Black Sheep Brewery has secured a raft of national listings for its newest seasonal ale, Rye Mild, throughout September and October.
Rye Mild, an all day, dark session ale, will be available in JD Wetherspoons, Mitchells & Butlers and EI Group pubs, as well as to a number of Black Sheep’s local and wholesale customers.
At 4.1% ABV, Rye Mild is brewed with a balance of darker malts and roasted rye for a slightly spicy flavour, together with Challenger, Golding and Chinook hops that offers a light, fruity aroma.
Jo Theakston, Sales and Marketing Director at Black Sheep Brewery, said: “It’s great news that we have secured such significant listings with a number of the industry’s leading pub estates. It is yet another first for Black Sheep as Rye Mild is the latest new and exciting beer style from our superb team of brewers.
“Rye Mild offers a slightly spicy taste, with a fruity aroma, that we believe will go down a treat with Black Sheep drinkers and cask ale fans, in general. We are now hoping to build on these listings and positivity, by continuing to create more exciting new brews.”
Its introduction follows the first-ever lager launch from the Masham-based brewer, when it unveiled 54 Degrees North in July, and Rye Mild forms part of the Black Sheep’s 25thanniversary, 2017 seasonal ale calendar.
Jo added: “Our 25th anniversary year has been a very creative one, most notably in the launch of our first lager, 54 Degrees North. We have also released a diverse range of seasonal ales, and Rye Mild is another example of us experimenting with different beer styles.”
ENDS
CONTACT: Jamie Collis on 01325 363436
Editor’s Notes:
The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham made its first beer in 1992 after being built up by Paul Theakston, whose family had brewed in the area for six generations.
In a world of ever increasing bland, mass-produced beer Paul saw an opportunity to return to what his family had done best since 1827, making real beer in the time-honoured fashion.
An old maltings building, once part of Lightfoot’s Brewery became the Brewery’s home. This landmark building, which stands high over the banks of the Ure, had fallen in to disrepair as years of neglect as a semi-redundant grainstore had taken its toll. Paul assembled a small team around him to fight the rats and build a traditional country brewery.
The Black Sheep Brewery name derived from Masham’s association with sheep, but ‘Sheep Brewery’ didn’t quite sound right, so with a little creativity from Paul’s wife the Black Sheep Brewery was born, a name that sat well with the area, spoke volumes about the maverick attitude to the multi-nationals seeking to dominate the brewing industry and captured the essence of the family struggle that led to our birth.
Black Sheep Ale at 4.4% ABV, now in an eco-friendly lightweight bottle, continues to maintain its presence among the top ten premium bottled ale brands, and is available nationwide from virtually all the major supermarket retailers. It is a classic premium bitter and as with all Black Sheep beers, full of character derived from the best possible brewing materials, plenty of time and patience in the brewing and our very special Yorkshire Square fermenters.
In 2014, Black Sheep Best Bitter, – Yorkshire’s best-selling cask ale – underwent a facelift to broaden its appeal among drinkers, evolving the look, while retaining all of the great taste that has made it an iconic brand.