Newcastle Brown Ale Review

[@jamesgarcia9659]

I have never experienced any product being ruined as badly as when Heineken took over production of Newcastle Brown Ale. Overnight, it went from a truly unique and enjoyable brown ale that I would rank among my all-time favorite beers to a borderline disgusting beer that I wouldn’t drink if I was dying of thirst in the desert. The original Newcastle Brown Ale was in a category of its own. It had the flavor profiles that you expect from a brown ale combined with the drinkability of a crisp lager. After Newcastle was ruined, I was left searching for another brown ale to replace it. I found a few good brown ales (Samuel smith’s nut brown ale, rogue hazelnut brown nectar, downtown brown), but they were heavier varieties that I would drink one at a time. With the original Newcastle, I could drink a six pack in a couple of hours without realizing it. I would probably use one of my three wishes from a genie to bring back the original Newcastle Brown Ale because it was that good. Newcastle was to brown ales as Guinness is to stouts. You can find other good stouts out there, but you would still pick Guinness to live with if you could only choose one.

[@chchedda]

Why doesn't someone just get the old recipe and make it the way it was and re name it. I actually still enjoy newcastle brown but sounds like it was amazing before Heineken took over. Why thr fuck did they flog it to them anyway

[@Rippedflesh69]

The dog.

[@ChrissyNCL]

Tad dramatic wor kid

[@guitarmad6471]

@@chchedda they should stick to lager

[@ukuleonscotland674]

Its always been rank!

[@joffhall81]

Newcastle brown ale was a great “old skool” british brown Ale. It was produced to quench the thirst of the working men of the North East and way a really good malty, sweet brown ale. It started to go down hill when the brewing got moved from the Tyne brewery in Newcastle (opposite St James’ Park) to The Federation Brewery in 1999, This is when the taste altered significantly and it became less sweet and malty. The final nails in the coffin came in 2009 when brewing was moved to Tadcaster and it became a generic “spec” ale and Heineken/Carlsberg bought out Scottish & Newcastle Breweries. Now it’s just a very pale shadows of the beer it used to be and it’s a shame that such a well known UK Beer sold worldwide is nothing more than a brown lager. Don’t get me wrong Heineken have some good European breweries under their banner but what they done to Newcastle brown ale is criminal !! Joff

[@josephmacaluso1353]

Joff Hall well I am not crazy then. The last one I had had no malt character and was a shadow of the beer we got in the states in the 90s

[@joffhall81]

Joseph Macaluso no your not crazy mate, it’s just what Heineken have done to ruin what was once a really good British Brown ale.

[@MichaelWilde.pushbikegraddad]

Aye has not been the same for years, Fed used to bew a brown ale too called high level ale

[@mattw4405]

I remember drinking this during the World Cup in 1990 ,absolutely loved it, tried it again for nostalgia and was disappointed,I’m glad it’s not just me that thinks it’s changed

[@Mikey_Sea]

Same deal in the states, too.

[@normanswindon518]

I'm from Newcastle and yes it was a good beer, my mate worked at Scottish and Newcastle brewery in Newcastle and he would pull a few dozen bottles a day off the line before they were pasteurized it was like nectar mate. Since they started brewing it in the south the only people who drink it here are students and tourists, very sad. on I positive note have you tried Hobgoblin Ruby?

[@stevezissou2800]

Great review. It's a complete mystery how they still manage to sell this rubbish. It used to be a very decent ale,hugely popular 30 odd years ago but the modern corporate version is dishwater.

[@johnlovesleeds]

Used to drink this 27 years ago before the sell out, tasted amazing, same as Tetleys, what were once amazing beers now reduced to garbage.

[@mattbutters9567]

Tetley cask was a lovely pint

[@mullagh670]

First beer in a working mens club about 72 73, they took the cap off and put a glass over the bottle so you could carry it back to your table. It was considered strong beer at the time.

[@Casual-hw8sr]

used to be lovely years ago. moved production from gateshead to Tadcaster and any taste went along with it.

