New Castle Brown Ale

[SharpSkinSGV]

Nothing beats a chilled "newkie" after a long day of work....

Feeling Fine... (http://myspace-402.vo.llnwd.net/00138/20/43/138603402_l.jpg)

[L.H.H.H.Brown]

Of course personal opinion.....................then again, the eyes have it!!! Just wanted to comment on your avatar. Too bad someone made it out to be a bad thing.

[steveh]

Originally posted by L.H.H.H.Brown
Too bad someone made it out to be a bad thing.

Almost did myself, maybe the cross-member ought to be bigger - or contrasting color?

S.

[chazwicke]

Many years ago I enjoyed Newcastle because it was a bit above the typical American swill that was what was available. There are plenty of better (IMHO) Brown Ales that you might try from England. Welcome to the board. I hope your drinking that Newkie out of a glass at least.;)

[Sladek]

I can't stand to drink Newcastle from a bottle. Those goddamned clear bottles. But once I had it on tap (again--Gingerman, Austin TX) and it was wonderful. Nuttiness and everything that the bottled version lacks.

[stronk]

At a pinch, it's better than macro, but I'd have to have no choice but to stay where I was to buy it.

[Thetz]

I have to say Newy is one of my favorite beers....dont get me wrong love trying different beers. It is a good beer to have in the fridge at all times...and it is not expensive. You are so right it is much better on tap. At least it is not a lite beer.......

[beerking]

Originally posted by Sladek
I can't stand to drink Newcastle from a bottle. Those goddamned clear bottles. But once I had it on tap (again--Gingerman, Austin TX) and it was wonderful. Nuttiness and everything that the bottled version lacks.

If you are very careful to buy sealed containers, from the back of the merchant's shelf, you can get Newkie in bottles that is quite fresh.

I also like to use it in cooking. Cheap, but with a good flavor that comes through nicely in chili.

[Dextolen]

It's a good 'intro' beer for people coming from B-M-C. Whassup with those clear bottles though?

[Thetz]

you are right it is a good intro beer...that is what I drank as my intro beer...so i can never turn my back on it....i have had so many hard core stouts here lately i didnt think i would like the newie anymore...well had one a few weeks ago...and i still do like it...

can you explain to me what the clear bottle mean? does it kill flavor cause the sun can hit it?

[Sladek]

Originally posted by Thetz
can you explain to me what the clear bottle mean? does it kill flavor cause the sun can hit it?
Exactly. Light is one of beer's worst enemies. Green and clear bottles are responsible for the skunkiness of light lagers. Bottled Newcastle has always been bland and flavorless to me.

Dextolen--your avatar reminds me: William Hootkins has recently died...

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Sladek
Light is one of beer's worst enemies. Green and clear bottles are responsible for the skunkiness of light lagers.

Contradiction. Light is responsible for the chemical reaction that produces the skunky aroma. Bottle color, if stored properly, is irrelevant. And it's not just light lagers that suffer from becoming skunked (or light-struck, which is probably a better term). Almost any beer with hops can be affected.

Cheers!

[Dextolen]

Originally posted by Sladek
Dextolen--your avatar reminds me: William Hootkins has recently died...

I know...:( R.I.P Jek Porkins aka Red-6

[Sladek]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Bottle color, if stored properly, is irrelevant. Cheers!
I used light lagers as an example, because everybody knows skunky Heineken. Look, I meant that clear and green bottles make the beer more susceptible to light's harmful effects than brown bottles, which aren't total protection but better than the green and clear bottles, right? So, yes, the bottles aren't directly responsible for skunkiness, as light causes it, but I don't think you can say that bottle color is irrelevant.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Sladek
So, yes, the bottles aren't directly responsible for skunkiness, as light causes it, but I don't think you can say that bottle color is irrelevant.

