Newcastle Brown Ale - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

Shinypoptart

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Newcastle gets a lot of flack.

In the age of craft beer many people "used" to enjoy it, but have since found something better. Personally, I'm all for trying new things but I also believe that the classics are considered "classic" for a reason.

Newcastle is an English style brown ale. It is mild, sweet and tastes of caramel, nuts, black tea and soil. None of the flavors are overly pronounced or strong but they come together to make an easy drinking, sessionable ale.

Newcastle is not an astringently hoppy double IPA nor a viscous Russian imperial stout. It is subtle British brew, its strength found its simplicity.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 21:57:12 | More by Shinypoptart

ThePaleRider

California

3.6/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Hazelnut to brown served in a clear bottle.

S - Nutty smell with a hit of lager in the back

T - Being one of the most session-able beers in the world doesn't come easy. The taste isn't complex but it does pack a light nutty taste with a smooth finish.

M - Pretty light, but I actually enjoy this. Some nut browns seem to stick around for way too long.

O - Great beer for the price. Out of all the mass marketed beers out there I consider this to be my go to.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 02:41:01 | More by ThePaleRider

JamesHenjum

Florida

2.45/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: The beer is a see through brown color. It has a decent off white head with surprisingly good lacing.

S: Wet grass clippings.

T: Nothing special. Typical ale with more hop bite than I like. Not enough malts to balance the hop spice. Flavorful, but nothing can be picked out.

M: Slight carbonation with a light yet slightly creamy feel. Drinkable.

O: I can see why people like it but it is not for me. Too much hop bite and not enough bready flavors.

Serving type: can

08-08-2012 01:20:28 | More by JamesHenjum

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.23/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from an 18 oz bottle into a lager glass. Pours a dark ruby with a finger worth of head. Leaves decent amounts of lacing. Smells of faint caramell malts and some slight corn grains. The taste is of tons of caramel malts with some ripe apple in the background. Some slight grains and even slighter adjunct. Tastes better than how I describe it. The mouthfeel is very creamy, although it opens up no new flavors. Overall, It was easy to drink, And I would definitely buy this stuff again as kegs for a party.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:52:53 | More by SometimesIfart

DevilsCups

New York

2.95/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served from bottle. Not sure what to expect after so many outstanding craft offerings.

A - Brown/mahogany. Pretty much clear. Not much of a head to speak of, which is surprising given the ABV.

S - Like a mix between a lager and a low ABV craft brown. Slightly Stella-like, with a mix of very very slight roast. Very macro.

T - Stella with a bit of sweetness and roast, pretty much following the nose. Not outstanding, but not offensive.

M - Tiny fizzy bubble. Finishes pretty sweet, but nothing overpowering.

O - Perfect party beer or pre-transition for macro-lager drinkers. Not offensive, and a great substitute for that swill you were going to pick up at the gas station for the party. Use this to ween hard-nosed people into the world of craft

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 03:44:13 | More by DevilsCups

TheSixthRing

California

2.58/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - Pours cola brown with a tinge of red and a thin off-white head, poor retention and a resulting lace that's spotty. Not off to a good start.

Smell - Light hints of toffee, nuttiness and a dry hoppy aroma.

Taste - Ughh. Light, bland, and severely lacking in flavor. What is there is can be described as a lightly roasted, somewhat sweet malt, and a dry euro hop flavor.

Mouthfeel - A bit of a conundrum, it has a watery body, yet somehow finishes dry. Undercarbonated. If there's one positive, I guess you could say it's smooth.

Overall - This is the epitome of bad brown ales. Nearly flavorless, with almost no body to speak of. I'm baffled by the popularity of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 03:01:59 | More by TheSixthRing

Dpal

4.25/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

You have to give Newcastle Brown Ale props for being different.

It is like a prepackaged black and tan. It has an excellent sweet and hoppy combination. It is truly different ; I wince a little on the first sip, then truly start to enjoy it.

