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Dec 2012

Black Sheep Progress, Black Sheep

Added: Saturday, December 1st 2012

Style Extra Strong Bitter ABV 10.0%

Black Sheep Progress 10%

The beer has been produced to mark the 20th anniversary of the brewery: see feature on this site.

As the name suggests, it’s brewed with Progress hops. This is one of the new hedgerow hops that grow to half the height of conventional varieties and, as a result, are easier to pick, and are less prone to disease and pest attack. The grains are Maris Otter pale malt with a small amount of crystal malt.

Head Brewer Alan Dunn tells me he boils the wort – the sugary extract created by mashing the grain with pure Yorkshire Dales water – for two to three hours. He was concerned that the house yeast culture might not be able to achieve the strength desired but Alan says “it rose to the challenge” and created a beer with 10% alcohol. Fermentation takes place in traditional “Yorkshire Squares”.

The beer has a bright ruby red colour with lively foam. There’s a ripe aroma of marzipan and fruit cake, with blood oranges and spicy hops. Tart orange fruit, raisins, sultanas and toasted malt fill the mouth with bitter, spicy hops. Orange fruit, toasted grain, raisins, sultanas and growing hop bitterness mark the long, deep and complex finish.

The beer, in an attractive 750ml swing-top bottle and box, is available direct from the brewery:

http://www.blacksheepbrewery.com/shop/progress-limited-edition-anniversary-ale.html/

or from Booths supermarkets and www.beerhawk.co.uk. £14.95. 

Black Sheep Progress, Black Sheep