Black Sheep Brewery
Masham, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom · Est. 1992
Tally's Take
Why this matters
Founded by a Theakston fleeing his own family brewery's takeover, and taken over in turn — into administration in 2023, then out of it under the investor-backed Keystone Brewing Group. The irony is complete, but the buyer is a fund, not a brewer. That is a different kind of ending.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1992Founded
Black Sheep Brewery begins brewing in Masham, North Yorkshire.
- 2023Administration
Went into administration in 2023 and was bought by Breal Group (now Keystone).
The People
Behind the beer
Left the family brewery after its takeover and founded Black Sheep in the same town, 1992.
The Beer Library
Beers
Riggwelter
Year-RoundStrong Ale
Paul Theakston founded Black Sheep in 1992 after his family's brewery was sold out from under them. Riggwelter is Yorkshire dialect for a sheep stuck on its back — the joke is aimed squarely at the family firm.
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How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1992Founded
- 2023Administration
Went into administration in 2023 and was bought by Breal Group (now Keystone).
Today the chain tops out at Keystone Brewing Group.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Black Sheep Brewery is controlled by Founder / family.
Saltaire Brewery acquires Keystone Brewing Group portfolio · Paramount Retail Group · 2026-01
CommercialMedium reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Black Sheep Brewery
- Who owns Black Sheep Brewery?
- Black Sheep Brewery is owned by Keystone Brewing Group. Black Sheep Brewery is based in Masham, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
- Is Black Sheep Brewery still independent?
- No. Black Sheep Brewery is owned by Keystone Brewing Group and is no longer independent.
- When was Black Sheep Brewery acquired?
- 2023. Went into administration in 2023 and was bought by Breal Group (now Keystone).
- When was Black Sheep Brewery founded?
- Black Sheep Brewery was founded in 1992 in Masham, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
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