About Black Sheep
Black Sheep Brewery is a celebrated Yorkshire brewery established in 1991 in the historic brewing town of Masham, North Yorkshire. Founded by Paul Theakston, a fifth-generation brewer who departed from his family's famous Theakston Brewery, he quite literally became "the black sheep" of the family - an identity that inspired the brewery's name at his wife's suggestion. The story begins in 1984 when Theakston Brewery was acquired by Matthew Brown following disagreements among family members, then by Scottish & Newcastle in 1987. Paul Theakston left in 1988 and, after purchasing the North Yorkshire Malt Roasting Company on the former Lightfoot's brewery site, established his own brewing operation. The enterprise was so successful it became a public limited company in 1992, now producing over 75,000 barrels annually. Black Sheep's brewing heritage runs deep. Their beers are brewed with fresh Yorkshire Dales water drawn directly from limestone aquifers, using the finest malted barley and hops, fermented with house yeast in now-rare Yorkshire Square fermenters. Much of their original equipment came from the former Hartley's Brewery in Cumbria. Today, the sixth generation continues the tradition, with Paul's sons Rob (Managing Director since 2012) and Jo leading the company. The brewery's visitor centre, opened in 1996, is now a major Yorkshire Dales attraction. UK beer lovers can find Black Sheep products at supermarkets including Iceland. Use Grocefully to compare Black Sheep Brewery prices and find the best deals on these authentic Yorkshire ales.
