Newcastle Brown Ale Vs Wychwood Hobgoblin Ruby Beer | British Dark Ale Challenge

[@jackaubrey8614]

Newcastle Brown Ale - a (very) pale shadow of its former self - talking pre-takeover here when it was actually still brewed in Newcastle. My next-door neighbour used to work at the brewery and sometimes shared his "allowance" with me:)

[@RichardOliver]

Yes, agree - to me, at least, it is terrible now.

[@noescape9923]

Both beers a poor shadow of their former selves.

[@JasonGeoffrey]

Good to hear the Newcastle brown ale is getting back up to standard. Was very nice on tap back in the early 2000's when it was my regular drink it at my local RSL club. When trying it decades later it seemed more like a lager that had had been coloured with a good old cup of black tea. Could not understand why all the old blokes at the club would drink Tooheys Old or a Kent old, then one day I tried a Kent Old and stayed on it for years as my main beer. Kent old could be drank as water it was so good. It was one of the best session ales ever. Good ingredients, could be enjoyed cold or room temp, still tasted good, no bad hagovers and cheap as chips at the time. Oh for the good old days....haha. Cheers.

[@Jimbo_Jumbo]

Im not sure where it came from but the traditional with Newcastle brown ale is to drink it from a half pint glass and top it up from the bottle as you go.

[@MichaelWilde.pushbikegraddad]

Traditionally it was a half pint schooner glass, every pub on Tyneside used to have a rack of them

[@tobyjackman3212]

I thought that was because it smells of wet dog. You don't get such a whiff from a half pint glass

[@anthonycrumb5753]

When I was up in South Shields at colledge years ago, from what I remember very few Geordies actually drank Newkie Broon, most drank Scotch or Heavy and a few in Vaux pubs 'Double Maxim', it seemed like it was us 'foreigners' that knocked back the Newkie Broon.

[@simon3824]

Hobgoblin used to be 5.2 ABV, now 5:0 . It’s still ok , but I’m sure it’s not quite as good as it used to be. Interesting to get your review!

[@davidmills1847]

We used to be able to get Hobgoblin here in Canada and I loved it.

[@rosslogan4154]

Tasted a bottle of Newcastle Brown about 6 months ago. It was undrinkable. Had to pour the rest of the contents down the sink.

[@YorkshirePeacocks]

I think mood and residual tastes in the mouth make a massive difference. Sometimes I drink a beer and like it then have it again and don't. I think it's down to mood and what taste you have in mouth before hand. Could also be inconsistencies in the beer

[@chrisbradish626]

Exactly this. Tastebuds can do all sorts to beers. So many times I’ve had a beer and really enjoyed it, then gone back to it and it was rubbish. So many factors can go into such a simple experience 😂

[@paulapplewhite6135]

So true. We've all brought back a bottle or two of fine holiday beverage, only for the magic to die on its arse 😭

[@adamgreenhill110]

These beers have changed hands, changed recipes over time... Many have lowered ABV and cut costs. They're not the same. Even Brewdog Punk IPA is horrendous now

[@timwalker5021]

Yep I live in Newcatle - even though it's not brewed here now, not a bad beer. A few other notable brown ales in my opinion are Double Maxim (prob better then Newcy Brown imo), Abbot Reserve, Belhaven 80'. Enjoy

[@davidmatthews6088]

As always Simon great review . And now im on my way to tesco to get some newcastle brown haveny had it in a few years . Keep up the good work

[@billybatts294]

same as i used to love newkie brown and about a year and half back i got a cpl of btls and it was rank ill have to try it again with youre review

[@chaosmilkshake]

Enjoy hobgoblin every Christmas as something different so it is a winter beer for me! Interested to try newcky brown again so as to see how it has changed!

[@paulapplewhite6135]

Newkie-brown was my go-to in some of the more dire pubs, over 30 years ago, when the draughts of choice were badly-kept Shipstones and badly-kept McEwans Export. If you think about it, we really do live in a golden age of beer at the moment.

[@rtyrtyrtyus]

Never had a bad pint in Weatherspoons. Cheap beer and well kept.

[@WijaLE]

This video is probably the one beer video I would want over any other!!!!! These are the first two beers I ever drank, and so have both a huge amount of nostalgia for me (the third i had was leffe blonde)

[@JimmyGuitarist]

I sessioned Newcastle Brown in the pub last Saturday & it’s the first time I’ve been sick from booze for a few years. I used to drink it quite a lot but my tolerance must’ve lowered for it. I still liked it but as soon as I got home, I felt sick straight away 😂

[@HitchHikersBlues]

It makes me feel aggressive. And I've tried it a few times just to be sure. There must be a chemical in it that doesn't agree with me. Strange.

