Riggwelter (Cask)
(Batch of Riggwelter)
Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, England 🏴
Strong Ale - English Regular|
Score
6.77
|
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The fabled Riggwelter has grown to be one of our most loved cask ales and remains our most decorated beer having won numerous awards.
Riggwelter takes its name from a local Yorkshire Dales farming term which has Nordic roots; “rygg” meaning back, and “velte” meaning to overturn. A sheep is said to be rigged or ‘riggwelted’ when it has rolled onto its back and is unable to get back up without assistance. What better name for a strong beer from the Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire, eh?!
Riggwelter is a real showcase of hops, malt and yeast. Layers of chocolate and coffee are most prominent with dark fruits offering a sweet balance against the bitter roasted flavours. Our in-house strain of yeast provides more fruity esters including freshly peeled banana.
Pouring a dark ruby colour and when served through a handpull, there’s not many beers that can match Riggwelter’s beauty.
Riggwelter takes its name from a local Yorkshire Dales farming term which has Nordic roots; “rygg” meaning back, and “velte” meaning to overturn. A sheep is said to be rigged or ‘riggwelted’ when it has rolled onto its back and is unable to get back up without assistance. What better name for a strong beer from the Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire, eh?!
Riggwelter is a real showcase of hops, malt and yeast. Layers of chocolate and coffee are most prominent with dark fruits offering a sweet balance against the bitter roasted flavours. Our in-house strain of yeast provides more fruity esters including freshly peeled banana.
Pouring a dark ruby colour and when served through a handpull, there’s not many beers that can match Riggwelter’s beauty.
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7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
(Cask at GBBF London Earl’s Court, 4 Aug 2010) Dark reddish brown colour with foamy, beige head. Malty, fruity nose with notes of dried fruit, raisins, prunes, figs and sweet liquorice. Malty, fruity taste with dried fruit, raisins, prunes, dark bread, over-ripe pineapple and a good, spicy bitterness. More than medium body, with a solid malt sweetness. Well balanced and tasty, mooreish. Very nice. (8/7/7/8/7=7.3) Rerate: (Cask at Akkurat, 30 Apr 2026) Reddish brown colour with frothy, beige head. Malty nose with notes of coffee, chocolate and blueberries. Malty taste with coffee, liquorice, blueberries, cacao and a balanced earthy bitterness. Medium body, quite dry. Rich and harmonious. Very nice.
Tried
from Cask
at
Akkurat
on 29 Apr 2026
at 22:00
5.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask at Akkurat, Stockholm. Clear mahogany colour, small head. Aroma of apples and spicy hay. Mid sweet with medium body and clean, rounded mouthfeel. Toast, hay and apples. Mid bitter finish.
Tried
from Cask
at
Akkurat
on 14 Apr 2026
at 16:28
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
How: Cask.
Where: The Bishops Arms Gustav Adolfs Torg. Malmö.
Appearance: Brown colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Malt, caramel, fruit, yeast.
Body: Medium body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, caramel, fruit, yeast.
Where: The Bishops Arms Gustav Adolfs Torg. Malmö.
Appearance: Brown colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Malt, caramel, fruit, yeast.
Body: Medium body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Malt, caramel, fruit, yeast.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Bishops Arms Gustav Adolfs Torg (Malmö)
on 21 Aug 2024
at 17:55
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Skipton Beer Festival 2023. Full-bodied dark amber ale with a glow. Has a flavoursome mix of darker malts and winter fruits, finishing with a pleasant bitterness.
Tried
on 19 May 2023
at 11:42
7.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Drucken på Cask på Bishop Gustaf, Malmö. Mörkbrun vätska, fina maltiga smaker nav bröd, toffee, mörk frukt, russin men också en örtig och gräsig beska. Bra balans och fin smakbild. Gott
Tried
from Cask
on 18 May 2023
at 04:17
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Handpull cask at the Last Drop Inn, York. Light to mid-brown, clear with a medium to large tight beige head. Dusty and malty aroma with caramel and aromatic spice notes. I was expecting an overly sweet taste but was met with more nuance, with some toffee and bitter horehound. Light body for the ABV. A decent beer but not the pinnacle of the style; perhaps it’s relatively high score on here is down to legacy rates?
Tried
from Cask
on 18 Nov 2022
at 18:03
8.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
From cask at the Doric Arch, 17.05.22. Dark mahogany. Beige head and lacing. Sroma and taste of roasted nuts, dark caramel, brittle, and dark malt. Balanced piney bitterness.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 May 2022
at 18:06
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask at Guy Fawkes Inn, York. Pours dark brown with a ruby hue and a beige cap. Aroma: rich & malty, caramel. Taste: light sweet & light to moderate bitter, toasted teacake, prunes, caramel, toffee, little vinous note. Medium body with soft carbonation.
Tried
from Cask
on 28 Mar 2022
at 20:52
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
[Cask at the Back of Beyond (JDW), Reading.] A copper coloured pour with a thin cream head; aroma of Demerara sugar; rich sugary taste with some butterscotch; and a dry biscuity finish with a light bitterness and lingering caramel and alcohol. A great beer on a cold and wet winter evening.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Nov 2021
at 15:49
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Dark brown with a creamy off-white head and a sweet, dark fruit malt aroma. Medium bodied, it's fruity and malty with a sweet and dry finish
Tried
from Cask
at
Shrewsbury Hotel
on 12 Nov 2021
at 10:00