Newcastle Brown Ale - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

2.18/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Very Clear Dark Red with a fizzy, soapy head. Interestingly enough, no carbonation.

Smell - Grains, Chocolate, Barley, Malts, and some Light Hops. I'm getting a light sweetness to the scent as well.

Taste - Barley, Grains, Light Hops, and Malts, along with a slight copper flavor.
It tastes like....nothing!!! Aside from some barley and light malts, there's no flavor to speak of. This is is a Brown Ale, not a Light Lager; Brown Ales should have some degree of flavor to it.

Mouthfeel - Yet despite the lack of flavor, the body is quite heavy and thick and with no carbonation. At least it's crisp and feels somewhat refreshing

Overall - There's just no flavor in this, in fact I'd even go as far as to say that Natty Light has more flavor than this. If you want a good brown ale, don't drink this; Look Elsewhere!

Serving type: can

12-12-2012 06:06:08 | More by NuclearDolphin

johnnipe

4.43/5  rDev +31.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Love the color and how it pours into a glass. Since I drink mainly dark beers and ale, I want a good hops taste and this ale does not disappoint. I keep one or two on hand when I want something stout and since I drink less than a beer a week, I want it to be special when I open it.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 19:16:42 | More by johnnipe

sam_bliss

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pint glass

A- Deep dark reddish brown. One-finger head and tiny bubbles all up the side of the glass. Surprisingly translucent for such a dark beer.

S- At first only sweet and toasted malts come through, but as the head dissipates some grassy hops and golden grains work into the aroma.

T- Nuttiness is surrounded by smoky malt, caramel-y malt, toasty malt, and even a bit of chocolate malt. Hops are in the background, mostly citrus.

M- A little thin, but the carbonation feels good and the aftertaste is pleasant and mild.

D- Quite drinkable for a brown ale. Pace yourself and go all night if you have a lot on hand and no alternatives.

I like it, but don't love it. Thanks England, for inventing the style and shipping me this brew via White Plains, NY!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 07:03:20 | More by sam_bliss

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Found this in the back of my dads fridge..

Pours clear dark brown with no head.

Sweet, malty, caramel, slightly fruity

Taste is also malt forward, pretty sweet, grainy cereal, mild bitterness

Soda-like feel and carbonation

Nothing too complex going here. Basic stuff...skipper

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 18:30:36 | More by TheMultiYeast

DocJitsu

California

3.28/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, dark copper amber color, with a short off-white head. Plum and tart dark fruit nose. If you didn't tell me what this beer was and simply put it under my nose, I'd tell you it was British. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and wet with a little carbonation toward the finish. Midway between tart and sweet dark fruit flavor. A little roasted malt to help cut the fruitiness. Not a bad swiller.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:04:12 | More by DocJitsu

mjurney

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Deep amber-brown color, clear. Lots of fine bubble rising up. Thick frothy head.

Aroma:
Sweet, malty, fruity.

Taste:
Sweet barley malts up front, bready, candy-like caramel, slight roasted. Ripe cherries. Hop bitterness is mild towards the finish. Body is medium, very refreshing, a little dryness in the palate, soft carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 01:23:50 | More by mjurney

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear dark reddish brown in color with some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall sudsy beige head that quickly reduces to a medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light amounts of caramel malts with just a hint of something metallic.

T: There are light to moderate flavors of nutty malts with some lighter notes of caramel and toffee sweetness. Very light notes of bitterness in the finish.

M: Light bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: This beer is not really anything special and I certainly have no burning desire to run out and get more of these... That being said, this beer is actually quite easy to drink and is sessionable. This was one of the early British beers that I experimented with in the early 1990s when I was first getting into craft beer (and I have a great keychain bottle opener that I have been using since then). Kind of a nostalgic brew for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 19:37:06 | More by dbrauneis

arfenhouse

California

2.73/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Red-brown color. Thin foam and below average lacing.

S: Caramel and alcohol.

T: On the malty side with some citrus. Decent hop profile with a slight sour aftertaste.

M: Thin, low carbonation, easy to drink.

O: Decent beer, nothing to write home about. Just a step above most American macrobrews.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 07:59:24 | More by arfenhouse

T100Mark

California

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap, at a cool sports bar (this place turns the inventory), in a 16 ounce mixing glass.

Appearance-Creamy, one finger head. Brown yet clear (not hazy). Serious lacing. A good looking beer.

Taste-Sweet. Malt. Slight Carmel flavor. Slightly acidic.

Mouth-Light mouth feel but the beer does have a presence.

Overall-A nice, easy drinking beer. A little lacking in character. The odd thing is this beer tastes a little like a German lager. Seriously, it looks and tastes like Shiner Bock. Weird.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 03:20:08 | More by T100Mark

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A:Dark orange, mahogany colour. Pours a creamy off white head.

