Newcastle Founders' Ale - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

flagmantho

Washington

3.78/5  rDev +16%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich golden hue with a haze-free body and a pretty strong effervescence. Head is a half-finger of creamy ivory foam. Not bad!

Smell: subdued malty aroma with a fair helping of caramel character. A bit light, but nice.

Taste: nice caramel-malt flavor with a light but present bitterness; it's definitely tipped more to the malty side of the spectrum. This beer is almost a caramel mild in its lightness and balance. Still, the overall effect is working for me.

Mouthfeel: light body with a big carbonation and a unexpectedly robust and satisfying creaminess. I'm quite pleasantly surprised!

Overall: this beer just rubs me the right way. It's light but balanced, sweet but not cloying, and really quite satisfying. I would be glad to quaff gobs of it.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 19:03:57 | More by flagmantho

yodagruv

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: coppery amber, pretty clear, head was less than 1/4", don't know if it was a little old or if that's just its style.

S: biscuity, malty, less intense than Newkie Brown.

T: malty, earthy, simple, drinkable, biscuity at the end, slightly dry finish.

M: A little heavier than a tea, slippery

O: May be a bit easier on the American drinker than the Brown offering. I read that the original Newcastle Brown was considered a failure by the formulator because he he'd been attempting to recreate Bass Pale Ale. This is much closer to Bass but I'd say a smidge mellower.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:38:59 | More by yodagruv

hackmann

Michigan

2.9/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

On the bottle: “Founders’ is a pale ale with a dry hoppy flavour and aroma. It is sweet rather than bitter, with a clean short finish.”

Appearance: shiny crystal copper body with a thin eggshell colored head that leaves very little lacing

Aroma: clean aroma, dry white toast, not much else

Flavors: okay, I’ll buy their description ‘dry hoppy flavour’ – a light grassy dry hops, light caramel, toasted white bread

Mouthfeel: Yes it is clean and short on the aftertaste, moderate carbonation,

To the Point: they are correct and honest in their description. How many times a company says, ‘full bodied, big time hops or malts, triple hopped’ … sure, sure, sure … you buy it and try it and it tastes light bodied and thin on the flavor side.

If you want simple, fairly clean, light on the flavors, easy to drink, and personally it is not that bad tasting.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:59:37 | More by hackmann

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle > Winter Lager Glass

A - Pours a dark gold/light amber color, with half a finger of head, medium lacing.
S - Some baking flour, lager yeast, floral hops, and a little fresh cut grass.
T - This tastes and drinks much more like a lager than a pale ale, with just a few more hops, and some light fresh baked bread kinda malt.
M - Clean and smooth, nice finish for refreshment.
O - While not the worst, this is decently sessionable with some moderate flavors that make for a good hoppy lager, but its far off from a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:10:54 | More by Omnium

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a half finger of head on a clear, dark copper colored body.
The aroma is a good, if faint, grain and malt smell.
The taste is fairly bland. A touch of sweetness.
The texture is too fizzy with a crisp texture.
At 4.8% and no real flavor you could go to town on these and not be offended.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 06:17:45 | More by Fatehunter

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Light copper color. Beautifully crystal. Hefty bone collar of a finger and a half. Laces with oily foam stick.

Lightly toasty and very floral. Some harvest fruit and an ester reminiscent of tutti frutti. Fresh and minty nose. The hops that carry that are of that disposition.

Weaker in the flavor, after a very mild aroma. Steeped grains gather some sweeter notes alongside that light toast. A little soapy, too. Herbal hops have a spearmint freshness. Almost a note of cilantro. Somewhat grassy. Faint artificial peach.

Lightly carbonated. Hard to conjure up a burp. Reasonably easy to take down. The body is not particularly smooth, but it's at the right viscosity.

Newcastle is not where to turn for an authentic and delicious session pale. Look elsewhere. This one misses the mark.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 13:33:52 | More by thecheapies

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

A blighty good brew the bottle says... Well its certainly an "ok" one...

Appearance: Quite bright, almost florescent straw color with a hint of caramel. Not much head going on but there seems to be some nice lacing an a halo of foam around the meniscus.