[@SharpblueCreative]

Yep. I used to love this in the 1980’s - a bottle of ‘dog’ and a half pint glass. In 1988 I insisted my local pub got a case in (The Wheatsheaf in Chilton Foliat) they did, the price was 90p a bottle back then. This was because it was all I drank when I went up to Liverpool to visit my then girlfriend. It was massive in Liverpool back then too, it was all anyone drank in the pubs and clubs I used to go to up there at the weekends. I even believe it had protected status but that went along with the taste when it moved out of Tyneside. I bought some recently and was sad that the flavour of my old faithful bottle of dog was no more!

[@sheaskateboarding]

In my 20s, New Castle was my favorite beer. Now I'm 32, but I remember randomly picking up a 6 pack a couple of years ago and being instantly disappointed. In addition to changing the iconic logo, the taste was terrible as well. I don't understand why they would take something so refreshing and turn it into garbage.

[@tyrranicalt-rad6164]

It's one of the few British beers I can find everywhere here in Arizona. I think it taste alright. I met a guy from Newcastle once, I'm sure he was speaking English but I couldn't understand a word he said . 🤣

[@tortozza]

Can you get London Pride there? That's a much better internationally available English Ale.

[@bazbuz]

Aye even southerners divvunt undastandus.

[@DC-Aust]

It probably tastes good compared to American mass produced lagers. For those Monty Python fans, "why is American beer like making love in a canoe?"

[@iamslf]

D C , it’s pretty much on par with US macro lager, actually, I’d probably grab a pack of macro lager over it...at least I’d save some cash.

[@tyrranicalt-rad6164]

@@tortozza no, just beers like bass, boddingtons , Newcastle , Guinness a very small selection really

[@linguisticsfc]

I remember in 2010, it was my first time in the UK, I bought a bottle from a supermarket. I loved it, it was good. Two years ago (2018) I couldnt find it at the main supermarkets in England. Even at the pubs too

[@1981Amm]

Being from Newcastle I know it was brewed by Scottish and Newcastle and as you mentioned it moved to Heineken. Since then its never tasted the same from people I know who drink it. Shame really, Newcastle Exhibition used to be my dad's beer, not sure if that's as widely available anymore.

[@sevenman9672]

Back in the 70's Newcastle Brown was known as prime hangover material - legend said that there was a special ward in the hospital for people puddled on Newcastle Brown...

[@markdawson-smith1950]

That's right - in the RVI!

[@parallaxview6770]

Ward 34

[@scottwool100]

Hi Simon I'm coming up to 51 I used to drink it back in the late 80s and I loved it, it had a unique taste, the most I ever drank was about 9 bottles and I was absolutely smashed. I think once it stopped being brewed in the Newcastle area and moved to Yorkshire it was never the same I'm guessing it's the water they use. Its a shame you never experienced the original it was fantastic, all the best Scott woolgar

[@SimonMartinForPrimeMinister]

Love the story of the guy that drank Newcy Broon. Love these stories Si that’s why this channel is the best beer(and food) reviewing channel on the planet 🌎 real life stories we can all relate too. This channel has changed my outlook on life, life is there to be enjoyed! Anyway I’m away to have my first beer of the day!

[@tonyjoe5707]

Used to drink this late 70's and it was ok. My tastes have changed since and I prefer lighter ales, but thought I'd try a bottle for old times sake. It was pants, I only had half the bottle.

[@Ngamer834]

"Glucose Syrup" and "Hop extracts" is never a good sign when written on the bottle. It tastes like some weird hybrid of John Smiths and Heineken lager.

[@kennethwalsh8804]

Your review has eased my mind. I drank " Newkie Brown ", about 40 years ago, and enjoyed it. Things moved on, and I have not had one for years. However, I came across it again in the Supermarket, and bought a couple for old times sake. I chilled it, as you do, but it didn't taste all that nice. Then I remembered, we used to drink it, off the shelf, ie at room temperature. So I tried again, and it was no better. There was me, thinking my tastebuds have changed, but it's the beer. I think I will leave them on the Supermarket shelf in future.

