Must tell others about this (Black Sheep Ale)

Member Name: dennis

Product:	Black Sheep Ale
Date:	24/09/01 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Flavour

Disadvantages: None

Yes, I must tell others about this.
I am not an ale drinker favouring more the grain in a good single malt whisky. I did drink ale in my youth when 19 to 25ish though and did enjoy the flavour.
Nowdays I have the rare half pint only when I am wanting a quenching drink, usually Tetleys or something like that.
Well, this weekend was spent at the Otley Black Sheep Folk Festival and a great do it was as well.
On the Saturday night we went to the Black Horse pub venue to see a concert there and believe me it was full.
We managed to get seats and before too long got thirsty as you do at folk festivals.
Scotch wouldn't fit the bill because it was so hot in that small upstairs room so it had to be ale.
Down to the bar and looking at the row of HAND PULLED beers available I thought well, why not try Black Sheep, after all they do a splendid job sponsoring the festival.
I asked for a Gill of Black Sheep and it took some 2 or three minutes to explain what a Gill measure was, and she (the barmaid)began to draw me a half pint (Gill). This took at least three/four minutes because the ale came out like milk and had to settle a little, or make a short measure (illegal), so the bar maid had to serve others while my ale settled, then she topped it up and repeated until the glass was full.
Watching this I was fascinated and the cold droplets of condensation on the outside of the glass made me even more eager to sample this ale.
Carried the glass upstairs and sat down.
Looking at the ale was magic, a clear amber colour with a head on it that looked for all the world like devon cream. The coldness of the glass in my hand told me it was time to savour.
Now please, please believe me but I have never tasted ale as good in my life ever, even though I am not an expert in this subject, I do have memories and have also, as I mentioned earlier, tasted ale all be it infrequent, but I do know what I like.
This ale was like no other, so sm

ooth, so delicate, so much like the ale of my youth with the flavour of hops, but this was something else.
It tasted so so smooth and creamy I wanted it to stay in my mouth for ever. I swallowed and it seemed so pure and left such a pleasant flavour I was in exstacy.
I took my time with this and felt sad after five minutes when the glass was drained. Yes, I know that it could have gone in less than 15 seconds but where is the pleasure in that? My pleasure was to savour it slowly ish and I did.
So I did too with the next Gill and that was even better. I was just as fascinated with the girl drawing the ale, watching it settle and Oh gosh I am so taken with this ale I must try it again, I must tell others about it too I thought.
The first drink was as good as the last, right to the bottom of the glass.
The brewers at Masham in Yorkshire have a product to be proud of and I salute them.
I am still devoted to my scotch but will not hesitate when Black Sheep is in front of me again.
This is a drink I feel could be enjoyed at any time and could be the perfect partner to a ploughmans lunch, perfect combination indeed.
Ummm, having said that I just might go over to Otley next weekend, sit in a beergarden overlooking Otley Chevin, a pint, YES a pint of Black Sheep Bitter in hand and a good Yorkshire ploughmans lunch in front of me with cheese, pickles, pork pie and crusty bread.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND EH!

Please try it (Black Sheep Bitter) and tell me if you feel the same, I am genuinely interested in what YOU think.
I don't know how widespread the sales of this ale is so if it isn't in your area accept my condolences

Well, I went again to the Otley Black Sheep Folk Festival this year as I do every year (I steward at the festivals). This year I was stewarding at the Civic Hall upstairs along with my wife.
Yes, it was very hot and thirsty work guiding all the patrons, checking passes, taking monies and
all that goes with the job in hand.
My wife stood inside the hall for a while and I the other side of the doors making sure no one entered while singing was going on.
I was positioned NEXT TO THE BAR and watched as countless people filed up and ordered drinks. I also watched the ale being pulled.
After an hour or two you can imagine my great longing to succumb to temptation and step up to the bar quickly and order a half.
BUT WHICH?
There were so many on display, all BLACk SHEEP BREW and each as tempting.
I glanced around, no one watching (you mustn't drink if you are stewarding you see, fine chance) anyway I slipped sideways and ordered a half of BLACK SHEEP BITTER, the one I made a comment about.
I took my time in drinking it and believe me, it was pure magic as it made its way from my palate, carressed my throat and made its way down. I wished my throat were a mile long.
It was sheer delight to savour.
Now that I had refreshed my memory, it was a couple of years since I had savoured it before, I began to eye and ponder the other delights on offer.
I settled on Emmerdale, a 5% brew and it looked so good when hand pulled for the customers.
I bided my time until there was no one around and subtley sidled up to the bar and got a half pint of BLACK SHEEP EMMERDALE.
Darn it, the singing finished for a five minute interval so I put my glass on the table hidden behind a box and waited for the singer to begin again.
It was the longest five minutes of the whole festival and while I was talking to my wife and doing steward duties, my mind was on that half pint glass.
AT LAST the singing started again, the doors closed and I could hear my glass of ale calling me. There it was, amber, freezing cold still, moisture on the glass side, still a good head on it and calling me to quaff it.
I did and as slowly as I was able to, UTTER UTTER NO NONSENSE MAGIC IN A GLASS.
I like the bitter very much indeed but th
is Emmerdale was something else.
The brewers in Masham have brought a small piece of heaven to here on earth in Otley.
If you do nothing more in your life you MUST MUST try this.
Can't wait for next years festival, now then, which shall I try then I wonder? watch this space.

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