Of course I can. The beer doesn't interact with the glass. It interacts with UV light. If stored properly, the beer will be fine, no matter the bottle color. It's simply a broad generalization in the US that if a beer comes in a green/clear bottle, and you don't like it....must be skunked...damn green/clear bottles!

It's an overused catch all. One that irks me when I hear uneducated boobs ranting about "skunky" beer. That's all.

Cheers!

[Sladek]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Of course I can. The beer doesn't interact with the glass. It interacts with UV light. If stored properly, the beer will be fine, no matter the bottle color.
Yes, but if not stored properly, which is more often the case that the beer will just sit on a shelf under flourescent lighting all day, a brown bottle is better than a green or clear bottle, and why I would say, and several others here have said, that a can is a great vessel for beer. I don't understand why this is such a sore point.

[newportstorm]

Not a huge deal. Just a half-truth. And yes, I am a can advocate. Great package for beer.

Cheers!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Bottle color, if stored properly, is irrelevant.


That's like saying, "Seat belts, if no one wrecks, are irrelevant."

Bad storage is going to happen. We can't teach everyone at once. This will take time.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by HogieWan
That's like saying, "Seat belts, if no one wrecks, are irrelevant."



Um...no. One results in almost certain injury/death. The other in a simple inconvenience.

But I'll play along:
-Wear your seat belt, get in car crash, possibility of still getting injured/dying.
-Put beer in green/clear bottle, store away from light, skunking/light struck will not happen.

Cheers!

[Kyle_Draven]

I don't know if I have ever seen beers stored in darker areas. Normally they are out in the open being beat down upon by lights. This is even at the liquor stores. I think that using brown glass is the beer companies way of trying to plan for the worst case. This is not a cure all but every little bit helps. I think that the companies that use other color bottles are trying to help out there marketing by making there products more recognizable. The fact is beer is going to be stored wrong at some point in time.

[stronk]

Wow! Maybe we should put a hold on this conversation, as it seems to be based on a language technicality. We all know the facts and that each side is making a valid point, so there's no need for animosity.

[steveh]

Originally posted by newportstorm
It's an overused catch all. One that irks me when I hear uneducated boobs ranting about "skunky" beer. That's all.

Mmm, maybe - but when a sixer is offered in green bottles, I *will* shy away. I know it's been sitting on the shelf in too much light. The marketing aspect of beer needs help.

S.

[HopsHerder]

Have someone give you a blind taste test. Clear bottle vs can. You will pick the can version every time. IMO it has more flavor in the can.

HH

[Degarth]

No light reaching the bottle is always preferable to some light reaching the bottle. So even if the retailer stores it very well there remains a CHANCE light can get at it. With dark bottles the chance is much less than with a clear bottle.

And I think the seat belt analogy was a good one. A condom anaolgy would be good too. You might be fine if you don't wear one, but the chances are a lot greater you won't.

[fretlessman71]

Yeah - there's no guarantee that the green bottle WILL be struck, but there IS a guarantee that a can WON'T. And brown bottles are almost as foolproof (I know it can happen if you try really hard).

[Sladek]

Newcastle isn't available in cans, is it? I'd definitely give that a try.

[stronk]

Originally posted by Sladek
Newcastle isn't available in cans, is it? I'd definitely give that a try.
Not that I've ever seen. The bottle is their trademark. In fact, I've never even seen it on tap. I've got a friend from Newcastle who won't touch the stuff. He goes for the better brown ales brewed around there.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by stronk
Not that I've ever seen. The bottle is their trademark. In fact, I've never even seen it on tap. I've got a friend from Newcastle who won't touch the stuff. He goes for the better brown ales brewed around there.

I've had Newcastle from cans. It's the only way I'll drink it.

[brewcrew76]

On the topic of light stuck, I went to a pilsener tasting once and the brewer hosting it put a couple bottles on the windowsill of the brewery for 1 hour. We then sampled the enclosed 12 pack version compared to the window version. The difference was amazing. The window version was one of the skunkiest beers I have ever had. I forget the brand but it was a green bottle.

