Newcastle Werewolf - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

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

armock

New York

2.65/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from Savemart in Manteca, CA

A - Poured a mahogany color with a tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Has a slightly sweet caramel toffee nose

T - Some caramel malt with a bad grainy malt flavor that just isn't working for me

M - This beer has a thin watery body with medium carbonation to it

O - This isn't a beer that I'll be buying again good for a tick but bad in the flavor department I think this stuff is worse than the original save your money and get something else

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 23:31:36 | More by armock

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

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

puboflyons

New Hampshire

2.9/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From a 12 fl. oz. bottle marked 30-06-L158-59-2I.Sampled on August 17, 2012.

It becomes a reddish amber in the glass with reasonable clarity and a small off-white head that sticks together as a ring.

Caramel malts are noted at first followed by a strange peanut butter character and slightly crisp hop note.

The body was thin and astringent.

The taste begins with a weak caramel malt note and then it becomes peanut butter again with a low to moderate bitterness capping it off.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:03:42 | More by puboflyons

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.58/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a BrewDog cervoise glass. No date, but this one is probably pretty old...I bought it for $5/6-pack about three months ago.

A: Substantial, bubbly head (three fingers). The beer is not quite blood-red, but is red-gold. Clear, with good lacing.

S: Bright berries and bready malts. Lightly sour, lightly dry.

T: Much the same as the smell, but with the addition of chocolatey dryness at the endtaste. Berry sweetness combined with the relatively thin body and understated carbonation makes this taste a little bit like raspberry lemonade. Then the drying malt and subtle hops remind me that this is definitely an ale, and a pretty good one at that.

O: I like it, especially for the price. Nothing that's going to knock your socks off, but a solid beer, and a damn sight preferable to Newcastle Brown.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 04:30:47 | More by AgentMunky

chinchill

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle served in a Sam Adams lager glass.

A: Reddish mahogany color with a very durable tan head that leaves a nice coat on the glass when tilted: Not “blood red” but still a fine looking pour.

S: A rather earthy and slightly musty aroma, suggestive of dark breads, is a somewhat poor preview of the flavor. Tasting reveals a clear presence of some earthy hops, but these are also spicy and overlay a solid, roasted malt base with some nice rye flavor. Decent aftertaste with a nice notes of spicy rye and dark roasted malts.

M: crisp and lively with rather aggressive carbonation. Medium body. Semi-dry finish

O: good session beer: it has some complexity, no annoying off-flavors, decent mouthfeel, limited ABV, and relatively low price. The most interesting and appealing Newcastle beer in my experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:41:57 | More by chinchill

JayQue

Virginia

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

Much better than regular Newcastle. Not as sweet and cloying. Poured a clear copper color with a reddish tint into a pint glass. Nice size white head, good retention (all the way to the end of the drink) and good lacing. A good looking beer. Aroma is mild maltiness.

Taste is malty, some caramel, some earthy tones and a little floral aspect. Some balancing grassy hops. Mouthfeel is crisp, no annoying sweetness or weird aftertastes. Goes down easy, a nice mild malty beer with most of the flavor coming out as the beer warms.

Would be a nice session beer, would like to try it on cask or on tap sometime. A big improvement over the more well known Newcastle.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 00:24:31 | More by JayQue

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

yesyouam

New York

2.13/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Newcastle Werewolf is a crystal clear amber ale topped with a bubbly, white foam that leaves nice lacing. It smells sweet and syrupy with herbal, root beer-like notes. It smells warm. Light bodied and a bit watery, it leaves the tongue a bit raw. Let's address this poisonous taste. Is that fusel? It tastes like fusel and flatulence. There's a touch of candy sweetness and a touch of juniper bitterness, but it's still pretty much fart water.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 18:20:45 | More by yesyouam

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.58/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance –Pours a light brown color with a billowy two finger off white head. The head has very nice retention but fades over time to give a good level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is sweet and roasted. It has a nice dark fruit aroma of cherry and some caramel as well as a roasted malt smell.

Taste – The taste starts roasty. There is a lighter sweetness associated with the front of the taste. The sweetness is mainly of a caramel nature. As the taste advances some roasty and bitter hop flavors come to the tongue and diminish some of the sweetness. While the sweetness is overall lessened, some light dark fruit flavors come to the tongue. In the end a rather smooth and moderately roasty flavor is left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thinner side with a carbonation level that is rather average. A bit of a heavier body may have suited the flavor profile a bit better, but for the abv at 4.5% and the moderate carbonation it did make it more refreshing.

Overall – A very nice affordable and good session brown ale. It had a good flavor as well being rather refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 00:48:41 | More by Darkmagus82

jjanega08

Minnesota

2.05/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

No freshness date on it but I will note that the bottle says blood red ale not english brown...