You definitely can't compare it to other beers. It is truly unique.
It does have more of a tea than malt feeling but, I like it.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 01:29:32 | More by Dpal

Mikala

1.95/5  rDev -42%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I'm new to beer-drinking so I don't know fancy terminology to describe it. The bottle looks great to me, it's bright and fun. Packaging makes you want to drink, which is important to me in choosing a beer. Even though I drank from a bottle, I've seen the way it pours and the head doesn't last for very long. It dissipates about 1 minute and a half after it's poured. So you're better off having it from the bottle. The smell was like a dull yuengling (which I love how yuengling smells, but I'm not a fan of the taste). The taste was very bland and bitter. Almost a little too robust. Like drinking extremely strong tea without sweetner (yes I'm a southerner). And the mouth feel was a little too bubbly to me. I like a dull carbonated feeling. If you're more about hops and robust-ness then this is your beer. But if you look for more of a well-rounded flavor that expands when it's in your mouth this is not for you.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 20:32:15 | More by Mikala

K9AleingPiss

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The appearance was rather rusty ,but very good body and a nice bubble top. The first whiff was a bit odd,but it improved the longer it sat. It has a good fruity ,malty odor and taste and robust finish that didnt leave me thirsty,very satisfying. I would recommned this beer for anything. Heavy enough for a good jolt an light enough to be refreshing. Great beer

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 00:19:46 | More by K9AleingPiss

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A-Pours a popping brown hue. Light creamy head that leaves slim lacing streaks along my glass. Quite clear in the body.

S-Light nose but it is that of a Brown Ale. Mild roastiness. A hint of nuts too. Hard to detect much hoppiness. Maybe a bit of whole grain bread. Sweet caramel.

T-Light nuts and roast. A bit too watery but the flavor components are there. Soft bread and even softer grain. Light, light cocoa.

M-Goes down incredibly smooth. Pleasantly light but creamy somehow. Carbonation set to a nice pitch.

O/D-I enjoy this beer from time to time. An oldie-but-goodie. Easy to drink. Great feel.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:20:32 | More by VelvetExtract

fido

Mexico

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

Newcastle Brown Ale, Pours a nice honey color, very good head and excellent lacing; Smell is fruty, malty and a little bit of alcohol; Taste is malty and maybe some caramel; Mouthfeel is smooth and bitter; Drinkability is good.

This is a good beer.

¡Salud!

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 22:51:18 | More by fido

smakawhat

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a shaker pint glass. Seems like its been ages lets see how this goes!

A simple pour brings a very good clear chestnut and red brown clear body, very nice, even a simple two finger light tan head is present with good retention and some staying power. Not much lacing to speak of, but maintains a collar all through drinking. Looks good.

Nose is quite English brown and toned down. Light toasty malts very subtle nut character, some faint sweetness, but a little airy grain that disappears quickly in the smell. It's at least not skunked through a clear bottle.

Taste matches nose but with at least a solid and bold feeling palate. Light toasty grains, faint brown bread and nutty sensations on the swallow with a very light malt presence. Finish does bring a nice full character, but subdued compared to other English brown ales I've had.

Regardless it's still an easy drinking and tasty simple brew, it wouldn't be one I'd turn down and could easily choose over many others. It's all there for style, and an easy drinking example.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 03:27:13 | More by smakawhat

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

1.95/5  rDev -42%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

18 oz bottle poured into an English pint glass at cellar temperature.

L - Brown color with a 3-finger bubbly cream-colored head. Good retention and very nice lacing. A good amount of carbonation bubbles.

S - Really grainy malt. Not toasted or nutty at all like a brown ale should be. A little bit of skunk in here, as well.

T - Again, grainy malt and skunk. There’s maybe a tiny, tiny bit of caramel malt but no sign of any toasty, bready, nutty malt. Maybe a tiny bit of earthy hops at the finish.

