Brown ales have been around for hundreds of years. Actually, 300 years ago, most ales were dark brown, cloudy, questionable beverages. (Still better than the shit and water cocktail passing as drinking water back then.) This dark color was due mainly to the almost singular prevalence of roasted malts that were often heated over wood fires. Not only did this darken the final product, but it often lead to smoky flavors in the beer (this is a good thing in rauchbier, but that’s for another column). Brown ales, also known as the workingman’s beer, are smooth, easy drinking, and typically low in alcohol content.

Times have changed for the meek, unassuming brown ale. Ingredients have become more readily available and brewing practices more exacting. Most modern brown ales owe their distinct mahogany color to specialty malts like caramel and chocolate and are brewed with pale English malt rather than the more unpredictable roasted malts of old. The pale and caramel malts lend the distinctive caramel and nutty flavors most often associated with the style and Newcastle is no different. Brown ales are quite rare in the US, and imported versions are even rarer still. Craft brewers are slowly reintroducing the masses to this underappreciated beer, but to truly experience the style as original, you need to get your hands on one from across the pond.

Newcastle Brown Ale is one of the few truly English brown ales available in the States. It's brewed from a recipe created back in 1927 by one Colonel J. Porter, and is currently marketed by the Scottish & Newcastle division of Heineken International. It's the most popular bottled beer (by volume) in England, and the US tosses back over 50% of their production every year. The bottom line: this is the perfect beer for those that want to taste traditional brown ale.

[Serving Note: Brown ales should be chilled to about 40F (4C) before serving in a traditional pint glass. As most refrigerators are set to about 38F (3C), just take it out about 10 minutes before you intend to drink it and wait. That should do the trick.]

Newcastle Brown Ale pours a crystal clear brown-amber that produces a transient tan head. As is expected, the aromas that rise from the glass are a mixture of subtle nuttiness and sublime biscuit and toasted caramel. As is common with brown ales, hop aroma is nearly non-existent. Upon drinking, a gentle wash coats the palate pleasingly without the sting of carbonation bite. Faint almond and cashew flavors intertwine with notes of sweet malt and caramel. The carbonation level of Newcastle’s offering is low, leading to a smooth finish and easy drinkability. Subsequent bitterness provided by the earthy English hops is balanced perfectly with the overall malty character. For a “simple” style, there is definite complexity of character in this beer.

Newcastle Brown Ale is a well-balanced, easy-drinking session beer. It’s a textbook representation of Northern English brown ale that is well worth a pint (or five).

But there is something I need to get off of my chest. Colorless glass bottles? Really? I don’t agree with the use of colorless bottles for beer. Light and beer don’t get along. I have tasted a slight taint (although mostly hidden by the hops) with Newcastle and I would be willing to bet that there are two things at play here: colorless bottles and long transit time. Granted, there isn’t much that can be done about the transit time (Trans-Atlantic beer pipeline anyone?), so I can accept that risk. As for the subject of skunking, I have personally accepted this very slight “flaw” as somewhat charming for the brand. So don’t let it dissuade you from getting your hands on some Newkies. Besides, if you are lucky enough to experience it on tap – as it should be served – this problem is, of course, solved. I mean if the bottles are a brand recognition thing, I get it, but how about wrapping them in paper à la Lea and Perrins? This advice I offer free of charge.

As part of this review, I also paid a visit to the Newcastle Brown website www.newcastlebrown.com and was a tad bit disappointed. Apparently, they are in the middle of a site redesign so there isn’t much there. (You can, however, enter your email addy and they will let you know when it’s ready for prime time.)

They are also having a contest called Newcastle + Outside where they are asking people to send in pictures of themselves consuming Newcastle in “unique locations”. (I wonder if the bathroom counts.) You can win the chance to be a Newcastle Adventure Correspondent in Alaska where you’ll write about your adventures for Outside.com. Maybe you can visit the magic bus while you are there. Cheers!