Newcastle Werewolf - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has an amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is strong with caramel and malts. Taste is mild compared to the smell. Some malts and caramel, a hint of hops are present, kind of light. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 12:25:43 | More by tone77

bourbonbock

New York

3.08/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured a 12 oz bottle of this beast into a clean pint glass.

A. Perfectly clear with a deep garnet red body topped with a finger or two of fluffy white head.

S. Funky magic hat like yeast aroma and when smelled more closely gently floral hop bouquet.

T. The flavor on this is very earthy and mineral-ly with a nuttiness and sweet background.

M. Light but tangy on the sides of the tongue. Very prominent aftertaste.

I'm glad I tried this but I don't think I will ever buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 20:58:28 | More by bourbonbock

hustlesworth

Ohio

2.65/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.75

A- definitely not blood red like the label states, but a clear dirty copper color with a puffy beige head. Foam becomes wispy as it settles and leaves fine threads of lace.

S- mineral water and chocolate with some toasty hazelnut toffee and caramel as well. Tea like hops. Cashew brittle.

T- sweet and nutty with a sense of hazelnut. Not really picking up any of the rye malt. Toasted grains and caramel with a hint of soil, stone, and red berries. Mild chocolate and grassy hops in the finish.

MF- medium bodied and slick. Leaves a strange "artificial" feeling on the cheeks. Carbonation is tame and felt mostly on the tip of the tongue.

D- this is an odd one. Probably my least favorite out of newcastle's seasonal line.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:55:32 | More by hustlesworth

UnderPressure

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Deep copper colored with a diminishing creamy head. Some lacing.

Toasted malt upfront in the aroma. Grainy and sweet.

More of the same in the flavor, with a slightly metallic, bitterness. The bitterness lingers for a while, but the malty sweetness does not.

Light bodied. Almost to the point of emptiness. Carbonation is a little too sharp for my taste. An everlasting dry, bitter finish.

Nothing crazy here. A decent amber/red ale. I might buy some more next year, but it's not one I will highly anticipate.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 13:34:04 | More by UnderPressure

Amalak

New York

3.3/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A. It has a big foamy white head which leaves some lacing behind. It has a dark mahogany color. It is just barely see-through. I don't see any bubbles.

S. A malty and caramel scent. Much like a regular Newcastle.

T/M. It has a strong grape malt taste. It is extremely smooth. A bit dry and light bodied. A hint of a celery taste underneath, but it is just mainly a malty beer.

O. It's a bit bland, but it is very easy to drink and is very smooth. Just meh, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:05:23 | More by Amalak

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I found this one for a dollar at my House of 1,000 beers. Poured into a pint glass.

A - A head that never seems to quick with pretty sweet lacing. Color is not of a "blood red" more of a dark amber brown.
S - Mild skunky lager yeast meets some sweet caramel malts and a touch of biscuit.
T - I get some sweeter malts pushing more toward the flavoring of vanilla or caramel and some mild skunked hops in a lager style finish with some toasted bread. Not bad for a "sessional"
M - Light to medium on par with the style.
Overall I have had better Irish Red ales but anything is worth trying for a buck.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:46:50 | More by DrDemento456

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.33/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Off-white head, high retention, suddsy lacing on a deep copper, clear body. Aroma includes caramel malts, slight hop bitterness, slight brown sugar sweetness note. Taste is also caramelly sweet and some hint of vanilla and brown sugar. Nothing off-putting, nothing too radical but a very tasty and easy to drink amber like ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 04:33:10 | More by KickbacksSteve

dacrza1

New Jersey

2.78/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Situation: Completed the holiday un-decorating...
Glassware: Rare Vos pint...
Appearance: quickly thinning off-white head to a pencil moustache...no lacing; body is dark orange and sparsely effervescent...
Aroma: buttery and malty, almost as a spirit with more potency--otherwise, much as a nut brown...
Palate: medium-bodied, thin and smooth--welcoming and simple...
Taste: slightly metallic, flat, malty and late hints of hops leave this beer oddly nondescript...
Overall: More of a chip/pretzel chaser than a stand-alone sessioon beer--not disappointing, but not upset by its "limited release" packaging either...