F - Light-bodied with good carbonation, a crisp mouthfeel, and a slightly dry finish. Refreshing.

O - This beer is not good. I’m not sure it’s because of the long trip from England in clear bottles, but there’s a ton of skunk in this. It looks very nice and has a decent mouthfeel, but the aroma and taste leave much more to be desired. I hope this isn’t what most people think of when they hear brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:34:22 | More by BlackBelt5112203

MrGaughran

1.03/5  rDev -69.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

A friend of mine had me try this. It's one of his favorite beers, and I trusted him up until this point. I took the first sip (out of a bottle), and I hated it. I asked him if they had been sitting in his car for the last few months, because it tasted like the worst skunk beer you could possibly drink. And, too my surprise, he said that was exactly how it was supposed to taste. I can't get down with a beer that's supposed to taste skunked.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 02:35:44 | More by MrGaughran

argock

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from 64 oz brown glass growler into a Shaker pint glass. Growler purchased at The Lodge (Hilton Head Island, SC).

A: Dark amber with 1-finger off-white head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing.

S: Grainy malty aroma that is very light with earthy, herbal hopping. Muh less sweet smelling than the bottle version.

T: Very caramelly but more malty than the bottle version with herbal light hops.

M: Very light body with active carbonation.

O: Better than the bottle version but that's not saying much.

Serving type: growler

06-26-2012 02:37:19 | More by argock

StoutishDan

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Rarely do I get the same 6-pack two separate trips to the store, but this time I didn't mind it so much. Poured out of a bottle into - I wanted to try something different - a Tulip glass.

A - Only a couple of times has the head been minimal. This time it's hangin around and the lacing is nice and sticky all the way up the glass. A little lighter than other brown ales. Redish brown color looks easy drinking. Looks pretty carbonated - bubbles are rising consistently as I drink.

S - The first thing I noticed, and it may be different for other reviewers, is a slight skuny smell as soon as I open the bottle. Not unpleasant like a heineken, but it's definitely there. Maybe it's this clear bottle...having it on tap I didn't notice the skunk. Again, it's not bad. Easily bareable. Beneath the skunk I'm picking up the tartness of the hops followed by some sweet roasty malt. The smell isn't very strong.

T - Mildly bitter with a sweeter malt presence. Bitterness lingers longer than I expected...don't remember that from other Browns.

O - I like this beer. It's crafty enough to enjoy, but light enough to session. As a homebrewer I can definitely see myself doing a clone as well as a flavored clone of this beer. Out of 100 I give it a 91.

Cheers to a nother one.

Stout

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 07:38:02 | More by StoutishDan

damndirtyape

Ohio

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

12oz bottle (batch stamp L003 59 13 31 01 X) poured into a Shaker pint glass.

Appearance: Deep coppery brown on table, coppery-orange-red when held up to the light. Barest foam across the top with no lacing. Nice color - disappointing foam and lacing.

Smell: Malty, sweet with some fruit-notes in there. Tiny bit of skunk as it warmed up.

Taste: Malt sweetness, tiny bit of grain, and then an English hop bitter finish. Simple straightforward beer.

Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, very English. Just a hair thicker than water.

Overall / Drinkability: Nicely drinkable, went well with a meal (Mushroom meatballs). I've had this many times over the years, but there has always been something "off" when I drank it all those other times (skunky, metallic, etc.). This time I suspect it was fresh enough to properly convey the flavor of this beer. Overall - just above average. Not deep in flavor, not complex, but a good steady beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 22:51:51 | More by damndirtyape

Moontang

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: this is quite an attractive beer. It had a clear red-brown colour, with a slow-dissipating head the colour of heavily-creamed coffee and a nice, high-density lacing pattern.

Smell: acrid, smoky, and quite bitter, whatever sign of malt is quite well-done. Not to my taste.

Mouthfeel: thick side of medium, not too fizzy, quite nice.

