Newcastle Brown Ale is a widely available English Style Brown Ale. The brew is notable for its full-bodied dark ale mouth-feel but lacks the strong bitterness associated with the style.

The Good: Newcastle hits your mouth with a rich malt taste that is comfortably smooth. The taste is very well balanced and easy to drink. Additionally, the slight nut-flavored aftertaste gives the beer an excellent finish.

The Bad: The thicker body and powerful taste will likely overpower the typical American macro-brew drinker. Additionally, the beer is better suited to accompany a meal as opposed to drinking the entire six-pack while watching the game.

Price: $7.99 a six-pack

The Recommendation: Fans of stout-style beers and other dark ales will feel right at home with Newcastle Brown Ale. If you like a darker beer but feel that India Pale Ales are too strong, brown ales like Newcastle should be to your liking.

However, you should not start your beer-horizon expansion with this beer.

The Bottom Line: Newcastle Brown Ale is an excellent choice as a less-bitter tasting brown ale that doesn’t skimp on body. Newcastle should be marketed as a beer-drinker’s alternative to starting out the night, similar to SoCo Lime.