German lager is county's new black sheep
A Yorkshire brewery famous for its best bitter took the drinks industry by surprise yesterday by launching a German-inspired lager at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Masham’s Black Sheep brewery is using European hops and Pilsner malt in its 54 Degrees North “small batch” lager, which it plans to make available initially to pubs in Yorkshire.
It is being brewed in traditional “Yorkshire Square” vessels at the Masham brewhouse, and takes its name from the 54th parallel north circle of latitude, which crosses the town on a line from Canada to Moscow.
“Lager is something we have talked about, and we decided now was the time to diversify. It was a logical step,” said Black Sheep’s sales and marketing director, Jo Theakston.