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 05:18:27 | More by dacrza1

Offa

California

3.69/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This is a fairly straightforward but very enjoyable red ale with some nicely balanced character.

Brownish red, it has a medium pale tan head steadily shrinking.

Aroma is pleasant, simple toasty barley, caramelised bread crust, hint of cherry and wood.

Taste is slightly winy toasty bread crust, barley, hints of wood, caramelised bread, lightly on the sweet side with light spicy-peppery wood bitterness and a dryish finish. It has a simple quality to it, but it is reasonably well-rounded and quite enjoyable, a good solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 00:34:02 | More by Offa

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

A dark copper and red appearance, plenty of brown in it, sturdy brown too, not the flimsy brown of their flagship brew. Aroma imparted some of that usual malt aroma from something described as an Irish red ale, it has that soggy wood and red ale thing going for it.

Taste, mild, smooth and red. Requisite mentions of toffee and caramel, a hop presence almost entirely devoid in the entire experience of consumption. English yeast is all over it. Its still got that trademark thinness of a Newcastle beer, although I tend to notice all their seasonals tend to be a little more robust that their brown ale, although still a little thin compared to other beers in the same style.

Overall, I found this to be rather bland and boring, but never bad. Pretty much fits the 'average' definition all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 18:14:44 | More by Beerandraiderfan

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

palatable, but it kinda sucks. the pour is nice enough, presenting itself as a dusty amber to copper bodied beer, with more than an inch of huge bubbled airy head. the nose is weak street, extracty malts that dont quite fit the red or the amber ticket, and have a not natural sort of sweetness. the flavor agrees, sweet throughout, with more of an irish malt flavor makign a short appearance in the middle, but with brown and residual weird sugar occupyaing the rest of the taste spectrum. i liked its relaxed feel, but i thought the carbonation wasnt quite forward enough, and the body felt heavy without it, where it might have otherwise been a rounded medium. the packaging was gimmicky, the beer tasted past its prime, and frankly it just didnt taste that good, or like what it purporter to be. not god awful, but you cand find something better on the shelf or in the cooler, trust me.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 05:28:13 | More by StonedTrippin

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this at Anthony's served chilled in a nonic.
The color is deep bronze/garnet with a translucent clarity and thin white cap.

The smell is very fruity with a plum aroma and currant vinous odor with slight spice and gentle dark grape acidity apparent in the nose

The feel is good w/ toasty texture and moderately carbonated with slight tinge of spice with mild earthy dry and moderate bitter finish. The taste is good with some roasted coffee nuttiness and light spice tinges with mild earthy notes and light woody aspect with yeasty flavor and mild tinge of pepper. The overall impression was a nice mix of flavors, but basic red ale with drinkable overall quality

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2012 17:19:34 | More by Slatetank

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ah, Fall. Time for Halloween-themed seasonal beers. I had not seen this one before and decided to try it out, as I am a fan of the Lupine horror films. Well, that and it was on sale.

Served in a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 4.0: Poured out an amber color, not "Blood Red" as advertised. Very nice 1/2 inch head that stuck around as creamy swirls on top and the sides.

-Smell 4.0: Interesting bouquet: I smell slight cinnamon hints with a big barley punch and then some hoppiness. Appetizing.

-Taste 4.0: Front is slightly sour, but has some nice barley hints. Middle is slightly spicy (must be the Rye) and has more slight sourness. Finish is short and dry and features some subdued but strangely assertive hops and more rye spiciness. Aftertaste is also short and dry and hits you with more of the barley/rye. Unusual and enjoyable.

-Mouthfeel 3.5: The level of carbonation in this brew really adds to the enjoyment of the beer.

