Black Sheep Brewery marks 30th anniversary with "unapologetic" IPA relaunch

Yorkshire’s Black Sheep Brewery is celebrating its 30th anniversary this September by relaunching its award-winning IPA, Pathmaker.

Originally brewed in 2015 in homage to its founder, Paul Theakston, Pathmaker is an “unapologetic” IPA at 4 per cent, brewed with Chinook hops for an “adventurous malty mouth feel and a moreish, crisp bitter finish”. The US grown hops provide a “punchy aroma” with hints of grapefruit, whilst the malt blend offers a “robust sweetness”.

Paul Theakston, who built the brewery from scratch back in 1992, was dissatisfied with the blandness of the beer market in the early nineties and decided to take a stand. He built Black Sheep Brewery in his hometown of Masham and forged the path for the award-winning, independent brewery.

He commented: “I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since that first brew of Best Bitter back in 1992. I’m incredibly proud of the journey that Black Sheep has taken and thankful to our wonderful new and loyal drinkers who have joined us along the way. I’m excited to enjoy a few pints of Pathmaker this September as we celebrate our big birthday.”

The relaunch of Pathmaker will tell the story of the brewery’s founding in a “modern and creative way”. The beer is aimed at pubs and bars to satisfy the needs of increasingly curious beer enthusiasts, as well as the long-standing Black Sheep drinkers wanting a “punchy, bitter” IPA to toast the 30th anniversary in true fashion.

Jonny Kirkham, head of sales and marketing director, added: “Pathmaker is about having the courage and conviction to chase your dreams, just like Black Sheep’s founder Paul Theakston did in 1992. As September marks the official birth date of the brewery, we felt there was no better time to relaunch our beloved Pathmaker IPA.

“In today’s fast-paced, innovative world, it’s easy to forget what makes cask beer so utterly amazing. Paul Theakston is a huge advocate of cask beer and that passion continues to run through our veins here at Black Sheep.”

To mark both Yorkshire Day and the brewery’s 30th anniversary, Black Sheep recently served pints for just £1.29 all day on Sunday July 31 and Monday August 1, the estimated price of a pint of Best Bitter in 1992.

The brewery will also be hosting an official birthday party on September 17, with Paul Theakston in attendance, discussing Black Sheep’s rich history and aspirations to lift the entire cask industry through the Drink Cask Beer campaign.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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