Taste: it tastes darker than it looks, which surprised me at first, strong hoppy foretaste with a clear, sweet and acidic finish.

Drinkability: this isn't a beer I would seek out, but it's not too bad, and it got me pleasantly buzzed, even accompanying a ribeye and potatoes. The flavour is manageable, in that it at least has one.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 23:16:00 | More by Moontang

dhannes

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank cold from a bottle straight out of the cooler.

A=Rich, inviting medium reddish brown.

S=Could not detect any.

T=Slightly robust maltiness with some sweetness, but very light in taste.

M=Below average body; rather lightly carbonated, rather drinkable.

O=I had low expectations for this beer based on others' reviews and, while better than I had anticipated, was still left hoping for more. To me, browns should be robust and packed with malted flavor...this was just not present here.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 00:24:03 | More by dhannes

Melving

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a great beer if you like bitterness of a dark beer but don't mind a bit of sweetness as well. Feels like a well deserved treat that should be earned rather than bought. Definitively choose tap over bottle, feels like every bottle I've had tends to leave the taste of the cap in my mouth. Nevertheless a great beer!

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 20:54:20 | More by Melving

maclean25

British Columbia (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Bought this on a whim. I've always seen in and tried it once about 10 years ago but I couldn't remember if I liked it or not.

It comes in a clear bottle so the colour is no surprise. The body is clear and on the yellow side of brown. There is a good amount of head (maybe two fingers) which is beige to brown. The aroma is heavy on the malt. I smell mostly cereal grains and bread, maybe a hint of peanut butter. The taste is light and not complex at all. To me it tastes like caramel and ash. It definitely has a buttery taste that seems to coat the tongue which is probably responsible for making it taste light. There is a hops sensation in the aftertaste. I find it has a medium body and appropriate carbonation. Overall, I'm somewhat disappointed in the lack of taste. A brown ale could accomplish much more. Actually, it reminds me of a lager with a little more of a dull taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 03:53:08 | More by maclean25

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

this is one of those beer mysteries to me. how this product became world renowned is absurd. its average at best, lacking a lot of flavor, and being unsatisfactory in many ways. it pours the same as it looks in the clear bottle, thin and light brown with a small off white head. smells like english malts and caramel malts, but nothing assertive. just kind of smells like a beer. flavor is similarly bland. i much prefer robust brown ales, and this just isnt it. some sweeter malt flavor up front and a metallic taste on the back end. not real nice. mouthfeel is fine, fair carbonation and a drinkably medium body. overall though this beer is a constant let down. more flavor, more body, and more life are all necessary here. pass this one up if you can.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 20:54:30 | More by StonedTrippin

cervezango

Bolivia

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

redish dark brown lots of head.

smells like pine sol, and malty

slight chemically/copper penny taste with some sweet maltiness cream,butter,a lttle smoke.

watery with some hops in the after taste, not much.

adecent ale, not the best youll find at an off license in england,but very drinkable and pleasant

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 14:56:38 | More by cervezango

dansmcd

Australia

2.75/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - Like like dark ginger beer, half a second of fizzy head and just a highly active effervescent brown liquid remains.

S - Some light sweet caramel, but more corn coming through.

T - Fairly bland overall, sort of a weak sweet caramel and light chocolate. Could be a LOT better if it wasnt so watered down, because the flavours are complimentary.

M - Highly carbonated, thin body, adjunct lager like. Just wrong for a brown ale.

O - I thought this stuff was alright a few years ago. Before I discovered proper beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 03:31:27 | More by dansmcd

joecalderoni

Texas

2.83/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: very tan dark brown color with a nice head

S: little caramel nutty aroma but almost non existent! Little diacetyl aroma on the back

T: slight caramel/ crystal malts, bit of nutty taste! Slight diacetyl taste!

M: medium body

O: i bet it can be better, its an imported beer so i dont know how old it is but it is a bit weird, i would have to try a fresh one!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 18:22:57 | More by joecalderoni