Smell: Straight forward, simple and understated. Gently hopped with what I presume is traditional English bittering hops. Good malt balance. Slight metallic note but nothing truly off putting.

Taste: Pretty well balanced but unremarkable. No off flavours really. This would be very drinkable stuff.

Mouthfeel: Nicely carbonated, and nice bitter finish

Overall: Not great, but decent. A good addition to their excellent and world famous brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:37:11 | More by uno99

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.24/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Not expecting much from this one... indiscernible dating code on it

Pours an effervescent amber with a thumb+ of cream colored head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Pears & jammy notes,

T: Follows the nose,a touch of diacetyl & faint leafy hops. Slight sulphuric notes mix in with ever so faint leafy & mineral hoppyness, plus cardboard & a wisp of pear flavor as this warms. Finishes dry, fruitty & sulphury; finished stronger than it started

MF: Light bodied, fairly firm carbonation, gets even thinner as this warms

An average example of the style, muted hop profile, alright drinkability. Got better as it warmed past cellar temp, but not enough to redeem it

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:32:14 | More by russpowell

smiga

New Jersey

2.96/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Like other reviewers this beer gets slightly better as it warms. And even with one glass tasting notes could be all over the map but never up and to the right.

A- Nice color, but the head doesn't last. 2nd try did lace well. Lots of large bubbles in fast fade head. Lots of bubbles in the body.

S- Smells sweet and malty. Not much going on. A little industrial stink, a touch staleness.

T- Thin. Better taste than smell. changes over time and temperature. Malt mostly, a bit of tingle, feel the bubbles, but not much hops. Better than their brown ale, but I am not a Newcastle fan. I am not a Scotch Ale fan. Stick to whiskey mates! With the better scotch ales, they need to breathe and warm.

M- Feel is refreshing. OK in a pinch. Lots of bubbles. Easy going.

This ale is not exciting. OK / average. No real subtlety or hop flavor, no big flavor arc as with a real pale ale like Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale. Would drink only if everything else was bud.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:53:51 | More by smiga

tr9871

Mississippi

3.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I tasted this beer previously at a much colder temperature and found that I did not care for it very much. This time I waited until it warmed to around 52-54 degrees and was pleased to find that characteristics were a bit more appealing.

A- The color is a very nice dark copper color, perfectly clear with large bubbles in the head. It seems a bit dark for a pale ale on first glance. The small head did not last long and disappeared very quickly. Left no lacing.

S- Not much going on here, some toasted malt smells and a very faint hop aroma. Smells sweet.

T- Same as the smell really. Not much going on. Mostly a sweet malty beer with barely any bitterness or hop character. Not too sweet however, with just barely enough dryness coming through to make it palatable.

M- This is where this beer comes through and shares similarities with the more widely enjoyed Newcastle Brown Ale. It has about the same mouthfeel- delightfully thin and easy to drink with not too much or too little carbonation. Could be quite refreshing on a hot day.

Overall, this beer is not bad, its just nothing exciting. It is a bit unbalanced for the style, with too much sweetness and not enough hops to counteract the malts. I will be able to finish the six pack, but won't seek this one out in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 01:47:51 | More by tr9871

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.88/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

355ml Bottle: best before 30 Apr 2013, opened on 12 Apr 2013 and poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard.

Looked good, light amber going onto copper in body colour, on top a full head of white crowned it off nicely.

I thought this had a malt bias throughout: something I like. The nose had a mild caramel hint within the aroma and that followed along within the mouth flavours. Hops are around giving the beer a balanced feel but this is a semi-sweet brew which fits my taste profile very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 06:19:25 | More by BlackHaddock

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.71/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a clear copper with a one finger moderately disappating white head. Left no lacing.

S - Some odd honey malt and hay with a bit of slight bubblegum. Smells kind of like a weak trippel.

T - Creamed corn and skunk, followed by a moderate amount of malt. Very grassy finish.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - Overall, It was a slightly glorified AAL. I'd have again at a party but that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 06:36:30 | More by SometimesIfart

FlyingBull

California

3.04/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Purchased this brew in a 6 pack at a local grocery. I really like Newcastle Brown, so I was interested in trying this.