[@CrazyAboutVinylRecords]

My favorite brown ale from the UK is Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale. Can't be beat IMO. As far as I'm concerned clear bottles sinks Newcastle Brown Ale. Deduct two stars for that. In the American market it is actually brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company in Illinois. Deduct a star for that. My rating is ⭐⭐ out of 5.

[@markjohnathanappleton8642]

Sam Smith nut brown ale is brilliant drink

[@OscarOSullivan]

St Mel’s brewing when it existed made a lovely brown ale at 5.2 percent English type brown

[@brxee]

Mmm, might have to try a newky again. Last time I tried one it was like brown coloured pop, an overly sweet one at that!

[@joinmeonthedarkside2]

If u recall at brew York they do something to treat water to make it suit beer style. Brown ale when brewed at Scottish Newcastle it was famous for is character, then it moved to Tadcaster and it changed. I wonder if they have done the same to make it similar to the older brew

[@gt3911]

Does newcastle have a clear bottle storage issue? Light strike? Could the one you had have been bad? Not sure if it's as much of an issue as it is for larger?

[@jonathanhallsworth1055]

I actually think drinking lots of lager has improved the taste of Newcastle Brown for you. I'm primarily a lager drinker, but if a pub doesn't have a decent offering, I'll go with a Newcastle Brown because it has everything I want from a lager, with a little bit of something else.

[@pauljones5066]

yes, I agree with this analysis, I also drink lots of German lager but enjoy the odd Brown ale

[@kevinjohnsloan1157]

Double maxim is the way forward

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@kevinjohnsloan1157Now if only Maxim used brown bottles

[@gra567]

Great video, as ever, Hobgoblin nice beer, haven't had Newcastle Brown Ale on ages. May need to try it. By the way good to see the Belfast CAMRA beer festival/ Sunflower pint glass!

[@peterm7548]

Hobgoblin is my go to beer when Im ill with a cold! Its quite soothing and warming. Id prefer it at 5.2% still though. Not sure about the NBA after it was changed Im not sure I would tray it again. But good to hear that its improved.

[@stephengreen3367]

Manns Brown Ale is usually pretty widely available in supermarkets. Maybe wouldn't have been a totally fair comparison with the NBA given the big difference in ABV though.

[@pauljones5066]

its okay, but too weak

[@rudigersimpson]

I'd only recently seen your review of Newcastle and it was shocking to see how it had apparently declined. Good to know you like it as it's a good potential substitute if I am ever in a shop that has it cheap.

[@davidstorm4015]

The Harpers Ruby Ale (Aldi rip-off of the Hobgoblin) is very nice and very cheap too

[@john07973]

Seconded just downing one

[@Michformer]

I only started getting into beer a few weeks back. Newcastle was my first pick (draught) and it proved to be rather toothsome given that my past experience with brews was rather mixed. Definitely makes me want to try out other British brands, though being in Montreal means I must deal with slim pickings 😅

[@Hippo_Croca_Pig]

These are definitely my go to ales, there's something really quite distinct about them that I cant quite put my finger on.

[@andrewcarr5923]

There both distinctly terrible.

[@rosslogan4154]

Yes, they both taste absolutely awful.😬

[@iandavis1723]

You should have paired the Newcy brown against Double Maxim which is superb stuff.

[@johnjonesToffeeman]

As a 1970s drinker Nukie brown was never considered a brown ale it was something unique which I liked.brown ale was Manns or forrest which we drank with bitter or mild as a mixer or grannies drank at Christmas

[@huwtindall7096]

Last time I had Newcastle Brown Ale I thought it tasted like an ashtray. Was actually bad. Must have had a bad bottle or something. Been Reluctant to try it again! One thing to say for beers like Heinekin and even Carling is that they rarely change. Others not so much. As a drinker there is something to be said for consistency. It's one of the main pitches for McDonalds i.e. no matter where you are in the world you can get a big mac and it'll taste the same.

[@MichaelWilde.pushbikegraddad]

Newcastle brown ale has not been the same since it move to Burton on trent for producation.

