What’s Up Newcastle’s Sleeve Now, Part II

Beer drinkers beware. Newcastle is back with another edition to its limited edition series. And now, everyone can have it.

If you refer back to the first part of “What’s Up Newcastle’s Sleeve Now,” you will notice that prior to the turn of the new year, only select cities had the privilege of trying the Newcastle LE series (Werewolf, Summer Ale and Winter IPA). The latest of the series, Founders’ Ale, which became available nationwide this month (through April), completed the four-season, small-batch series to compliment its mainstay, Newcastle Brown Ale.

Founders’ Ale officially launched on Jan. 11 and is an homage to the “heritage and tradition of Newcastle’s five founding breweries,” according to the company’s press release of its new brew. Moreover, the five-point star on the Newcastle label is recognition to those breweries; Founders’ Ale is furthering the point of sticking to the roots of the 85-year-old business, despite its rise to beer stardom.

 At 4.8 percent alcohol by volume, Founders’ Ale is an extremely sessionable brew. And if you like English style pale ales, look no further than this one right here.

Upon opening up my first Founders’ Ale – which, let’s be honest, is the sound of a beer being popped open not one of the most glorious sounds a person can hear? – the first thing that came to mind was how terrific it smelled. Here in the States, we think of pale ales as a milder version of an IPA, with strong hop notes, but not overly bitter as you get in the IPA. Unlike the Stateside version of a pale, this English-style pale is hopped more subtly. Despite the subtle hops of the 20-IBU brew, the Styrian Goldings hops still come through.

My first sip of Founders’ Ale confirmed by previous assumption: this is definitely a session ale, hands down. Also noteworthy from this ale is, like many beers from the UK, it can be enjoyed at multiple temperatures. I enjoyed mine at about 35 degrees (Fahrenheit, of course), but there is no beer-drinking molecule in my body that would say this couldn’t be thoroughly enjoyed at 55 degrees. In fact, I’d be inclined to say that, with this beer’s natural smoothness – along with its sessionable qualities – this would be better off enjoyed at a higher temperature. Cask-conditioned of this pale ale would probably be a Zane Lamprey, “Wow, that’s good Founders’ Ale,” moment.

They have 85 years of tradition in the Newcastle family, so it’s not like they don’t know what they are doing. However, with this limited series, although I was excited to try it when they first came out, I would be remiss to say I wasn’t slightly skeptical about them branching out into new avenues of beer making – at least at the commercial, worldwide level. Over the course of the past two years, I’ve picked up a six or 12 pack of the limited editions and haven’t been disappointed. Founders’ Ale is the capper for me. Newcastle can make beer outside of its brown ale, and they can do it extremely well.

Be sure to pick up your 12 pack of Founders’ Ale. Get it at your local package store from outside of the refrigerator. Go home and put six in the fridge, six out. Find out for yourself which way you like it better. One thing is for sure, you will like both, but which one is better to you?

Like it? Hate it? Love it? Let me know. I’m sure you’ll be pleased though.

Giovanni Albanese Jr.
San Jose, Calif.
GAlbaneseJr@yahoo.com
Follow Giovanni on Twitter
@GAlbaneseJr