A= Pours a dark amber to brown color when held to the light it is clearly an amber color with a small head on it that is bright white and holds some retention but not much. The lacing is minimal.

S= Smells like a buiscuty toasty amber. There is actually a little alcohol in the nose despite the low alcohol.

T= The taste is big on the alcohol! What the hell is going on here. It tastes like a shot of vodka. A little buiscuit and toast but a lot of vodka.

M= An ideal amount of carbonation

O= What the hell is going on here. Did they accidentally bottle booze or is this beer. This is the worst tasting beer I've had in a long long time.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 01:53:19 | More by jjanega08

shand

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a nonic.

Newcastle Werewolf pours a brown-red color with a finger of head. Wet grain and earthy malts come through on the nose, with a touch of fruitiness. The taste is pretty good, it's got some fruitiness until the rye starts to cut through. The finish brings back the fruity flavor with a touch of the rye and some grain. The mouthfeel is lightly carbonated and drying, and the drinkability is good. Overall, this is pretty much the definition of good. There's nothing wrong with this beer, it tastes good, but there's absolutely no wow aspect here.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 00:14:46 | More by shand

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Jimmy the Greek's, Old Orchard Beach, ME:

In a pint glass:

A: dark brown colored body yet had some clear maroon edges. A one finger off white head that died immediately into the body. No carbonation was seen rising and no lacing was left around the pint glass.

S: bready with a fruity sort of malt

T: fruity malt coming back fairly strong yet still had a decent roasty flavor.

M: light to medium and was mostly smooth. It was mostly drinkable.

O: this is a pretty good beer, good for me, good for the style. I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:55:29 | More by kangarooAdam59

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.2/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Newcastle Werewolf has a medium, cream-colored head and a clear, bubbly, copper appearance with a decent amount of lacing left behind. The aroma is odd: slightly-turned brown bread and berries. The flavor is of brown bread, a little bit of sweetness, some bitterness, and pecan shell. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Newcastle Werewolf finishes easy-going, drinkable, and dull. There is not much too this beer, sadly. I rate it just average. Try it, and see what you think.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 14:46:38 | More by RonaldTheriot

secondtooth

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an elegant amber, with strong ruby tones. Excellent suds and beautiful, detailed, intricate lacing.

Aroma is enticing -- slightly roasty and malty, with a tinge of fruit and Fall spice.

Taste is nice, with a little tart fruitiness up front, followed by a definite rye-grain flavor, and a bit of a bitter followthrough.

A very solid and enjoyable brew from Newcastle, and probably my favorite of their expanding lineup.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 22:28:13 | More by secondtooth

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

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.7/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a wide flute glass. Dark red color with a solid finger of head.
Rich smell of wet grain and ripe dark fruit.
Watery taste overall; bitterness tries to come out but fails. Meh.
Crisp texture, medium body with moderate carbonation.
It wants to be bold and flavorful, but it just doesn't happen. But it doesn't taste bad, just not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 19:48:49 | More by Fatehunter

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

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

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

bump8628

Oklahoma

3.4/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up two 12oz bottles just because sometimes it's nice to fill up my Imperial pint with something from across the Atlantic. There is a serious dearth of British beers here. Pours copper red, thin khaki head. Lightly toasted with a metallic caramel note. Minimal herbal hop flavor. Dry and clean, lacks the supporting fruity yeast notes of better British beers. Eh, it's okay. More reasonably priced English beers, please!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 16:35:47 | More by bump8628

rangerred

Tennessee

2.98/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear reddish brown with a thin fizzy head. No head retention or lacing at all.

Aroma of caramel, toffee, and dark fruits. A little noble hop characteristic as well.

The flavor has toasted malt and dark fruit. There is also some caramel and toffee. Kind of like regular newcastle with more roast and chocolate. Bitterness is quite light. The mouthfeel really was a let down on this beer as it is way too carbonated, almost like a soda.

Overall, I like regular Newcastle way better. The flavor profile is decent but the carbonation just throws it off. Not something I will pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:53:31 | More by rangerred

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Dark rudy tan with red tint, nice creamy 2 inch head and plenty of lacing.

Smell - Malts, sugars, a little caramel and very light hop profile. Not much else.

Taste - Very malt forward, almost a smoked flavor mixed with caramel, butter and grain. A little rye mixed with some hops at the finish.

Mouthfeel - Malts coat mouth with the caramel and smoked flavors. Palate gets the spices and minor hops. Aftertaste is malty, bitter and buttery.

Overall - Not to bad, lots of malts and a little rye kick. Low alcohol makes this easy to enjoy a few. Worth a drink in the fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 23:36:01 | More by wvsabbath