-Overall 4.0: Very good beer that is worth a try. Would be a fantastic session beer as the under 5% ABV would allow you to enjoy several without changing into a creature of the night. I think ol' Larry Talbot himself would be proud. Now go howl at the moon... .

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 16:29:50 | More by BeerDocT

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.33/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

ST: 12oz poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear, reddish-brown with a half-a-fingernail white, fluffy head.

S: Toasty malt and very nutty.

T: Nutty, malty, a touch of blackberry with a hint of bitterness and alcohol. It leaves a mellow nutty flavor in the average finish.

M: Medium

O: A fair ale. It is mellow and pleasant; it would be easy to drink a six pack. It is a solid beer, but it isn't much more than that.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 20:53:29 | More by ianjsullivan

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I had this on tap at Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell, NJ. I like the specialized tap handle with a werewolf on it.

The coloring on this beer was light brown with about one finger of foam. The foam might have been higher, but I wasn't there for the pull.

The smell and flavor is very reminiscent of a stock Newcastle. You get a decent amount of nuttiness in the nose and body. The difference seems to be from additional euro hopping.

This is a decent beer. Nothing exceptional going on here and nothing done wrong.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 18:50:55 | More by ummswimmin

Treyliff

West Virginia

2.93/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- pours a dark copper, almost brown color with a small white fizzy head that reduces quickly with minimal lace.

S- right off I pickup concord grape juice, with a bit of earthy skunk and herbal notes, also some graham cracker. This ones all over the place.

T- moderate malt with notes of berries. Rye is prominent, finishes dry and bitter.

M- light-med body, medium carbonation, slightly foamy mouthfeel

O- this one was different, the flavores just seemed unbalanced to me. Worth trying, but not one I will go back to.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 04:04:31 | More by Treyliff

57md

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish brown (close, but not quite the color of coagulated blood) with two healthy fingers of head that retained for quite some time. There is definitely a wine nose to this offering. The wine in the nose comes through in the taste as well and the finish is dry. I am not sure if this is a red ale. In fact, I am not sure how this should be classified, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Had this at a Halloween party and it paired well with the superbly marinated grilled steak and chicken.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 05:23:09 | More by 57md

mnrider

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12. oz. Brown bottle. Blood Red Ale.

A: Pours a clear blood red. Small forming white head. No lacing.
Clumpy carbonation along the glass.

S: Earthy smoke like. Sweet Malts and a bit of a fruit aroma.

T/M: The rye malts are most dominant with a hit of hop bitterness.
Earthy some smokey caramel. Thick bodied and somewhat smooth.
The aftertaste is heavy and dry.

O: A pretty good middle of the road Red Ale. Malty with little else.
Not something I'd seek out again.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:15:01 | More by mnrider

fallopia

Indiana

2.18/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured from a chilled bottle into a footed ale glass.

Appearance: A pleasant, caramel-golden brown with a off-white creamy head that dissipates relatively quickly.

Smell: A fresh yeast smell with hints of rye and spices

Taste: Weak flavors of grains, pepper, and cloves with a cloying, bitter aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation and lighter body with a slight oily feeling

Overall, the appearance and aroma set up expectations that the taste couldn't back up. A poor substitute to the standard Newcastle Brown Ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 01:33:43 | More by fallopia

CMUbrew

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass

A: Pours with a decent white head, but it fades into a small ring very quickly. The body is a clear, dark copper color.

S: Earthy hoppiness is about all I get.

T: Some light earthy hops and tannic tea flavors. Seems like it sticks to style. Thin flavors overall though.

M: Light bodied and a little bit watery. Carbonation is fine. Slightly drying finish.

O: This beer seems to follow style, but in a pretty weak way.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 04:04:51 | More by CMUbrew

Vashtar

Texas

3.4/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Caramelized malt, chocolate and vanilla. It tastes like a nice dessert beer.

Clear medium-dark brown. Not much lacing or head retention

Smells really sweet and vanilla. A bit offensive for a beer.