[@lukenukem2441]

Can attest to this. Used to love my Newcy Brown back in the late 90s. I think most drinkers back then had their Newcy Brown stage. Recently revisited for the memories and itw as so shit I thought I'd bought a dodgy batch of bottles. Actually took it back saying it was off. Got dosh back, went and bought from different vendor and.... Same thing!

[@Shadz01]

Nice story and interesting review. It's Carlsberg that bought the brewing side of Marston's. They still own their pubs.

[@guygibson9882]

A good beer when brewed at the Tyne Brewery. Went downhill when the Tyne Brewery closed and was then brewed at the Federation Brewery in Gateshead. Only 4 miles from the Tyne Brewery but different water created a different beer. When the Fed closed brewing went to Tadcaster and is now all imported from Holland. It is horrific! Brown should be drunk cold from a half pint glass topped up regularly. Drinking it like this still won't improve it.

[@keltyk]

The Tadcaster version is for the US market and brewed to drink ice cold. I yearn for just one more taste of the old Newcy. Back in the day, it was like nutty malt with a bit of toffee and some bitterness. We drank it warm. It tasted disgusting in an enjoyable satisfying, incomparable way. If you acquired the taste, you loved it. Had a medium body. Gassy. The head was lush, distinctive, fragile, you frequently topped up from the bottle to revive it. It was a tradition. Had to be a 1/2 pint glass. Typically a kind of stumpy goblet with the NBA logo. Foamy, soothing burps tip-toed out of your nose without making your eyes water. You woke up with thunderous flatulence and a spinning head.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Schooner glass from what I read

[@jackaubrey8614]

You might have drunk it warm mate but any pub that served it warm wasn't worth being in....

[@keltyk]

@@jackaubrey8614 mate, these were Scottish pubs in the 1970s.... I don't think they had chilled beer in those days. It was made to drink at room temp. If you were a young teenager, you were at the stage where you were acquiring the taste. It was disgusting at first but you had to at least pretend to like it for peer approval :)

[@Davids803]

have you ever considered reviewing tennants or super tennants simon, cheers

[@MrFooFighter13]

I remember drinking them a few times around 2004 and I enjoyed them. I was pretty young then, so it must have been fairly drinkable in the past!

[@nicktankard1244]

I still remember it tasting decent in the early 2000s. It was one of the few British ales imported to my country. It was a luxury and quite expensive back then.

[@TheJimmyboy38]

I remember when I had to go to Cornwall to drink doombar and it was lovely brewed by sharps and now it's all over the country and while not bad it's unfortunately has that mass produced taste it's lost its subtle flavour that it would have brewed in smaller batches and not shipped all over the country

[@barrypatton6424]

I had 4 cans of doombar on Sunday, had never had it before and was really looking forward to em and was sorely disappointed. Tasted like fuck all.

[@sevenman9672]

Brewers should have the guts to refuse to sell out their beers and have them brewed halfway across the country from the brewery by some big brewer, Doom Bar actually brewed by Sharps is a different beer to the Coors version.

[@VooDooMaGicMan81]

Absolutely agree. Glad I'm not the only one who noticed.

[@ChadzBeerReviews]

I haven't had this in years. I don't know if they even export it to the USA anymore?

[@anjkovo2138]

For me it's a fine classic. Very tasty and very drinkable. Cheese on Toast with a glass of Nukie Broon. FANTASTIC👍👍

[@philiproseel3506]

Same in Belgium, too. AB Inbev ruined Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, and Tripel Karmeliet. I remember having a Newcastle in 2000 and it was fine. Had one in 2009 and it was watery piss. When the macros take over a brand, they see Euro/dollar signs and start cutting corners for profits.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@kents.2866]

@@oscarosullivan4513 Do they even make regular Smithwicks anymore? I haven't seen it for the past two years or so in the US.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@kents.2866 They do it’s fairly mediocre

[@DeathFromAbove1981]

I remember this being on draft in the Talbot in Wrexham, supposedly the only other place outside of Newcastle in the UK that had it on draft. I had a bottle recenly and couldn't finish it.