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

@@MichaelWilde.pushbikegraddadit’s brewed in Scotland

[@anthonycrumb5753]

Apart from 'Newkie Broon' it's quite rare to even see a brown ale in a pub. When I first started drinking way, way back when around 1970 brown ales were standard in any pub, there was a bloke I knew who drank brown and mild, good luck with that today. Then of course there was 'mild and bitter' remember that ?. Back in the 60s ' MILD (and) BITTER' was a popular tattoo that guys got either over or under their nipples, probably wouldn't make much sense today as I expect a lot of younger drinkers would not even know what it meant.

[@matthewhigson1232]

It seems like myself you're in a "hopped out" phase where you appreciate the malty classic style beers more

[@kevinpayne3482]

I had Newcastle brown on my Alaskan cruise in June and I did like it

[@leewafer6583]

Avery Ellies Brown ale is pretty good, the old Dogfish head Indian brown was good, but I think t`s been discontinued. Cigar City makes a good brown as well.

[@hywelmurray]

I really really hope that Newcastle Brown has improved because that ale was dying.

[@johnsonsteven664]

Doubt it will ever be the same not being brewed in Newcastle

[@alexlangford6291]

I believe that Newcastle Brown Ale is brewed by Heineken in Amsterdam which may explain the improvement. Should really be renamed Amsterdam Brown Ale.

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

No it’s brewed by Heineken uk in Scotland

[@tomwilliams7391]

I was going to say Newcastle Brown is disgusting, but it's very interesting to see it's improved, I haven't tried it for 20years, I might buy one bottle to try. Hobgoblin is not too bad, but I'm sure it used to be even nicer years ago

[@davidhall158]

In 2015 BJCP guidelines, Hobgoblin was cited as a Commercial example of British Brown Ale. Dropped from the 2021 update though.

[@markjohnathanappleton8642]

Both these beers are very very ordinary,both beers killed off by Heineken and Carsberg/Marston that's why I don't bother buying these beers from masive brewerys,there are loads off good quality beers from independent brewerys.Simom you have go to the doctor's if you think Newcastle brown ale is good or are you been bought out by the 2 brewerys

[@terrata1]

Does anyone remember when Guinness tried to make a Lager in the late 90's called Enigma in a nitro surge can, don't think it lasted long on the market.

[@chaosmilkshake]

In fairness, Guinness own rockshore and harp over in Ireland so that is their lager options for the market. Not sure if either of those get sold in the mainland. Also do hop house 13 tbf

[@tomwilliams7391]

I vaguely remember, it was around when I had my 18th....more recently they tried Hophouse 13 I didn't like it at all, I think it's been discontinued as well now.

[@andrewcarr5923]

I don't remember it but I do remember the bitter in the green can which was pretty decent but that didn't last long either.

[@allyup3404]

Like a few have said Hobgoblin not as good as it was but still decent and especially at that price point and a tad cheaper in places.

[@cactusdan94]

Just out of interest Simon, when you do these "Vs battles" do you finish both beers? Or do you just taste test them?

[@kevinpayne3482]

I actually can get the hobgoblin ruby here in western New York and the Newcastle brown is always available have had the Newcastle but will have to get the hobgoblin to compare

[@thecookreporting]

Hobgoblin IPA is decent but the rest are OK. Newcastle BA I haven't drank in years. It was OK in 2015. Nothing special but solid and better than many options available in some pubs.

[@americasfavoritehoarder]

I drank Newcastle on tap at Fox n Hound pub in FL. Now its produced by Lagunitas in California and weak. Sad

[@cactusdan94]

This is so weird, and I'm glad it's not just me. About 5 or so years ago I had a bottle of newky brown in a local pub and thought it was f**kin awful. Tasted like cheap wurty lager with almost a stale tobacco taste. But yesterday I had a bottle of it for the first time in years, it was a really nice pint I poured it into a glass and the lacing was beautiful it looked like a cask ale! The difference was night and day compared to the bottle I had 5/6 years ago.

[@raygibbs9247]

I have found Newcastle Brown quality to be variable. Buy say four bottles, two taste good, other two are OK but disappointing.

[@mrscoobymacdoo]

Newcastle Brown Ale has vastly improved flavour-wise, a really tasty ale now but i feel the mouthfeel is thinner than it used to be. Not by much but still detectable.

[@GallowayJesse]

Newcastle is a pale shadow of what it used to be back when it was actually brewed in Newcastle

[@stewy62]

I tend to buy Aldi’s Harpers Ruby Ale over Hobgoblin on price, I’d definitely like you to compare the two head to head, Cheers !

[@ELGlueckert]

As far as mass produced beers go, I still like New Castle Brown. They put them in cans too, I'm wondering if they're better in cans.