The mouthfeel is thick and slow

Overall, it's a nice beer for a casual/fun party

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:27:56 | More by Vashtar

Phocion

Minnesota

2.48/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle poured into a shaker pint. Medium-dark copper body with a thick but fairly unretentive frothy beige head. Light lacing.

Aroma is thick toffee and caramel. Spicy rye adds a nice touch. Grassy hops and a bit nutty, with a touch of toasted and roasted malts.

The flavor is a combination of burnt and toffee notes. Grassy hops, somewhat astringent. Burnt/bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

Thin and well-carbonated. Slick, oily mouthfeel.

I had heard less than flattering things about this beer, but decided to pick one up in a mixed 6-pack to see for myself. The aroma actually temporarily got my hopes up; it had a lot going on and the rye really added to it. However, this illusion faded after the first swallow. This is not a particularly pleasant beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 18:30:54 | More by Phocion

BryanCarey

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Newcastle Werewolf Ale pours to a copper/red color with a subdued, earthy aroma that offers some hints of caramelized malt and a touch of chocolate and vanilla. There is a modest to low level of foam that dissipates to a thin layer in a short time.

Newcastle Werewolf Ale offers flavors of bread, caramel, grains, rye, nuts, some herbs, and a little bit of dark fruit. The tasting experience ends with a slight bitterness, but it doesn’t last long, returning quickly to the flavor of sweet malt.

Newcastle Werewolf is fall seasonal, limited edition beer brewed and sold with the cooler temperatures of fall in mind. It is classified as an Irish red ale and it is one of those beers that is very middle of the road, but in a mostly good way. I doubt anyone out there will find this beer offensive or turn it down, but I also doubt that many will be wowed by the experience. The flavor is a little too subdued to be taken completely seriously by the craft beer crowd, but at the same time, it has enough flavor going for it to make it worthy of a sample.

Newcastle’s brown ale is the beer that made it popular and like the brown ale, this one is very middle of the road overall. It isn’t anything amazing, but most who try it will find it good enough to recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 02:06:47 | More by BryanCarey

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Newcastle Werewolf

Look: Reddish copper colored ale. Excellent clarity and vibrant hue. White head forms and recedes to the edges.

Smell: Notes of barley, caramel, toffee and floral hops round out the nose.

Taste: Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, brown sugar, nuts and chocolate are all present on the palate; a testament of a finely malted brew. A touch of mildly acidic, grassy, lemony hop is also employed. Malt forward, with a fine balance.

Feel: Light to medium bodied, well carbonated, with malt and a kiss of hops lingering into the finish.

Overall: A fine malty session ale. Plenty of flavor and easily drinkable. This is the kind of brew you can drink for hours at a pub and not get into too much trouble. Would be a fine companion for a steak and potatoes type meal.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 00:37:17 | More by Stinkypuss

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Following a disappointing experience with Newcastle's Founder's Ale, I wasn't sure of what to expect from their "Werewolf Blood Red Ale", other than a gimmicky beer for Halloween. I'd bought an entire case of the Founder's Ale hoping for the best, but this time opted for a single serving to test the waters. Fortunately, I found the Werewolf to be a much better beer all around.

It was similar in a way to the Founder's, although darker in color, with a nice bit of caramel and toast, and some underlying roasted notes. Actually, now that I think about it, it was more like a variation of their Newcastle Brown! The hops were grassy and gently floral, with just enough to give it some character, and there was a pleasant berry-like fruitiness threaded through the bready maltiness that kept coming and going, but always lingering in the finish. Unlike their Founder's Ale, it wasn't an unbalanced assault of bitterness atop sweet maltiness, but rather a focused combination. That's not to say that it didn't have a bitter side, because it was quite firm, but it never stepped beyond the limitations that the malt could offer to balance it.

Overall it was a pleasant ale with enough character to keep it interesting beyond a single serving, but also accessible enough for most anyone accustomed to a fuller flavored ale with a bit of bite. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 14:46:30 | More by NeroFiddled