[@lariberaaltamalc]

When I was in Northeast in the 70s Newky Brown was served in the bottle with a straight sided tulip glass and known colloquially as 'journey into space'. Normal bitter was at 3.2 to 3.6% so a 4+% beer was considered rocket fuel. They stopped passing bottles over the counter for years, after the Light Ale Cavalry realised they were useful coshes and grenades.

[@jamesedgewood4643]

It used to be good when I would drink it occasionally in the 90's. It was thick, rich, heady and refreshing. A very luscious texture....Although I think there was caramel colouring added even then. It was one of the strongest beers around at the time....but the strong continental lagers like Stella and Kronenburg had started to emerge into the UK market. I seem to remember you didn't want to drink too many because it was hangover juice.

[@anthonycrumb5753]

That's very sad to hear. I remember back in the early 70's around London when I was a lad drinking pints and pints of the stuff. In the early 80's I lived in the North East for a while and it still tasted good. One thing I did notice was that few Geordies actually drank NBA they preferred or drank Scotch or Heavy Ales but I always stuck with Newki Broon. Back in those days as far as I am aware this "brown nectar" was brewed by Scotish & Newcastle Breweries somewhere actually in Newcastle, until watching this I had no idea Heineken was involved. Another one from that " neck of the woods" was Vaux Double Maxim. Thanks for the video - RIP Newki Brown - thanks for some good times and a few headaches.

[@354sd]

Vaux bitter was very good and tartan bitter if my memory is correct.

[@norlinblack5017]

Some people just have it in their head that if it’s not micro brewed it sucks. I bet you wouldn’t know if it was a blind taste test.

[@michaelhawkins7389]

"For me this is an undrinkable beer"................. continues to drink it LMAO hahhahaha

[@Dunk0The0Punk]

Your a 100% correct totally ruined by corporate greed, I remember how malty it used to be and the smell on brew day in the Toon was like Maltesers

[@sobieski478]

Just been to Morrisons and picked up the following; Northern Monk - Norse Star & Transient - £4.00 each. Northern Monk - Guava Have Faith & Brew York - Juice Forsyth - £3.00 each. Happy Days.

[@lloydwilenchik2533]

Remember this being one of my Dad's beers, smelt of sweaty socks, and a flinty taste. When I started drinking, it was one of my go to beers if the draught in pubs wasn't to my taste, or in nightclubs where the beer was of dubious quality. And now it's absolute river discharge sewer water. What can be done? Unless someone in Newcastle opens a small brewery, and tries to replicate the original, I'll just have to try and track down bottles of Double Maxim. On a side note, one of local breweries, Hattie Brown's, makes a strong brown ale, Swanage Nut,(4.8% abv). More of a Southern Brown ale, but definitely worth looking out for. Maybe Simon should look them up, and see if they'll send him samples

[@amorey67]

I had Newcastle in the U.S. years ago when it was brewed in the UK and it was quite good, tried it a few months ago and it was absolute bilge. I checked the bottle and it is made in various locations in the U.S. for the U.S. market. Sadly many will never know that Newcastle was once a very good brown ale.

[@andysheppard8346]

Have you tried double maxim, similar taste to the original ncl brown ale back in the day.

[@themadcoachman]

Back in the day I got many a hangover drinking Newkie Brown while dancing on the Tables in The Frog And Frigate pub in Southampton while The Landlord belted our classic rock songs on his guitar

[@marcustankus4424]

Lol yes, went there in the mid 80's, came down from London, a mate took me there for a sesh without telling me what happens, a real WTF moment.