Into a traditional pint glass, this brew poured a crystal clear dark yellow to amber. It had a small white head that dissipated rather quickly leaving some lacing down the glass sides. Carbonation looked to be on the "average" or "medium" side.

The initial aromas seemed to be dominated by cider, some sulfur, mild flowery/citrus hops, and very little malt. Initial taste was dominated by sweet malt up front, followed by a cider taste (...to me), ending with some mild hop bitterness. Mouth feel was on the medium side balanced nicely by the carbonation.

Overall, this beer seemed odd to me. I think it's the cider smell and taste that is throwing me off. 5 more bottles to go - we'll see how it "drinks" out.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:26:54 | More by FlyingBull

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

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

This is the best Newcastle product I've had.

White head with a copper body. Very nice lacing on it.

Strong smell of hops and citrus.

The first thing I taste is a strong hops flavor with a crisp citrus taste at the end.

Medium carbonation with a clean, crisp, dry and refreshing finish.

Definately a good Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 18:48:14 | More by MikeAAL

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

2.96/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A 355ml bottle with a BB of April 2013. Picked up a while back from Tesco. Brewed in Tadcaster (presumably at the John Smith's brewery). This is the first time I've come across a beer from the Newcastle brewery that wasn't the Brown. The blurb on the back label goes on about commemorating Archie Jones, one of the creators of Newcastle Brown.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear orange-amber colour with decent carbonation. Forms a large head of white foam that lasts for a few minutes before settling as a thin surface layer. Aroma of light caramel malt, mild fruity ale yeast, faint grain and weak stewed leaves. Not much going on.

Tastes of mild caramel malt with a dry finish. Notes of fruity ale yeast, vague caramel, subtle grain and stewed leaves. A rather harsh cardboard hint in the background. Dry, with a slight bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with pleasant carbonation but a somewhat thin body. Rather astringent, with an aftertaste of ale yeast, cardboard and faint caramel malt.

Meh - dull and unimaginitive. Average flavour and aroma, with some off-notes lurking behind the scenes. Doesn't do anything for me; just another lacklustre also-ran. Give it a miss and buy something decent instead.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 21:53:46 | More by jazzyjeff13

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pub pint glass, copper colored with a small white head that dissipates leaving little lacing, clear

S: light hop smells with a light sulfur mineral smell, caramel malt

T: malt profile up front, toasty bread, cereal grain

M: thinner side of medium with a drier finish

O: drinkable but not really noteworthy, nice toast flavor

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:13:40 | More by M_C_Hampton

JMad

Texas

3.21/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

It pours a dark orange color with a lofty off white head that left some nice lacing on the glass. Not much on the nose, it's kind of macro tasting with scents of metal, sweet malt and grain. It tastes like it smells but with a little more to it, I detected some grass, bread and more metal. It has a light body with very little carbonation. I probably won't drink this again, I don't really know where they were going with this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:01:11 | More by JMad

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

2.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

A- Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a clear copper that is totally translucent. Even with an aggressive head there was no more than a 1/2 finger head. And it had no retention. Average lacing.

S- Not a whole lot of aroma. Grainy smell with some grassy notes. Very little hop profile.

T- Grainy like the smell. Did i buy an adjunct american lager by mistake? Sweet, malty base. Slight herbal hops that you are used to with English ales. Pretty one dimensional. Touch of caramel and pale malts. Not much bitterness. An English ale with an adjunct taste

M- Pretty refreshing and smooth. Light body. Not much flavor lingers. (maybe a good thing)

O- No thanks. If you are looking for a beer with a light body/flavor profile that is not too filling and you are sick with bmc, then you may be pleased with this one. About as average as can be. Probably won't have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 00:01:02 | More by Bosoxfan20

Tone

Missouri

3.36/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of sweet malt, caramel malt, hops, hint of pale malt, and a hint of adjunct. Fits the style of an English Pale Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, pale malt, hint of caramel malt, hint of wheat, and adjunct metallic flavors. Overall, decent appearance and blend, but aroma and body were both hurt by the adjunct presence.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 15:58:16 | More by Tone

jkrich

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from an undated 12 oz. bottle: bright and clear copper hue with a quickly receding white head. The pour looks exactly like a Bass ale.

