Black Sheep Brewery - Cry Wolf Beer Review - Its Bite is Real

June 12, 2023 Cameron Mackenzie

Gnarly. It can mean dangerous, extreme and exciting. A word not often used to describe beer. But that is exactly what the Black Sheep Brewery from North Yorkshire has given us with Cry Wolf.

They’ve asked us to expect the unexpected. Roasted black and chocolate malt, and new world hops, together in a bottle with darkness so intense, you won’t know what’s hit you. And it only went and won a gold award at the International Beer Challenge. Having only been launched in June 2022, it’s already received widespread recognition.

Black Sheep Brewery was founded in 1992, as Paul Theakston, a 5th generation, family brewer, built his own brewery. Following the sale of T and R Theakstons to a national brewery, Theakston set up in Masham, North Yorkshire. A beautiful market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Yorkshire hosts other wonderful breweries such as Timothy Taylor, which creates a certain county pride.

You can tour the brewery, sample its beers and grab a bite to eat. It’s set in an old maltings, which overlooks Masham. The brewing kit was sourced from old breweries and this equipment continues to be used today. Their beer is brewed in cask, keg, bottle, can and mini-keg.

Being situated in a beautiful part of Yorkshire, the brewery has strived to remain sustainable, and minimise any detrimental impact on the environment. They aim to be carbon neutral by 2034, some 16 years ahead of the government schedule. They also have ambitions to be carbon negative by 2040.

Cry Wolf nods to the fable of a shepherd’s boy who repeatedly fools villagers into thinking a wolf is attacking his flock. When a wolf does actually appear, his cry for help is ignored as yet another false alarm, and the wolf eats the sheep. In a later version, the wolf also eats the boy.

Don’t be thinking that this dark, intense stout, crossed with a juicy IPA is a false alarm. Far from it. Roasted, nutty chocolate and coffee notes; Cascade, Columbus, Chinook and Citra hops. The result is woody pine, and flavours of tropical fruit.

The roasted malt, pine and grapefruit are obvious on the nose. The journey on the taste buds really allow you to pick up the roast, followed by the piney, citrus finish. It sounds complex, but the result is so well balanced.

Cry Wolf has an alcohol percentage of 5% and the brewery names barbecued burnt ends with creamy slaw as the perfect accompaniments. Black Sheep beers have also commonly been used by butchers to flavour their sausages. Very tasty.

Black Sheep sees Cry Wolf as an innovator in the Premium Bottled Ale category. The line they used in its launch, urging beer lovers to ‘try the fierce bite,’ recognises the meld of malt and hops. It’s definitely one to experience.

In recent news, the Black Sheep Brewery hit trouble and went into administration, creating speculation about its future. However, investment has been found in the shape of London-based, Breale Group. It was a relief to hear that the name of the brewery will remain, and it will stay in Masham. Breale Group has a good track record of transforming and growing businesses, and we hope that Cry Wolf and all its beers continue to thrive.

In conclusion, roast meets fruit in this complex but balanced beer. No false alarms. You’ll only need to try it once to know that it’s real. It’ll certainly give you a little bite to prove it. And get those delicious burnt ends on the barbecue.

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