[@pagent11]

We used to be handed a pastie and a bottle of ‘dog’ when we entered the Moon Club in the 70s and all for 50p! This was the way they got around the supper licence!!! Brilliant..and the Newcastle brown was as wonderful then as it is now.But there again I am a true Welshman from the North 😎

[@arnoldsbaltnegeris3962]

As far as I understand, smaller and higher quality brands are acquired by the big companies just for the purpose of getting rid of competition and expanding themselves. But I really can't explain, why they refuse to keep the good quality and turn great products into average or even below average stuff. It's just a shameful process, where strengthening of own market position at the expense of ruining old traditions is the only thing that matters.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Ireland is a prime example People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@michaellarmouth4765]

Hi Simon, when this was brewed in newcastle it was a fantastic beer then it moved to Yorkshire when the brewery closed and the recipe changed, its definitely not as good as it was.

[@2dexandsumplastik]

I’m originally from Newcastle and when they moved the brewing of brown ale from the city centre to Gatesheads Exhibition brewery in the early 2000s the taste changed and that was only a few miles, and I attributed it to different vats, different processes and most importantly different water - in the same way Heineken brewed in Holland or SAN Miguel brewed in Spain tastes better / different to the version brewed in the UK. I stopped drinking it then. It was never a fantastic beer back in the late 90s, but it was reliable and being sold in bottles was widely available and usually kept ok. I don’t understand how Heineken would be able to recreate the original taste, 20 years later in a different part of the country!

[@oscarosullivan4513]

People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@robynlovat3344]

It used to be a lovely beer back in the late 80s early 90s , it was one of the go to brown ales that we all drank in our teens , unfortunately yes it's now completely ruined , I tried some many years later obviously after the take over and couldn't finish the bottle , saddens me , and it's one that I will avoid and tell others not to drink , keep up the good work 😊

[@guitarmad6471]

then you should of been drinking it in 1967

[@oscarosullivan4513]

People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@wurzel1873]

I first drank it in the early 90s and went through a stage of only drinking it for a while. When I last had it it was a few year's ago i quickly thought this has changed and I don't remember it being this bad. Wether it was my pallet or not it was actually awful. Holsten pils was another one I used to like, but that would give you a different kind of headache 🤪😂

[@jamesedgewood4643]

Holsten Pils used to be a very high quality and unique tasting Pilsner. There was nothing like it in the world. It was significantly stronger than most beers at the time... was it 5.5 percent alcohol?

[@TeamCGS2005]

You should try Sunderland's version of Newcastle Brown which is called Double Maxim. That too is not as good as it used to be and in fact if I recall correctly, it was only brought back like a decade or so ago. That's the mackem version which is also nice.

[@mattc9096]

I so fondly remember Newcastle Brown from the late '90s in this antipodean land during both Rugby and Soccer World Cups of the time and it aches me that this has become so rudimentary. This was absolutely my GB based brew, if not absolute brew of choice for a long time.... Such a shame. I'll be looking for a home brewed solution to try and recreate my memories.......

[@stevewhite2375]

Glad you pointed that out. I bought one a few years ago for old times sake and was very dissapointed. I thought my taste buds had changed over the years since I used to drink it back in the 70s when you you could get it in every pub. Never seen it used in a 'Brown mix' though. I think because maybe it was considered too good to dilute.

[@grahamalexander7230]

Only reason to drink the old stuff in the 70s was it was cheep and you could use the sticker on the bottle because it looked like a tax disc for your car as a poor student!

[@englishalan222]

Newcastle Brown Ale is my favourite beer. I am half through my third bottle today. It has a flavour that I really like. Just don't buy it from cans. I did that the other day. The bottled beer us really nice though

[@kurluk04]

I really like newcastle brown, im only 27 so no idea what the old version was like - can anyone reccomend a different beer that may be like the old newcastle brown?

[@joinmeonthedarkside2]

Totally ruined IMHO. Took the geordie out of it...

[@HughRogers609]

Still probably better than the imported shit we get in Aus. 4.4% 330ml bottle, brewed god knows where.

