Forms a decent head of frothy white foam that lasts for a minute or so before dissipating. Aroma of slightly sweet caramel malt with hints of yeast esters, toffee, stewed hops and butter.

Tastes of caramel malt with a mild bitter finish. Notes of fruity yeast esters, caramel/toffee, stewed hops and a hint of diacetyl in the background. Quite dry, with a subtle sweetness. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly with some astringency. Aftertaste of fruity yeast and caramel malt.

A decent ale. A restrained flavour and good body make for easy drinking. Dry but fruity. Well-crafted and worth sampling.
Jan 14, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.89 by bad_poetry from England

Aug 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.54 by Daneve76 from Australia

Jun 16, 2021
Photo of Ushouldbeworkinh
Rated by Ushouldbeworkinh from England

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
20210611
Jun 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.55 by NightINgale from Russian Federation

Feb 04, 2021
Photo of MarkCairns99
Reviewed by MarkCairns99 from Northern Ireland

4.4/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A wonderful deep golden colour, treacle and liquorice taste though not overly sweet. This beer also has a slight malt taste though not overpowering. A very good beer which I certainly would buy again.
Apr 30, 2020
Photo of James94
Reviewed by James94 from England

4.04/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Clear dark orange golden in its colour, initial two fingers of head, lasting lacing
S: Spices, dough, orange, toffee, ripe banana
T: Biscuit, bread, grapes, pear, butteriness
F: Decent, but a little sharp at the end

O: 4
Feb 03, 2020
Photo of Mclusal
Rated by Mclusal from Colombia

3.59/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
N37
Jun 15, 2019
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.42/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L- Mid chestnut, pours with 3mm white head reducing very slowly and leaving lacing.
S- Quite woody/leathery.
T- They lable it as a 'premium ale' but to me it's more a typical trad bitter profile, that goes into quite a dry/hoppy finish.
F- Zingy, slightly bitter, refreshing.
O- Very nice, quite trad to me, whilst leaning towards to dry/hoppy side favoured by younger folk.
A surprise find (a new beer to me!) in Waitrose, London this afternoon. BB: printed on neck 18/Mar/2020.

ps. The lable has been redesigned in matt cream/black/copper etc., centred on a large rams head, and is now waaay more striking...
Apr 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.72 by socon67 from New York

Apr 09, 2019
Photo of Snowcrash000
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a deep amber, coppery coloration with a small, fizzy head. Smells of biscuity, slightly grainy malt and grassy, slighty floral hops. Taste follows the nose, with a good balance of biscuity, slightly grainy and toasted malt and grassy/floral hops, with just a hint of toffee and peppery spice coming through as well. Finishes quite crisp, with a medium bitterness and some grainy malts and grassy hops lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

Nothing spectacular, but a rather pleasant and very nicely balanced Pale Ale that is quaffable and satisfying.
Mar 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Sep 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by Neilos from England

Aug 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Jun 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by ParkbrauFan from Iowa

May 27, 2018
 
Rated: 2.02 by ironmark666 from Scotland

May 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.74 by lhwjanssen from Netherlands

May 02, 2018
Photo of digboy
Reviewed by digboy from New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dark copper color, clear with a thin film of a head.

The aroma has strong caramel malt notes, a nice mellow sweetness.

The taste follows the smell with a mellow, sweet caramel malt base. It finishes with a solid tart bitterness ans a lingering sweetness.

The feel is crisp and clean. Very nice.

A classic British pale ale done very well.
Jan 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by t2grogan from Arizona

Oct 28, 2017
Ale from Black Sheep Brewery PLC
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 590 ratings