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 #76
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,201
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 ADR:
Photo of ADR
Reviewed by ADR from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Slightly hazy ginger color, big and creamy head with suds that hold shapes like styrofoam. Sugary patchwork lace. Slight buttery toffee aroma. Mild and delicate to the tongue, flavor starts with some caramel and slight diacetyl but is soon counteracted by a well-done flowery hop that lingers into the aftertaste. Slightly papery and thinning a little too early, this beer still exudes quaffability -- I could toss back plenty of this one.

Source: Liquid Solutions
Sep 29, 2003
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