[@HughRogers609]

@sneksnekitsasnek Craft brewing is gangbusters here, but Pales, IPA and stupid fruity shit dominates. No one is doing good British style beers, not useless they are hipsterfied mashups

[@IndieBassJA26]

That new label fucked it all. WHY CHANGE IT IF ITS NOT BROKEN

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@HughRogers609 Yes when it comes to drinks like beer that contain poison(which alcohol is), making it delicious may be more dangerous than leaving it alone, because the unpleasant taste of most beers decades ago seems to me more likely to deter people from drinking too much.

[@raymondrichardson6061]

I’m from the NE, and used to enjoy this in the Tap room, on the Brewery tours in Newcastle. Wouldn’t drink it anywhere else. Double Maxim, was always the better drink. Vaux. RIP.

[@mikeward9039]

Absolutely love this stuff I grab a few bottles a week and see how far I can launch them from my massive sling shot proper good fun

[@andyleighton3616]

I think with a lot of these well received old beers that are not not worth drinking it has been a series of changes. As for Newcastle Brown in my life time it has always been a bit tinny and I have tried to avoid it (but it was the only non-lager at some music venues in the 90s)

[@Hannes_Lind]

If i remember correctly Newkie Brown used to be brewed as two separate beers, and then blended. That was back when it tasted good, dont think they do that now.

[@charlenekravec1461]

First of all I learned to love the old Newcastle 20 years ago. At that time I was well and truly hooked on this. Now that they sold out to Heineken, which I understand, changed it to a "beginners" brew so the poor "newbies" wouldn't get drunk on it, what about the rest of us???

[@DC-Aust]

Great review, thanks Simon. Was it always in a clear bottle? I'd guess not. A pub here in Melbourne way back in the 90s used to have Bass ale - is it a bitter? - on tap and it was fantastic. Is Bass still around, and if so, is it still any good?

[@realaleguide]

Yes it is, but Bass isnt great any more either.

[@DC-Aust]

@@realaleguide thanks and that is sad beer news

[@oscarosullivan4513]

People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@MrModamanReviews]

I live in the US and I first tried Newcastle back in the mid-80's. It was fantastic and so much different than the industrial lagers I was used to. I only drink craft beer now and my favorite brown is Bell's Best Brown Ale. It is only available in the winter though. But it is very rich and puts modern Newcastle to shame.

[@mackemsruleFTM]

See if you can get a bottle of Double Maxim always been way better

[@kylereed9309]

From leeds, I can tell you tetley has been ruined as well. Used to be a great brewery and great pubs through Yorkshire. Now no pubs, brand changed and taste is awful and places change upto £3,50 a pint when there are dozens of independent brewer's for cheaper at every pub.

[@itreejoe]

Newcastle Brown was my favorite beer, bar none, before the takeover. It really is crap now. It's such a shame, because no one else makes anything that tastes like Newkie Brown used to...

[@jgphantombeats]

Heineken owns Lagunitas too. I've noticed less and less people drinking Lagunitas in the states now

[@WillyWonkasCrack]

I had one the other day, tasted rank, not like anything I remember it tasting like

[@josesanchez-ph9md]

I love this beer, can't find it any more, what's a good brown ale to try?

[@alanvincent-yx7gm]

Double Maxim if you can find it, brewed in Sunderland, just a few miles from the original brewery.

[@PaulEcosse]

Belhaven have some incredible malty beers in Morrisons and Aldi at the minute. Speyside Oak Aged Blonde Ale is a new favourite of mine though it's been out since 2015. I've been drinking their Stout all summer, the past two summers and the they're only £1.65 which is very good value.

[@FJUH]

I did the Belhaven brewery tour years ago when I was living in Edinburgh. We took the train down and rode our bikes around the town. We paid 3 pounds and got 3 pints. Great tour and beer but with no food on board it was an interesting ride back to the station!!

