Joe is featured in ad for the Black Sheep

Attention Pub lovers – Nosaras most famous nightspot is on the market

Posted on January 6, 2015

During it’s relatively short lifespan The Black Sheep has taken on mythical status among both long time locals, and tourists arriving for the first time wide eyed in appreciation of what can accurately be labeled one of the most unique and quirky pubs on the planet. Since its inception in 2006 The Black Sheep has played host to multitudes of people looking for a great time and a great pint of beer. Not long ago The Black Sheeps owners Joe and Helena Wygal placed The Black Sheep on the market. Before its creators say their final farewell the Nosara Real Estate Report sat down with them to get the truth behind the myth of this legendary watering hole in the Jungle of Nosara.

Black sheep owner Joe at home doing what he loves best

“In the early days I used to go to hang out at the Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Masachussets” says Joe. “It was a cool place anyway but what really made it was the people – working class kids who’d made it to Harvard and MIT. One night I met a German girl whom I dated for a while. In 1983 we took a trip to Europe. The first real English pub I ever saw was St James Place in London and that began a lifelong love affair with British pub culture. We left for Germany where I was struck by the culture of real ale and just how serious they are about making high quality beer. I returned to the States at a time when the microbrewery craft beer revolution was taking place on the East coast. Breweries started popping up everywhere which did wonders for the quality of ale being served up and down East coast bars and pubs. I got involved in the beer festivals, and in 1989 after meeting my wife Helena we made our first trip to Costa Rica. We fell in love with the country and came back whenever we could.”

“I’d always been a huge fan of pubs, and when Helena and I bought our first house in 1994 I built a pub inside my house in Somervile Massachussetts which I named the Arbor Ale House. It was strictly for friends and some of the parties we had in that place have gone down in local folklore. After having worked in the brewing industry throughout the years I’d become acquainted with many people in the craft brewery movement. Brewers from all over the country would come stay with Helena and I. We’d drink real ale in the pub I’d built and acquaintances would turn into friends overnight. These were truly memorable times.”

“Around 2002 we took our fourth trip to Costa Rica and discovered Nosara. After immediately falling in love we came back two months later and bought property here. We planned to move down permanently 3 years later. In the meantime I knew that if I was moving to Costa Rica I’d have to take my love of the craft ale scene with me, and spent my days sourcing the best craft beer in the world. I had a whole bunch of pub paraphernalia that I’d collected from all over the world – chairs, tables, beer mats, glasses etc. Many of the things you see in The Black Sheep now were transported down from my house in the states.”

“I then realized if I was going to open a pub in Costa Rica I had to come up with a name. I’ve been known as the black sheep of my family all my life and that’s where the name was born. We opened in February 2006 and did our first NYE party that year. Up until then St Patricks Day was unheard of in Guanacaste so I don’t think it’s inaccurate to claim that The Black Sheep was single-handedly responsible for bringing the St Patricks Day celebrations to this part of the world.”

“I’ve so many great memories of everything that’s happened here that to pick a single one seems impossible. In the end it comes down to the people, and being the owner of the Black Sheep has been a conduit for being introduced to some of the most interesting people I could ever hope to meet.”“People are often amazed when they walk in for the first time. One woman described it as a ‘shangri la’. Although The Black Sheep does well for itself we never set it up with the intention of turning a profit. It was always a labour of love, and although its not in my nature to be proud of myself I’m happy with what we did and I’m kind of amazed that we did it. The biggest compliment is when people from Europe, particularly from the United Kingdom come in and remark how great it is, and what a great job I’ve done of recreating, and even surpassing the feel of a true British pub. To this I often answer simply that “it is not a replica, it’s a tribute.”

If you’re interested in taking the reins of this fabled Nosara Villa and nightspot (with incredible potential for hosting retreat groups) click here for the Nosara Real Estate Report listing or get in touch now to find out how to be a part of the ongoing Black sheep story.

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