Newcastle Werewolf - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear reddish brown with a 2 inch puffy light tan head that settles to a small cap. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of a dark bread that is baked with berries in the dough. Taste is of malt, slight berries, and a bitter hop flavor on the finish. The bitterness is fleeting on the tongue. A lower level of carbonation with a smooth mouthfeel and a slight crispness. Overall, this is a pretty good brown ale from the Newcastle brand. I had never seen this one before so I picked up a single to try but I wouldn't get this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 00:05:27 | More by UCLABrewN84

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a stein glass.

Look – red/coppery color, clear, with about a finger and a half’s worth of off-white colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly.

Smell – fairly malty. I can somewhat smell the rye, but I can’t pick out the other smells. But the aroma is fairly nice and floral.

Taste – well-textured taste, and again, the rye taste is noticeable but mostly because it tastes different. There’s a hint of bitterness in the finish and aftertaste, but mostly it’s fairly sweet.

Mouthfeel – pretty well-balanced, but leans just a little more toward the watery side.

Overall – very good brew, with an interesting taste and easily acceptable/approachable quality.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 16:04:22 | More by Nerudamann

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

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

Pours medium copper with a cream-colored skim of a head that does not last. Spotty lacing.

Really needs to have no head to get the aroma. Light sugars, caramel, some earthy notes. Lean here, but sugar dominates.

Slight sweetness leading to a boiled grain sourness and toasted malt. Slight caramel and light bitterness. Earth and slight cocoa touches. Has a bit of spice snap from the rye malt. Astringency cleans the palate too soon and you are left with with nothing but very light malt and bitterness on the palate.

Medium-bodied with alot of pucker. Good tingle on the tongue.

I'm on the fence about this one. Listed as an english brown, but this is clearly more of a rye brew. Dried out, spicy grain, bitter snap. But then they sugared it a bit. Just enough to affect it negatively. What's good works, what doesn't is a huge distraction.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 03:44:21 | More by OtherShoe2

womencantsail

California

2.3/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: The pour is a clear light brown color with a finger of off-white head.

S: A surprisingly roasty aroma. Lots of toasted malts with a definite nuttiness (though the nuts seem somewhat burnt). Light grass aromas with some hints of toffee. There is a bit of a butter note, however.

T: Caramel, toffee, and lots of roasted malt. It's quite bitter and quite buttery. Lightly fruity (raisins, perhaps) with a definite grass flavor. Really not a good combination on the palate.

M: Very light in body, in fact, watery, with medium carbonation.

O: The nose started off okay, but once the butter crept in, it was all over.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 05:05:15 | More by womencantsail

flexabull

California

3.05/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A bottle that my cousin offered me. I was hoping it would be better than the Newcastle Summer which I thought was not very good.

Pours a dark amber, almost brown color with a decent off white head.

Aromas are kind of grassy, caramel like, and bready. A little odd, but not offensive.

Taste is kind of sweet up front, with some brewed tea, creamy malts, and bread dough. Finish is fleeting, with subtle hints of mineral hops.

Mouthfeel is decent, fairly full, with pretty good carbonation.

Overall, this is OK. It's certainly better than the Newcastle Summer Beer, but that's not saying a whole lot...

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 20:53:11 | More by flexabull

scottfrie

California

2.48/5  rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into Portsmouth snifter.
A: Pours a deep wooden amber with a couple fingers of greasy dark tan head that took its time fading into a thick film that left a sheet of fuzzy lacing down the glass.
S: Not sure what to make of this one. It smells like a bunch of old leaves and sticks tossed together with something sour.
T: There’s a strange caramel-like sweetness mixed in with a bunch of sticks and spices. There is also a bit of bitter hops and bready crust malt. I get a splash of cherry juice in the finish as well. Finish is watery, and the aftertaste is sour.
M: Medium-thin body with fuzzy carbonation and a slick mouthfeel that finishes dry.
O: Definitely not a fan of this one. Not that the original is a great beer, but I would take that over this anyday.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 19:51:19 | More by scottfrie

pdoran10

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Newcastle Werewolf pours out a medium brown color into a pint glass. There is a half a finger of head that fades quickly and leaves no lacing.

