BRAND: Scottish & Newcastle UK LTD

NAME: Brown Ale

TYPE OF BEER: Northern English Brown

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 4.7%

IBUs (Bitterness Units): Not specified; likely in the 20 to 30 range of 100

PRICE: Around 22 bucks for a 5 liter mini keg

DESCRIPTION: NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE just might be the world’s most well-known Brown Ale. First brewed in 1927, “Newkie’s” signature rust-brown color is showcased in a famous clear bottle. Also available in 12-ounce cans, Newcastle is now offered in a 5-liter mini “DraughtKeg,” the same type of keg that was introduced by Heineken for its “BeerTender” table top draught beer cooler system. The BeerTender system combines a mini fridge with a CO2 pressurized keg for at-the-pub-like carbonation and rich flavor. The good news is you don’t need to purchase the BeerTender system at nearly $150 to enjoy a pub-like beer pour. Each DraughtKeg comes with a two piece mini tap that is easy to assemble.

Newcastle Brown epitomizes the description of a Northern English Brown Ale as found in the Beer Judge Certification Program style guidelines. The guide summarizes the beer as having a “gentle to moderate malt sweetness, with a nutty, lightly caramelly character and a medium-dry to dry finish. Malt may also have a toasted, biscuity, or toffee-like character. Medium to medium-low bitterness. Malt-hop balance is nearly even, with hop flavor low to none. Some fruity esters can be present; low diacetyl (especially butterscotch) is optional but acceptable.”

Having consumed gallons of Newcastle in bottles, cans and on tap, I was excited to try the new DraughtKeg. I was hoping the mini keg would replicate the great on-tap flavor I’ve experienced in many pubs across the country as I am not a huge fan of Newcastle in a bottle.

Why is that? It’s fairly well known that clear bottles allow UV light to penetrate the beer and spoil the hops, which results in a “skunky” aroma and biting aftertaste. Newcastle in particular seems to be vulnerable to this issue, especially when purchased in a six pack. (I recommend you buy a 12 pack since the bottles are fully enclosed by the cardboard case.) I’m not sure why the company has stuck with clear bottles over the years (one must assume it is to showcase the color of the beer) – the new DraughtKeg, which sports an internal chamber filled with CO2 to produce an on-tap-like, frothy head – aims to eliminate those issues by keeping the famous Newkie beer free of sunlight spoilage.

POUR/TASTE: I decided to do this review as a “head-to-head” roundup that pits Newcastle in a can, bottle and the new mini keg. I wanted to see what differences I could taste – subtle or not – between the three offerings. (Interested in how to set up the new mini keg’s tap system? See the video below.)

Newcastle offers a beer glass for its Brown Ale called the “Geordie Schooner,” a specially designed 12-ounce glass. I didn’t have one on hand, so I grabbed a few regular pint glasses for the comparison. The pour characteristics of the can, bottle and mini keg were very different. The can poured a nice inch-wide head, while I needed to pour the bottle a bit harder to produce similar results. The mini keg pour really shined with its CO2 charge, producing a super carbonated, massive head. I’d suggest that you pour the first beer from the keg VERY slowly as the first pour seems to be supercharged with the CO2 as it's released. My first pour from the keg produced a half glass full of foam. Subsequent pours were a bit more manageable and consistent.

On to the taste test. From the can, Newcastle Brown has the signature Newkie flavor: slightly sweet caramel-like malts with a dry, slightly bitter finish and a subtle dark grape / “iron” like aftertaste. The bottle produced similar results, albeit slightly flatter carbonation and a very pronounced “skunk” aroma and taste. This is the first time I’ve been really able to notice this clear-bottle flaw – the skunkiness made the bottle beer more bitter than sweet. Bummer.

Enter the DraughtKeg. The first thing that is immediately apparent when tasting a beer poured from this system is how much more “vibrant” the aromas are; it takes the Newcastle flavor to a different level. I noticed less bitterness and more sweet malt and nuttiness. The beer has a very smooth, full mouthfeel despite the rather active carbonation levels – making a beer from the DraughtKeg super “sessionable” all day long. The built in CO2 dispenser really adds a new dimension to home-poured brew.

WOULD YOU BUY IT AGAIN? Yes. DraughtKeg is a bit more expensive than cans or bottles, but in my opinion, the flavor difference is worth it. Each keg holds five liters of beer, which, if my math is correct, is around 14 twelve-ounce beers. At slightly over $20, the keg is more $$ than buying the same amount of cans and bottles. Newcastle claims that the beer in the keg will remain fresh for up to 30 days after the first beer has been poured, but really … who takes 30 days to drink beer?

Gripes? The tap leaks. There is a fairly steady drip from the spigot after each beer poured. My remedy for that was to pull the spigot out of the keg after each beer, thus eliminating the drip issue. Doing this, however, resulted in some minor contact issues from the tap handle when the spigot was reinstalled. I heard a slight “clicking” noise as I pulled the round tap handle forward to pour a beer and the rate the beer was dispensed was slightly less. Re-seating the spigot with a firm push seemed to resolve the issue.

Final results? I’d buy the keg first, the can second and the bottles (in a 12 pack only) last. If you’ve never tried a “newkie,” do so. It is a very drinkable beer despite its darker color and I have converted several run-of-the-mill beer drinkers with this style. Although it’s not my favorite English Brown Ale – that belongs to Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale – it is my preferred go-to English Brown that can stand up to all weekend activities while allowing you to still stand up after several pints.

Ever try Newcastle? How about the new DraughtKeg? Share your opinions below …

KEG FRONT

KEG SIDE

TAP SYSTEM

CAN, BOTTLE & KEG POURS

POUR VIDEO

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