[@TeamCGS2005]

Newcastle Brown is not what it used to be, you're spot on with that. Workers back in the day of the steelworks and miners used to drink this stuff during their lunch (and often for breakfast), but the taste was a lot better back then. Was a lot cheaper back then too, but it's nothing like it used to be.

[@trufantom21]

The last time I had Newcastle Brown Ale was in 1993 in Kos Greece and it was a fantastic.

[@jo0ls]

I’m outraged, also I’m an alky and haven’t had any booze for 20 years.

[@beerbore5958]

Have you had Double Maxim? It was always my preferred brown ale from the north east.

[@jackaubrey8614]

Back in the seventies on Tyneside Double Maxim was always considered a fizzy lightweight compared to Brown Ale (except in Sunderland, where it was brewed...) :) My next door neighbour worked at S&N and would sometimes share his "allowance" of the pre-carbonated beer - imagine a really good draught Old Peculiar but from a bottle... Lovely stuff.

[@paulpeirson65]

totally agree, Newcastle Brown Ale used to be excellent but now awful...also agree with your Beavertown comment, what the hell has happened to (what was my favourite tipple) Gamma Ray?? doesnt look or taste the same anymore.

[@AllHailTheAle]

Used to have better body, more oomph in the flavour. Changed some point in the 90's. It was my go to beer in the period. Tried again a while back, not a patch on the old stuff.

[@Kolor-kode]

I used to drink this as a nipper in the 90's. I can't tell you if it was a better beer back then, but I can tell you that you hit the nail on the head with the 'headache in a glass' analogy.

[@phillipwalker5109]

Remember drinking this for the last time in Ye Olde Kings Head,Santa Monica,California,USA,back in 1979. Thankfully I have moved on to much better things.

[@ijuvatar]

i am having one at this very moment and i dont really understand the complaints. despite being made by the heineken group its a really decent and enjoyable beer if you ask me. according to your description the "original" stuff must have tasted like the very nectar straight from the gods of the olymp

[@macinthewild8116]

Did you research the correct glass and the correct way to drink it? Makes a huge difference

[@philmuskett265]

In the 1970s a half pint of Tetley dark mild and a small bottle of Newcastle Brown in a pint glass -- mother's milk, mate. Nectar of the gods.

[@EhWhatPardon]

I would drink this as a student in Durham in the mid '90s - to be fair, I never really liked it then. Haven't had it for 20 years now, so I can't comment if it's changed. It was drunk as a last resort as it was at least consistent when the bar's beer lines were getting in need of a clean... Had friends who drank nothing else though.

[@joebidensdentures4541]

Always see this beer here in the US, it's contract brewed by Lagunitas here, I believe. Haven't tried it in ages. If I'm in the mood for a brown ale, I usually grab Bell's.

[@briangibbs2227]

when I was in my teens it was a trendy drink. drank cold and poured into undersized glasses needing at least two pours and as I remember it was pleasant, but that was over 40 years ago, it's a shame to see it become at best a 2/10 beer

[@b8nnytez]

Aw! I used to love Newcie Browns back in the day! Devastated it's been ruined. Will have to try one to taste the difference.

[@jdgonzo1982]

I'd love to try one of the older bottles...my uncle used to love Newky Brown...as he called it...after Rugby him and his mates would drink around 16 pints of it each!!!

[@ReigningOnYourParade]

I hate dating myself, but yes, NewCastle was great many years ago.

[@gaffnaldo1]

8 bottles a night? What an absolute machine of a man. Sorry to hear he passed away

[@gaffnaldo1]

@@nonrevnosnibormetalbeerrev6251 and true men you are lad

[@ronh.798]

As a brown ale lover in the U.S., I noticed how weak Newcastle has been. Didn't know about Heineken basically ruining it. We had the same thing happen here when Anheuser Busch took over Rolling Rock beer. It sucks now.