Smell is slight earthy grain and a hint of chocolate malt.

The taste on this is a subdued chocolate note with light roasted bread flavor. Really not much going on here. A bit watered down on the palate. Solid but unimpressive.

Mouthfeel is thin with low carbonation. I suppose it's not far off on carbonation for style, but this beer is very watery.

Overall a decent offering. Solid, but unspectacular brown ale. The label is a bit misleading with its claims of a blood red ale, but oh well.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 06:41:49 | More by pdoran10

hoppyweasel311

California

2.83/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Was excited to see this one.. but again Newcastle has let me down again... On the bottle it says "Blood red ale".. it pours a reddish-brown color.. smells a little funky... way too carbonated for my liking. This beer is a step up from their summer ale which was just gross. I wish I could find 6 packs of this.. all they had was a 12.. so I have 11 of these boring beers taking up room in my beer fridge.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 22:55:40 | More by hoppyweasel311

mikechance

California

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

Pours to a faint rust color, but not the deep red promised --- has about quarter inch head. Malts and berries in the nose. Definately pickup the berries in the taste --- slightly bitter and sour in the aftertaste. Overall a decent beer and easy to drink --- works well in Sacramento where the fall is mostly 90+ degrees.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 20:09:01 | More by mikechance

KajII

North Carolina

2.9/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Dimpled Mug]

It poured a sparkling clear medium brown with some red highlights and a head that was just a shade off of white, mostly lasting and was rather large and foamy thus producing some really good lacing.

The aroma was strong of a toasted malt, a mild spruce hop and a cobweb scented yeast with a mild hint of caramel and dried berries.

The taste was very malty with a hint of caramel from the onset with the finish being about the same with mild bitterness and a slight fruitiness at the end. The flavor was short lived which was sort of disappointing as it may have made all the difference in the enjoyment of this brew.

Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a very lively carbonation.

Overall a light refreshing brew, good if you want to have more than a few but nothing overly special.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 17:41:40 | More by KajII

DarthKostrizer

California

3.45/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Look: Reddish brown not quite sure it's blook red like it says it is but maybe. 1/4 inch head and no retention

Smell: Very funky caramel and roasted malts has a bit of dark red fruit smell to it

Taste: Um am I missing something here?? Oh yeah the taste there is the slightest traces of caramel berries and honey

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with high carbonation

Overall: Boring taste and too much carbonation, dont think I need to say anymore

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 22:18:30 | More by DarthKostrizer

sergio1va

California

4.22/5  rDev +31.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a brownish red with a beige head. The front taste of this beer is a well balance of malts. The ending taste highlights the bitterness described on its label. Bitterness is not too overwhelming and appears balanced enough to enjoy several bottles of this brew. The mouthfeel is of a dry feel with a hoppy aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 07:05:00 | More by sergio1va

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a twelver while on vacation here in Duck. I was a little disappointed at first, as I found it similar but lacking compared to the classic Newcastle Brown. It has grown on me as the week has gone on.

The appearance is darker than their flagship, but familiar in many ways. The head is big and impressive but doesn't last very long. Nose is sweet caramel with toffee and molasses tones.

The taste is rich and finishes sweet and malty but evens out a bit in the aftertaste. Satisfying but not better than good. I do taste some mass produced qualities and the texture is a little watery.

I don't regret trying it but this isn't something that will be part of my regular rotation in the fall, not with a the fests and pumpkins that will be available.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 02:48:59 | More by daliandragon

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

3.35/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Beer poured a ruby red with a huge, frothy off white head. Lacing present throughout the life of the beer.

Smell: Nice malty aroma with the sweet hint of berries and a nice slight grassiness. Dominate aroma of bread and yeast.

Taste: Strong malty flavor with hints of berry, bread and yeast. Slight metallic hint which disappears as the beer warms up. Slight bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium high carbonation.