The aroma was sharp and peppery with an almost rye-like aroma.

The ale has a refreshing, rounded malty flavor very typical of an English ale with a faint, buttery aftertaste. The mild hop profile helps support the malt and keeps the ale from being one-dimensionally cloying.

The body was light with a thin, sleek and short-lived mouthfeel. A slight sweetness lingers on the palate and quickly fades.

It is very quaffable and lively if a little boring. This ale is clean and sessionable but hardly memorable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 23:57:32 | More by jkrich

aaron2013

4.68/5  rDev +43.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Whay eye man, If Gascoine had a functioning liver and the ability to drink anything other than Windolene he would definately have a gander at this Ale!! picked up from the off licence at a pleasant 80p a bottle this beer is dynamite. Having been a Newcastle brown drinker ale for many a year im always a wee bit sceptical when a new product is launched however this beauty has suprised me!!

Taste: old school ale'y, like kissing the local tramp early on a friday night( before the abuse of the calpol ha kicked in!)

Head: Its in a dark bottle and you naye payed the electric bill so who cares!

Knock out power: Had 9 can still see so better than that foreign pish nay as good as the shoe polish!!

A real bleedin corcker!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:34:42 | More by aaron2013

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a couple of these tonight at Jerry's market on 27th street... Poured into my HotD goblet... Clear light orange brew with an okay off-white head... okay retention, but nice lacing.

Aromas are mild across the board, but still meshes in a pleasing way... light toast and more of a biscuity maltiness blends into a sorta grassy/earthy hoppiness... slight "English" fruitiness with warmth.

Flavor mirrors the nose with a decent bitterness that helps balance a slightly maltiness that moves everything from front to back fairly quickly.. the finish is short lived and forces another sip quickly.. As the glass warms up, a mild fruitiness adds to the overall package.

Body is surprising for a lower ABV brew.. carbonation is light/medium and accentuated the bigger than expected body.

Drinkability is high... I could motor through these pretty quickly, and honest not get too bored right away.

3.25/3.25/3.25/3.25/3.5

Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 05:53:25 | More by JohnGalt1

GossageBrewery

Missouri

2.43/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.25

Poured this traditional English Pale Ale from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. It poured a clear copper color, produced a think white head, poor retention and left a nice amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of toasted malt, caramel and herbal hops. Medium bodied, a foundation of toasted malt, caramel and some slight hop bitterness. It starts off with a decent dose of malted grain but fades quickly and has some what of a watery character. Much to thin for my liking-

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 18:49:18 | More by GossageBrewery

BucannonXC5

California

3.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Pint glass
From: VONS in Grantville (San Diego, Calif.)
Price: $8.49 for a 6-pack
Purchased: Feb. 7, 2013
Consumed: Feb. 7. 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured a caramel amber clear color with about one finger of bubbly off-white head that dissipated very fast. Minimal lacing on the sides. Very bad retention.

Smelled skunky malts up front. Also bread, hay, cereal, honey and light lemon grass. Some amber-like malts come in late.

Tasted much better than the smell. Got honey, light lemon, cereal, hay bread and a metallic finish.

Light-to-medium body. Thin texture. Average-to-lively (above average) carbonation. Abrupt finish. Somewhat refreshing.

Decent beer. Nothing to great, nothing too bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 06:27:06 | More by BucannonXC5

MadScientist

New York

2.48/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: A medium amber with good clarity. A half an inch of rocky, off-white head with good retention.

S: Esters dominate. There is a moderate fruitiness that is kind of between cider and apple with a moderately-light malt sweetness with a light toasted aroma. No diacetyl, no hops.

T: A moderate malt sweetness with slight grainy and toasted notes. Moderately-low hops bitterness and almost no hops flavor. There is more of that pear and apple in the taste as well. The balance is fruity and slightly bitter with an off-dry finish. Aftertaste of bitter and apples.

M: medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. Slight dryness on the back of the tongue.

O: This was fruit and odd without enough balance and a bit too much sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:58:51 | More by MadScientist