Besides Burton on Trent, Yorkshire, in my view, has justifiable claims to being among Britain’s brewing capitals.Everyone who likes beer will know of Tetleys from Leeds, John and Sam Smith’s breweries which were founded in Tadcaster and Theakston’s Old Peculier. Now at Masham in North Yorkshire, is another wonderful brewery which turns out great ales.Yes I am referring to Black Sheep Ales which were founded by one Mr Paul Theakston. Paul, is a member of the illustrious brewing family, but sensible fella that he is he departed the family brewery when it was acquired by the huge Scottish and Newcastle brewery. Paul set up the Black Sheep brewery at his old stamping ground of Masham and his Black Sheep ale is rapidly gaining something of a cult status. This fine, traditionl, ale has a delightfully hoppy aroma and flavour. The brewery uses Goldings hops and Maris Otter barley and the end result is a golden coloured, full bodied ale, that will have you coming back for more. It has a nice head but not to frothy and I reckon it achieves a great balance between the hops and the malt. On the alcohol by volume (ABV) scale it weighs in at a respectable 4.4% and is most pleasant on the palate. It reminds me of how traditional British ales used to taste and the only snag there arent too many local pubs that stock it However, a number of off licences have it in stock and if I remember correctly, you can also find it in Sainsbury’s supermarkets. I guess it would go together nicely with a Steak and Kidney pie and mash or a Cottage Pie and it is such a nice ale I would no mind quaffing it alongside a Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pud Sunday lunch. No doubt it would also go well with a hearty ploughman’s lunch that so many great pubs in Yorkshire seem to specialise in.