S: Low to none hop aroma, faint caramel, a bit of an adjunct smell.

T: hints of licorice, caramel malts, a bit of a sourness to it

M: thin and a bit more carbonated then I would enjoy for the style

O: IMO, a bit off style but still a very good beer to enjoy during a session.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 00:31:21 | More by Kremlock

smokinyodas

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Newcastle Brown Ale Beer is a cult classic in our college town. When I ask my lady to pick-up some Brown Ale this seems to be her throwback to make us both happy on flavor and price. This beer is best served cold into a pint glass for a mild pleasant maltiness, although somewhat thin and empty, still easily drinkable when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 21:13:13 | More by smokinyodas

AudioFileZ

Alabama

3.85/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Source: 12 oz. bottle to glass
A: Rich med. brown, low carbonation with slight head and lacing.
S: Sweet with some malt and a bit of nut-like aroma.
T: Forward sweetness with caramel, low hop contrast (bitterness), some toated grain and nut
M: Loose (light) due to low carbonation and alcohol content, but very drinkable and refreshing.
O: Easy drinking, light yet has good flavor. Has what all ale should have but in a light presentation which lends itself to session drinking. I find it quite pleasant because it is so easy to drink mulitiple glasses without feeling bloated in spite of the sweetness. This beer has a place in my rotation of ales.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 07:45:14 | More by AudioFileZ

wiscokid920

Wisconsin

2.55/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A- Tawny brown. Tiny bubbly head which disappears quickly into a ring around the glass.

S- Faint malts, sweet notes, and very little toasted nutty

T- Very sweet. Toasted notes which fades into crispness and ends in a corn sweetness.

M- Crisp and clean light bodied ale

O- A very popularized (industralized) Brown Ale with a large cult classic style following. Does not possess the typical Brown Ale qualities that I enjoy (Malty and Toasty). As it warms, it seems as if I'm sipping on a black tea.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 21:41:07 | More by wiscokid920

DragonsSlippers

4.18/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown body with ruby notes with a cream colored 1 and ½ inch frothy head that settles to a lacy cap after a few minutes.

Sent: Roasted nuts and caramel malts, brown sugar

Taste: Roasted nuts and caramel malts with a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste

Mouth feel: Smooth Medium body with low carbonation

Overall Impression: It tastes almost as good at room temperature as it does when chilled.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 05:50:47 | More by DragonsSlippers

elNopalero

Texas

3.4/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I still can’t understand why they bottle this in clear glass. Seriously folks!

This has an intense ruby cola color with a nice cap of foam. There’s a light somewhat malty aroma to it that’s not overpowering, but just enough to make its presence known. The flavor has a mild roast and a mild sweetness, followed by a clean finish. Overall it’s an innocuous and harmless as can be.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 05:30:40 | More by elNopalero

SnowFlowMfg

California

2.28/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had this out of a 12oz bottle, the pint, and on tap.

I used to think that this beer was pretty good but now, after expanded my knowledge and taste I can see the flaws in this.

Pretty much all has been said by the bros.

It looks delicious, nice creamy head to start, but little retention in the end.

Smell is not beer-like at all. Kind of an artificial maltiness can be sensed. A little nutty.

Taste is more absent than anything. Reminds me of water. On the other side I can see what others are saying; has a very corn sweetness with slight maltiness and no hops to be found. Slightly artificial tasting to with a syrupy kind of feel on the finish. Low carbonation.

Overall, an easy beer to drink but only because it resembles thick water. Would be good with a really flavorful pizza though since it would still taste like pizza as you drink it. Then again, this is where they had it on tap; the pizza place. There are better beers for the money.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 23:56:07 | More by SnowFlowMfg

Budica

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well what can i say about this amazing beer, some might say amazing ...how can you say amazing? well this beer was first launched in 1927 and there are those who will say its pretty crap compaired to todays standards and i would agree but this beer hasnt changed in all them years so try to understand that.

Sweetness to the smell and taste, the beer pours to a nice brown colour and the taste is a nice sweet caramel flavour with a tan head dependant on how you get it ie can, bottle for example, the can tends to lead to better head retention.

There is something quite comforting about cracking open a bottle of newkie and smelling that sweet brown ale and just kick back and relax.

Some people try and over complicate things, Abv, Ibu's, Lacing, Hops please dont try this with this beer just drink it accept it for a 1920's beer and enjoy and sit back and think how much life is better with beer in your life.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 19:53:02 | More by Budica

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours from the keg a candy caramel brown, much like maple syrup. The head is big and smooth with a couple of craters and sticky Styrofoam-like lacing, though it mellows out into islands of foam. The beer smells cloying with sweet malts that have a tinge of sour in them and slightly skunked smell. The beer’s taste is much like the smell only less cloying. Caramel malts and biscuity malt are present in the taste, and there is a slight roasted flavor also present. Bitters are slight an nearly not present except in the aftertaste where there is a slight medicinal play in among the sweet malts. Mouthfeel is slightly harsh with carbonation in the initial sip, but mellows into a thick and slightly chewy feel that is quite pleasant though has a slightly watery feel and it does leave a slight sticky feel in the mouth. Overall this beer is a nice English brown, the mouthfeel is a little weak, but overall it’s worth a taste.