[fretlessman71]

We did a similar thing online here about a year ago with Pilsner Urquell - but we only let them sit in the sun for 5 minutes. Boy, you sure could tell...

[Sladek]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I've had Newcastle from cans. It's the only way I'll drink it.
So it is regularly available like that, Hogie? At least in your area? That's encouraging.

I think for most imported beers the can is the way to go. Many imported bottled beers I've had have tasted old and stale, if not outright flat!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Sladek
So it is regularly available like that, Hogie? At least in your area? That's encouraging.

There's a couple stores that always have it in cans. When i goes on sale, I usually pick some up.

[stronk]

I wish they'd sell it like that in the UK (maybe they do and I haven't noticed). Fie on clear bottles!

[HopsHerder]

Albertsons grocery store (Liquor store side) is the only place I’ve seen it.

HH

[Jake]

I bought a 6er and will be trying it tomorrow about this time.

[Jake]

Originally posted by Thetz
I have to say Newy is one of my favorite beers....dont get me wrong love trying different beers. It is a good beer to have in the fridge at all times...and it is not expensive. You are so right it is much better on tap. At least it is not a lite beer.......

Not expensive? I paid $9.49 for a 6er.

[Thetz]

Originally posted by Jake
Not expensive? I paid $9.49 for a 6er.

well compared to some of the beers i have been getting 9.49 is not a lot.....but if you consider spending $7.00 a six pac for the other "beers" like bud, then i will be more then happy to pay $9.49 for a "good" beer.....

[fretlessman71]

Geez... 'round here, I think Bud is about $4.50 a 6er...

[Thetz]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Geez... 'round here, I think Bud is about $4.50 a 6er...
honestly...i dont know how much bud cost...i dont buy it.....do people really still buy that stuff? :eek:

[fretlessman71]

SOMEONE'S buying it - seen the size of their breweries? IBM doesn't have plants that big!

[Thetz]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
SOMEONE'S buying it - seen the size of their breweries? IBM doesn't have plants that big!
I have been trying my damnest to get people to try good beer....
i must have let one slip through my fingers.....

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by Thetz
honestly...i dont know how much bud cost...i dont buy it.....do people really still buy that stuff?

I keep telling her its that cheap. I guess we should be happy its hard for her to imagine you can actually buy beer for less then a dollar a pop in this world. ;)

[Jake]

I tried Newcastle yesterday and found it pretty good. That was my first brown ale and if this is what some would call a mediocre brown ale then I REALLY like this style. Who else makes a brown ale that I might get somewhere in Michigan?

[p0s3r]

I love New Castle!

BTW, why do you guys like cans better? Isn't the better beer bottled?

Also, what are some other brown ales you guys would reccomend?

[danno]

check out North Coast's Acme Brown Ale. (and Jake, haven't you tried Bell's Best Brown?)

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by p0s3r

BTW, why do you guys like cans better? Isn't the better beer bottled?

The same beer goes in both the bottles and the cans, but Newcastle uses clear bottles, and since retailers don't tke proper care, they are exposed to light and the beer gets light struck (or skunked). THe cans keep all light out nd you hve a much better chance of having unskunked beer.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by p0s3r
I love New Castle!

BTW, why do you guys like cans better? Isn't the better beer bottled?

Also, what are some other brown ales you guys would reccomend? Newcastle might have been better bottled if they didn't use a clear bottle - light and beer don't get along very well, and the only reason we can come up with for brewers to use clear bottles is because many americans think it's cool. Besides, canning has come a long way, and it's impossible for beer to get lightstruck this way. I'd bet that the beer stays fresher to boot. Give a can a chance - just make sure you pour it out into a glass (this goes for ALL beer!). Welcome to the board!

[Jake]

Originally posted by danno
check out North Coast's Acme Brown Ale. (and Jake, haven't you tried Bell's Best Brown?)