[@darrensharpe3345]

I've been drinking Newcastle Brown ale for years and it has to be properly cold or it's crap. Warm Newcastle brown ale and cold Newcastle brown ale are two completely different beers. Always drink cold as it says on the label, The star on the back label change once it's cold enough to enjoy. I always drink it ice cold myself.👍🏻

[@cartiernt1981]

I had the same poor reaction to Newcastle about 5 years back (so 2018/2019) .. awful, tasted like a cold coffee filter. Will have to see if I have the same experience! I loved Newcastle in College (2002-2005 I drank a ton of it)

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

Those two beers are very close in color. Both these ales seem like a good bargain.

[@Ngamer834]

I would say Hobgoblin is one of the better bog standard ales you see on the shelves. Definitely not what it use to be but a bit like Guinness I suppose you wont be blown away but a reliable beer to drink. Newcastle brown ale on the other hand is just horrid stuff for me being a previous fan, not sure I could be paid to drink it or maybe I could just wouldn't spend time sipping it.

[@CelticDragon244]

Have you ever tried some of the Tudor Brewery stuff? Would love a review on that!

[@kylereed9309]

I know the cost of living pushed everything up in price, did it push the quality of newcastle brown up as well as the price because I found it pleasant recently when I got some in lidl when I was skint and about 2 years ago it was crap haha 😂

[@iangelling]

I remember Newcy Brown being browner than that. More like Mann’s or Theakston’s. But it has been a while.

[@lars2894]

What do you think about Samuel Smith brown ale? It's the only one commonly available here in the united states.

[@brendandonnelly3063]

I always found Newcastle too sweet. I'm a Guinness man (and it's been donkeys years since I had Hobgoblin), but I saw Sainsbury's had it, so time to try some again. PS..... Love the Sunflower glass! A great wee pub. Peace, pints & respect from Belfast. 💚👍

[@OscarOSullivan]

Well Guinness rates on 45 IBU

[@T-bit]

Durble Door rusty ale could be one to try to match but don't take my word for it.

[@therealisation5500]

Shouldn't Newcastle be poured in a half pint glass years back when I drank brown beer the barman gave you a half glass

[@devianskills1107]

Newcastle Brown Ale is still the same garbage drink it was 2yrs ago (was unfortunate enough to have a bottle a few weeks ago at a mate's). Methinks someone's standards has went vertical. Lol.

[@tommyist598]

Always thought hobgoblin a very very flavourful and delicious beer, Newcastle brown a more straight up brew on the more sweet side. Could drink both, would rate hobgoblin over newcastle brown.

[@taffeylewis]

Man, I'm so pleased about Newcastle Brown. I used to drink this stuff by the gallon back in the 80s. When the bottles were a proper 568ml. Tried it a few years ago and was not impressed. I still prefer Double Maxim, but that's near impossible to get down south.

[@tonymorgan9533]

Taffy... Double Maxim is available in Morrison's for £2.25 where I live in Cardiff. It's a lovely beer.

[@taffeylewis]

@@tonymorgan9533 Alas, I live in Bracknell. I do however have a friend that visits family in Sunderland every now and again. Maybe I'll ask him to get me a crate next time :-)

[@OscarOSullivan]

Do Maxim still use clear bottles? As for pint bottles they are very rare in Ireland. I think all beer and cider large bottles should be 568ml

[@matthewhaddon599]

Last time I drank Newcastle Brown was some time ago and it made me ill, so haven't touched it since, but it had already been ruined. Same with Wychwood...not drunk that recently either, but it has been degraded since Marston's took it over as with a lot of beers sadly. Shepherd Neame still make some of the best ales.

[@mozbarrettbowieman2378]

I’m a young man of 19 so I obviously missed my chance to try them in their hay day but Newcastle brown is my go to any day ruby is second I simply love dark ale’s also stout and witbier they all just wash over your pallet in such a nice way. I’ll drink IPA if it’s all that’s there but I’m allergic to Lager last I drank that crap had a Budweiser at a Paul Weller concert and it was like barley and watered down piss

[@spumemonk11]

Apparently there's a gay club in Soho that sell a similar Ale called Nob Gobbling. Tasting notes say it's a full bodied ale with a hint of Cheddar Cheese.