Serving type: cask

09-12-2012 23:43:44 | More by Maxwell

FlyingBull

California

3.23/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this beer as part of an Irish trio at the Ould Soud in SD. About two fingers of tan-brown head, lacing that lasts a minute or two but stays up after each sip. Dark but clear brown color.

S - Had a mild malt aroma up front. To me, at little metalic also. Was a very clear, light brown with a 3/4 finger head.

T - Had some slight nuttiness, a little yeast, and again - a little metalic. Balanced hops and malt, but light on both.

M - Light body for style to me. Average - medium carbonation.

O - This is a nice, light for style beer; very drinkable. I've had it in bottle too and picked up the same metalic smell and taste. Must be me, because I don't see others mention it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2012 03:57:04 | More by FlyingBull

punky796

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A - About two fingers of tan-brown head, lacing that lasts a minute or two but stays up after each sip. Dark but clear brown color.

S - Mostly earthiness, along with a bit of macrolager-ness, actually. But not a lot.

T - Some tones of nuttiness, earth, yeast. Heavier on the hops than malt, which I don't usually like too much, but I think malt fans will still enjoy this.

M - Not overly fizzy, but doesn't feel like it thickens as you swallow, which heavier, lower carbonated beers seem to do with me. Doesn't hang in your mouth overly long.

O - A simple beer, in the best way possible. As a darker beer that's lower in alcohol content than a lot of its relatives, it's great for having if you want more than just a couple. Nothing crazy, but a step above most and a good everyday beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 10:28:29 | More by punky796

PorterLambic

Florida

2.63/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear, brown the color of leather. A good sized light tan head develops before settling to a solid film that last a long time. Some lace but nothing to really write home about.
Smell is malt, nut, grape, light hops and a metallic note you don't get on tap. Balance is otherwise good.
Taste is similar with malt, grape(?), nut, caramel and the metallic note. Balance is decent but the metallic presence is a bit off-putting.
Body is medium-light with a slightly watery finish. Effervescence is medium. I used to drink this by the case, well, buy it that way at least. Now I'm wondering why I loved it so much. Never really noticed the metal note then. This is much better on tap, the difference is so pronounced, more so than any other beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 02:06:03 | More by PorterLambic

sennoma

American Samoa

3.73/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A -- not a huge deal to me anyway
S -- a bit yeasty, not unpleasantly so; a bit nutty, even though that adjective is overused with this style
T -- slightly bitter, finishes clean
M -- warm and smooth

Another go-to beer: not a superstar but always pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:01:37 | More by sennoma

DavidS88

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Newcastle has a delightful brown color with very little head on it when I drank it out of a bottle. I have to wonder why they choose to bottle it in clear bottles instead of the dark amber bottles that many other beers are found in, but hey that's just me.

The smell and taste were good, not great, and certainly not bad. A nice touch of nuts in the smell and taste with a fresh crispness to the beer. There isn't enough alcohol in this that you detect any as an aftertaste.

Mouthfeel was fine, not too carbonated.

Tthis is purely an average beer with nothing either really special or really terrible about it. If I want something that I can pound a few of really quick before going out partying or something like that, Newcastle Brown Ale might have to be my beer of choice from now on. Much tastier than an American adjunct lager or light lager, yet not so filling that you can't stand to have than one. Plus their commercials are funny, and hey, who doesn't like that?

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 19:30:14 | More by DavidS88

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

What a boring beer! How did Newcastle end up getting this beer into virtually every bar in America? It's not that good. It's a beer that someone with no knowledge of beer would drink when he/she's in the mood for a "premium" beer. It's a little watery for starters and then doesn't really boast any of the nice nutty profiles the style is appreciated for. Oh well, nothing I can do about it!

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 02:44:34 | More by TheRealBigC

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at TGI Fridays.
Pours a medium reddish brown color with a thin off white head that shows little retention. Smells of light brown sugar, fruity esters, a hint of butter, and a bit of mineral water. The flavor is sweet and fruity with caramel, light brown sugar, a hint of chocolate and a touch of diacytyl. Medium body with a moderate level of bubbles and a sweet crisp mouthfeel. I used to drink these a lot when I was first getting into craft beer, but its been a long time since I've had one. Decent brown ale, but really could use a bit more chocolate or caramel to back it up.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 00:10:03 | More by johnnnniee