The U.S. Return of Imported Newcastle Brown Ale | VinePair

The day after Christmas is typically a super-slow time for breaking news, especially in beer. Man drinks nine spiced Christmas ales! Tune in at 11 to hear about his hangover cure — leftover ham!

But on Dec. 26, a tantalizing post appeared on the BeerAdvocate forum. During a recent shopping trip, a North Carolina beer drinker found a 6-pack of Newcastle Brown Ale, an easygoing British classic bearing an iconic blue star on its label.

Lagunitas Brewing, the U.S. subsidiary of Newcastle’s parent company, Heineken, had been producing a different, more assertively hopped version for the American market. However, for the first time in half a decade, the beer appeared to be brewed in the U.K. according to its original recipe and exported to the United States. (The words “imported from England” on the label were a big clue.)

“This is the real deal U.K. version,” they wrote.

Knowing better than to trust an anonymous internet commenter, I contacted Heineken to confirm. In spring 2024, Lagunitas shuttered its Chicago brewery, winding down domestic production of Newcastle Brown Ale. That move led to production returning to Heineken’s Tadcaster brewery in northern England. Fresh batches of the smooth, caramel-kissed brown ale floated across the Atlantic Ocean late last year and landed on store shelves.

“We’re bringing back the original recipe,” says Adena McMahon, director of innovation at Heineken USA.

Several decades ago, Newcastle Brown Ale was among America’s most influential imported beers, introducing drinkers to a broader world of flavor and inspiring many to embark on a career in craft brewing. The brand’s switch to the original recipe is like an old friend returning to greet you at a beloved bar, changed by a winding journey but right back where they belong.