Traditional Yorkshire beer producer 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 a 4.0% IPA, brewed with Chinook hops for an adventurous malty mouth feel and a crisp bitter finish.
The US-grown hops provide a punchy aroma with hints of grapefruit, whilst the malt blend offers a robust sweetness. Mr Theakston, who built the brewery from scratch back in 1992, was dissatisfied with the blandness of the beer market in the early 1990s and decided to take action.
He built Black Sheep Brewery in his hometown of Masham and forged the path for the award-winning, independent brewery. He said: “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 beer is aimed at pubs and bars, 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, said: “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.”
Mr Kirkham added: “Pathmaker tells the story of a brewery that continues to champion its founding principles of independence and innovation, whilst embracing modern creativity. Head to one of Black Sheep’s pubs, or visit the Black Sheep Bar & Kitchen, to raise a glass of Pathmaker to all the pioneers who continue to take a stand against bland beer.”
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.
Pathmaker is the eighth beer to be showcased in Black Sheep’s 2022 Seasonal Cask Beer Range and was awarded a gold medal in the American IPA category at the World Beer Awards in 2019. As part of the brewery’s anniversary celebrations, Black Sheep has released monthly cask beers in what has become its biggest seasonal cask beer calendar to date.
Just last month the brewery launched Islander, a pacific pale ale brewed with hops from rural New Zealand, to create a refreshingly fruity pint with bags of flavour.
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