Overall: Not a bad brew. Great for those crisp falls. I wish it hadn't released so early(July) and wished we would see it here in New Orleans but I don't think we will.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 17:47:42 | More by Beerbuddha

oberon

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A new fall offering from Newcastle that I hadnt heard of or saw before.Poured a brilliant deep ruby infused brown with a thick creamy off white head atop,the head settles slowly leaving multiple rings of lace as it did.Big fruity esters along with caramel biscuit malt,the rye doesnt seem to come thru but the aromas are deeply malty and somewhat complex.Full on English malt flavors with fruit and biscuit flavors,the rye adds a little acidic zing in the finish.I admit Iam surprised at how good this beer was,the malt complexity really stands out.

The fall seasonals are coming out way to early in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 01:08:22 | More by oberon

wolf1297

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought at the local grocery store.

Poured from bottle to standard pint glass.

A- Deep red to mild brown color. Nice head.

S - mild fruity notes

T - the bitter notes really jump out early in the taste. As the beer lingers on the tongue, the malty taste comes out. The rye was not as evident as I continued drinking the beer.

M - as other reviews have noted, the carbonation was rather high. Overall, a pleasant feel.

O - a good, low risk ale. The taste from the bottled version is good. I am certain that a draught version would be even better.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 02:01:21 | More by wolf1297

justinjj1280

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw this as a single at my local liquor store today. Newcastle Brown was a gateway beer for me, and a go-to beer before I got heavily into craft. My last few experiences with it have been mediocre, but I was intrigued to see a new offering from them on the shelf, so I had to pick it up.

Pours a deep, transparent amber to red with an off-white somewhat creamy head that retains well. Fair amount of lacing.

Right away, it smells of berries and bready malt, nothing that blows you away, but it is pleasant.

Rye malt and berries are prevalent in the flavor. There isn't as much bitterness as the bottle said to expect, just enough to make it balanced.

It's smooth in the mouth, starts off creamy, then seems to dry a bit and finish more crisp. Very drinkable.

Enjoyed this one. It's a bit of a nostalgia trip that takes me back to a time when Newcastle tasted (to me) like a top-notch beer. I would welcome this every fall (it's a fall beer I'm drinking in late summer) or even year-round, and would be happy to buy a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 01:00:24 | More by justinjj1280

aelthwin

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a weizen glass from the bottle

The packaging says it's blood red, and holding it up to daylight I agree (holding it up to flourescent light, maybe not). The color is deep and beautiful.

Mouthfeel was great, except it was a little more carbonated than I prefer.

The head was about three-quarter inch, nice and dense...

The taste is great. Starts out with a mellow english brown and moves into a nice bitter with slightly chocolate overtones.

All in all, one of the best beers I've had this summer.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 16:33:35 | More by aelthwin

Zorro

California

3.45/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the bottle: "What better way to toast the fall than to have a bottle of this formidable, dual character brew. At first, smooth with mellow overtones of sweet berry fruit, a bite of bitterness suddenly cuts through, long, deep and lingering. Brewed with rye malt, it is naturally ‘blood red’ in color. Unlike the mythical wolf-like creature said to roam the bleak moorland surrounding Newcastle, this is real, so consider yourself warned!"

Despite what the bottle says we have clear light brown colored ale with a healthy white colored head. It isn't "Blood Red" by any measure of the color red and or bloody. You might be able to call this color red but there is no such thing as "English Red Ale."

Smell is strongly malty with a hefty aroma of yeast and bread. Lesser scents of butter and grass with a fairly strong Rye aroma. Very mild herbal hop aroma but this is a malt beer not a hop beer.

Starts out malty with a strong berries and yeast flavor. Quite a bit fruitier than Newcastle Brown Ale, strong flavor of BPA yeast. Mildly sweet with medium bitterness level, this might fit the classification of a Bitter a little bit. Taste fairly buttery near the end of the glass.

Mouthfeel is Medium with a high level of carbonation.

Overall this is a nicely drinkable ale. One thing I would change is back the carbonation level down a notch.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 01:18:03 | More by Zorro