Mr Wear made me swallow! (Newcastle Brown Ale)

Member Name: jo1l

Product:	Newcastle Brown Ale
Date:	01/12/02 (779 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: erm erm

Disadvantages: loads!

Sometimes taking up a dare is a bit stupid but not wanting to appear chicken in the face of such a dare I rose to the challenge of actually writing an opinion on that great foe of mine Newcastle Brown Ale or fondly know by it's millions of fans ( not me I add)as Newkie Broon! Rumour had it in Tooyoo circles that I had a particualr fondness for this beverage - you know who you are so I won't name and shame! But to be honest when it comes to beer I'm a girlie lager drinker! Give me a nice gin n tonic and I've very happy thanks all the same!


Now the terms of the dare was that I had to not only write an op on the dreaded brown ale but I had to taste it as well! After several minutes of plea bargaining, I agreed to my fate! So here I am with a bottle of Newkie broon staring at me and teasing me!


~History~

I first came across the evil known as Newkie Broon in about 1986 when it suddenly became the latest fashionable drink for the majority of the people I hung out with! A bottle of broon appeared to be the latest accessory to go with your doc martin shoes and flat top hair style. a bit like having an alcopop and a mobile phone thesse days! I'd just like to point out that I did not have a flat top but the Doc Martin shoes did look rather fetching with my denim mini skirt!

Ok so lets have some proper history of the evil ale -well anything to while away the time till I actually have to sample it!

Newcastle Brown ale is brewed by the Scottish and Newcastle Brewries.It was first produced in 1927, winning medals in the 1928 at the international brewing fair of that year. If you look closely on the label - not that I'd recommend you get over familiar with this evil drink you'll see a copy of the medal on the label! Sells boomed of the evil brown ale in the pre and post war era.

Newcastle Brown was synominious with the hard working grafting ship buliding and mining industries of tynes
ide. During the recession era of the late 70's and 80's sales dipped to an all time low. It was then that Newcastle Brown ale was given a new image. In the 80's it moved away from the flat cap and whippet image snug room drink to being quite a trendy drink hence the label was revamped and the new slogan " the one and only" was adopted.

Newcastle Brown is the best selling bottled beer here in the UK. Scottish and Newcastle Breweries also brew such delights as Beamish Stout ( I've not sampled that one!) McEwans India pale ale ( nor that one!)and Theakston's Old Peculier ( and it did taste parculiar!)amongst others.


~Cost~

Now I didn't particularly go hunting for this wonderous brew, but it did cost me £1.85 in my local Co-Op. I'm sure you can get it cheaper eles where if you're that way inclined!


~Packaging~

Ok so you all know it comes in bottles but I'm doing any thing to not actually have to taste the stuff! So did you know you can get it in a handy four pack as well? Not that four can's of the evil brew will ever be darkening my door I can tell you! Also did you know it was in 1951 with the opening of a new bottling factory that they did away with the old screw tops replacing them with tin crown cap? See you learn something every day!

Ok Ok I'm going to open the bottle I promise just as soon as I can find the bottle opener that appears to mysteriously disappeared - funny that.....


~The Bouquet~

Can't you tell I've read one of those nice Mr Gluck wine books! No I'm not provarocating here just I feel you need to know the whole experience! I'm sniffing now and I'm getting aroma's of malt and yeast, not unduly unplesant but not the nicest smell I've smelt today - that would have to be the Coco Chanel Mameselle I liberally sprayed myself with in Boots this afternoon!

Stop scrowling down
to the taste bit it's coming I promise!


~The Pour~

Ok so some of you Newkie Broon fiends will be shaking your heads in despair here as it's meant to drank only out of the bottle but I've read Proxam's beer op's and if he can pour so can I!

I now have a glass of what looks like strong tea, no frothy creamy head just flat tea!


Not having a webcam is definetly an asset I can tell you as I go for that all important taste!


~The Taste~

Now I had hoped I could have done what wine tasters do, ie swill it around abit and then spit it, but unfortunately my challenger said I had to swallow! Now this is the bit I'm not looking forward to I can tell you! The last time I tasted the evil brew was at the end of along night and it was the only alcoholic beverage left! I wonder why? I have this vague memory of it being blinking horrid!

Ok ok I'm going to taste it now!

Now I'd have loved to have put words like Ewwwwwww,Yucky,Arghhhhhhhhh find me some mouth wash! But it wasn't that unpleasant. It tastes ever so malty in a kind of watered down way.It also seemed a little bit flat.It leaves a slightly stronger after taste. I wouldn't say it'll become an all time favourite of mine or indeed I'd sample it again but it isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be!!

Now I'm just waiting to read a Babycham op......

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