[@mackemsruleFTM]

See if you can get your hands on Double Maxim from the same region of the UK, way better brown ale

[@paulcookson5005]

Newkie Brown Ale was the only ale my grandad would drink at home and it was one of the first beers I ever head as a, ahem, 15 year old and I enjoyed it. That was years before Heineken got there mitts on it though

[@DanABA]

I drank so much of this 15 years ago before I discovered craft, and I agree with you. It's really, really bad.

[@mark_beastpriest5539]

Brian Johnson of AC/DC says this is his favourite beer. Of course, this was a few decades ago.

[@bobikdylan]

As a student I got a summer job on the Canary Wharf site. Workers lived in caravans on site and drank in the one pub they left standing. A tiny, thin Geordie welder was known as a prodigious drinker among some serious boozers on site. One day the lads decided to have a bet on how much he could drink. So they all put in £20 and made their guesses. They then took him to the pub (he didn't know what was going on) and made a party atmosphere, keeping the juke box fed and cracking jokes, all the while making sure he was well supplied with his usual NBA. The next day he looked green. He'd had 15 bottles. In those days I also occasionally drank NBA, and five would be my limit.

[@MrMallum]

Newcastle Brown was my favourite as a teen! Haven’t drunk it in years tho…

[@barrypatton6424]

This used to be lovely, haven’t had it in a couple of years had no idea it could’ve got so bad. Don’t get why people change these great beers for the worse.

[@jamesupton4996]

Used to drink it at University, thirty odd years ago, for 58p a bottle. It was beautiful then. Still have it occasionally, but it's much poorer as brewed these days.

[@hotmumbo6628]

This was the first dark beer I had ever tasted and it was at an English pub in Cairns at the northern tip of Australia in the early 2000s. It was what seduced me to the dark side and since then I have almost exlusively drunk only dark beers (ie. stouts, porters, browns etc) - can't stand the piss-weak stuff. It has definitely gone down hill since then and I haven't drunk it in ages - its a real shame.

[@franksandbeans2519]

That pub is called the Cock and Bull, and they no longer have that tap on the wall.

[@OneFlightDownWpg]

I used to drink this a lot in the '90s. It was one of the few UK beers I could find on tap in my part of the world. I remember really liking it - once the craft beer scene took off here I always sought out brown ales. I haven't had a Newcastle in a while though. I'm curious to try it again now after this review.

[@guitarmad6471]

dont bother save your brass

[@oscarosullivan4513]

People say the same about Smithwick’s red ale that it has changed a few decades ago to after production was moved out to Dublin from the Kilkenny site in use since 1710. Thankfully Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s Red ale fills the gap of the Kilkenny city brewed red ale left by Smithwick’s move to St Jame’s Gate.

[@mrLoftladder]

one of the first beers i ever drank in a pub, haven't had one in donkey's years

[@docsmellyfella]

A staple in every rock club/bar I've ever been in but has definitely changed since the eighties when I first started drinking it.

[@thumpdrum]

A few years back when I played music, a few places had it on tap and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I even enjoyed it with my Beertender 5L kegs.

[@mgsautomotivemishaps]

I agree with most of your reviews Simon but not this one!! I had never tried it before I saw this review so went and bought some. I chilled it down nicely in the fridge, poured it in a glass and really enjoyed it. I thought maybe there was something wrong with me so I organised a beer tasting in some unmarked glasses with some family / friends who are all beer people. It scored well and all put a Y in the would you buy it again box.... They were horrified when I told them what it was!! 🤣🤣

[@mackemsruleFTM]

never drunk it since the '80s 1 bottle used to give me a headache the next day, plus it's not a patch on its NE rival Double Maxim

[@meshborg9929]

Stella,Becks Holsten Pils ,Newcastle Brown.All great beers ruined over the years.Why cant they just leave them alone.

[@samhancock268]

I think Becks is still a decent mass produced 4% lager

[@nameless-user]

Prostituting quality to cut costs.

[@ashleysutton16]

Was gifted a bottle of this the other day, tasted like piss, Stella & Hobgoblin in a dirty glass.