BAKE & ALEHOUSE

Black Sheep say that 'it is almost impossible to believe that The Black Sheep Brewery is only 21 years old' - yet, as we all know, these days, 21 years old is ancient for a brewery!

In October 1992 their beers first made an appearance in pubs, in and around the Yorkshire Dales. The delivery of those first casks of beer all those years ago began a new era for Paul Theakston, whose family has brewed in Masham for six generations.

This allowed him to put behind him the heartache left by the often acrimonious battles that culminated in the “old” family firm of T & R Theakston Ltd ending up at the time as part of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries.
These events, that led to the loss of independence of the Theakston brewery, had rumbled on since the early 1970s - with Scottish & Newcastle finally seizing power in 1987. Although offered a position in the big company, Paul decided that that style of life wasn't for him. What's more, it would have meant him leaving his beloved Masham. Determined to stay in Masham and being a long, long way from retirement (both age-wise and financially!!) it didn't take long for Paul to conclude that small brewery life was what he wanted.
The decision was made; create a new but traditional style brewery in Masham…

And the rest, as they say, is history!!