There are a few beers whose names carry quite such a vivid, almost unsettling poetry as Riggwelter . Rooted in the dialect of the Yorkshire Dales, the word conjures not comfort, but vulnerability, an image of a sheep stranded on its back, legs flailing helplessly against the sky. The term derives from Old Norse: rigg , meaning back or shoulder, and velte , to overturn. In local usage, a sheep that has rolled onto its back and cannot right itself is said to be 'rigged' or 'riggwelted.' It is a word shaped by landscape, by farming life, and by the quiet, often harsh realities of rural existence. It is also, rather brilliantly, the name of one of Yorkshire’s most distinctive ales. Brewing in the Shadow of Tradition Brewed by Black Sheep Brewery in the market town of Masham , Riggwelter is a beer steeped in heritage. The brewery itself was founded by Paul Theakston , a figure whose name is synonymous with Yorkshire brewing tradition. At the heart of Riggwelter’s character ...
The notebook of a renegade bartender and amateur drinking enthusiast with a passion for real ale, beer festivals, microbrewing, and pubs. Relentless rants on what to drink, while quaffing, scoffing and reviewing from both sides of the bar.