Not everything of Bell's is readily available to me. The store I regularly buy from I only ever see Bell's Amber Ale, Pale Ale, Winter White, Porter, Stout. I never have seen any of the others from the Bell's lineup. Whenever I ask any store why don't you carry such in such beer I always get the same answer about lack of space and they can't carry everything.

When I do some traveling about in my state I'm sure I'll come across Bell's Best Brown.

[p0s3r]

Hey thanks for all the info. It's hard to get beer thats not Bud/Corona/Coors/whatever because I'm in college but I'm heading home this weekend, I'll try to look there.

I have one more question though, why should beer be poured into a glass?

I am new to this whole beer stuff, untill recently beer just meant macrobrews for me... sad I know. Anyways I am learning a lot from this board, so thanks for all the help!

[fretlessman71]

You can't smell what doesn't hit your nose. Plain and simple. Aroma is a HUUUUGE part of the beer experience, as well as wine and other artistic expressions having to do with fermentables. There's a Bud Light commercial that (gulp!) got it right - "Pour down center to release aroma!" "AGAIN!" ;)

[chazwicke]

Not only aroma but the resulting head from the pour also allows some of the gas to escape. You will feel less bloated drinking from a glass. Beer was meant to be imbibed from a vessel such as a glass or mug. Welcome to the board.

[boggyboys]

NewCastle, isn't it brewed with mushrooms?
That's what the wee-people tell me. Good stuff, hooah!

[p0s3r]

Ah, makes sense. Thanks again.

[Sladek]

Originally posted by p0s3r
BTW, why do you guys like cans better? Isn't the better beer bottled?
Canned beer has a negative connotation that really has no basis in reality, as has been discussed around here. As Fret and Hogie have said, beer in a can is a sure way to protect it from light, which a clear bottle obviously won't do. I'm sure you've had Heineken. Ever noticed that it smells skunky? Well, it's not supposed to. That smell is from being exposed to light. Some have said that it takes Pilsner Urquell, in the sun, a matter of minutes to become skunky. I've had Urquell from a can and it's wonderful. I wish more beers imported in the U.S. were canned.

And it can't be stressed enough: pour your beer into a glass, cup, mug, whatever.

[BeermanKrestons]

Tilburg Dutch brown ale is 100 times beteer than newcastle ill bet a beer on it?

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by BeermanKrestons
Tilburg Dutch brown ale is 100 times beteer than newcastle ill bet a beer on it?

I have to disagree with that. The Tilburg was recommended to me by a local beer purveyor a couple of years back, as they had just gotten it, so I purchased a sixer. I couldn't bring myself to finish the one, it was so sugary sweet and plain bad. Ended up disposing of the rest by getting others to sample it and their opinions were pretty much the same. JMHO.

[Jake]

You know I must say again. I found New Castle not all that bad, I think I may buy it again even though there may be better brown Ales out there.

[HogieWan]

I really liked the Tilburg. And at 5.99 a sixer, it's a hell of a deal

[BeermanKrestons]

i knew someone out there must like it but me

[awbeerman]

Anyone here ever had Lefthand's Deep Cover Brown Ale? Most here probably have not heard of Lefthand, anyway if you like Newcastles Brown, there is a good chance you will like this even better. Total wine usually has them in stock, 6 packs and singles. Later

[fretlessman71]

Welcome awbeerman! Left Hand is just a few miles from my hometown. They make all kinds of wonderful beers, not the least of which is the Black Jack Porter. And yes, the Deep Cover is also very nice. Much better than Newcastle IMHO.

[awbeerman]

Thanks, wow you live so close, that's cool. They have expanded their tasting room nicely. Do you visit them often?

[chazwicke]

welcome Aw. Another VA member.!

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by awbeerman
Thanks, wow you live so close, that's cool. They have expanded their tasting room nicely. Do you visit them often? I'll let my tagline, along with my overflowing beer fridge, answer that question... ;)

[BeermanKrestons]

Total wine can kiss my ass