[@BLMeredith87]

I'm getting notes of salty bleach

[@tobyjackman3212]

Hahaha gay people are funny

[@WolfmanWoody]

I had to look at your previous review of NBA which was 2 years ago, it says. You said it was metalic, like someone had put some copper nails in the bottom of the can. You didn't drink any more other than a couple of sips, so you said. That was brewed in Tadcaster, you said, and I always think of John Smiths. Is there a conection and is it now brewed somewhere else where their equipment is better as well as the quality of ingredients maybe. We had a works up near Newcastle in the mid 80s and I didn't mind drinking it then. I even used to cook with it, pork loin, garlic and NBA, but the garlic may have killed of most of bad taste if there was any. 😵‍💫

[@paddyirishman1607]

Love the both of them beers I was like how could you not like Newcastle 👌 hobgoblin is epic love the video 👌

[@MrMattyd1]

should a true brown ale be creamy and slightly sweet?

[@stuartanderson3479]

What about Mann's Briwn Ale as a comparison?

[@William-Anderson]

Haven't had a nukey brown since 1999

[@jimmyd12001]

In the 1970's I used to drink in a pub called The Magpie which was directly opposite the Newcastle Brewery. Brown Ale was a great beer. Then Heinekin closed it down and production moved to Gateshead, then Tadcaster and I thought it tasted of absolutely fk all. But I'm going to buy a bottle tomorrow to see if it really has improved.

[@matthewrussell8590]

Has it ?

[@jimmyd12001]

No. It's still shit 😂

[@darkvalebrewer93]

Hobgoblin every time for me

[@ralphfiligenzi6180]

I enjoyed the original New Castle Brown Ale about 4 years ago here in America before Lagunitas bought it out, changed it and ruined in my opinion.

[@MrTimjm009]

Ive had a couple of the beers in the Hobgoblin range . Never has cause for complain.

[@jonwoodhouse7]

I think Newcastle Brown became a bit of a trendy student drink in the US many years ago and I think they changed the recipe back then. I guess it could have changed back again?

[@Doupyourflies]

Maybe do Newcastle Brown versus Carling next time?

[@gazmix589]

Newky brown were great in can back in day.. Because it's brown does it not get light strike even though in a clear bottle.. Also why do Corona sell in clear bottles if it wrecks the beer. Green too.

[@hjalmerhjalmer5614]

Why does the first sip of a beer taste so much better. :-)

[@MrMattyd1]

well sir I’m here in Colorado Springs, USA, somebody ruined New castle here, I grew up in Tempe, AZ this beer was a staple I loved it now they’ve ruined it, I’m going to have to try hobgoblin if I can even find here

[@paulthomas-hh2kv]

If you can find it, the original Double Maxim by Vaux brewery Sunderland is available

[@andyc750]

Newkie brown is nothing like it used to be, was something like 6% or more, they properly buggered it up, hopefully on track to back to being what it was now

[@frankcarter6427]

the last newky I drank was horrible, thin and very metallic - off my wish list

[@MrMattyd1]

also what does biscuity mean?

[@TheDJTension]

So he did ,cheers 😊

[@pauljones5066]

like you say, not many good Brown ales about in the shops. of the Brown ales I like Theakstones Best and Barnsley Bitter

[@UKJetFan]

Where was it brewed Simon? I hear the version brewed in the USA is much better than the version brewed in Tadcaster, Yorkshire or Holland.

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

It’s the Netherlands

[@humansvd3269]

Newcastle isn't what it used to be. Hobgoblin makes me happy.... whenever I can find the damn thing!

[@richard99cookify]

Lovely stuff Hobgoblin. Newcie Brown crap though.

[@davidwilliamson9162]

I’d never buy Newcastle brown ale after my last encounter 😂👍

[@rtyrtyrtyus]

They are very different beers!

[@tobyjackman3212]

_Pretty_ certain it's a schoolboy boozing error not drinking NB from a half pint glass, Si. I remember when grotty Hobgoblin pubs were a thing - I used to hang out in the Bath one

[@OscarOSullivan]

Didn’t know they had their own pubs

[@tobyjackman3212]

@@OscarOSullivan We're talking late 1990s

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@tobyjackman3212 Thanks

[@simonharding3109]

Scraping the barrell on this one!

[@bombaybadboy187]

will that door ever be opened again? only time will tell

[@kylereed9309]

Maybe now newcastle brown isn't too bad have a battle between newcastle brown and double maxim

[@sidneybell64]

Hobgoblin by far the best

[@martinserwatka7128]

Hello. How could I get in touch with you ?

[@gt3911]

No maxim or maximus on the shelf? It's often hidden away. Always have it at my asda. 20x better than these two

[@MrMattyd1]

looks your having way to much fun

[@paulthomas-hh2kv]

Double Maxim ex Vaux still available