Reply #10: That's roughly true, IMO [View All]

[muriel_volestrangler]

Microbreweries tend to brew for people being more adventurous in taste, while most British brewers are aiming to produce beers that people will stick with as favourites, so go more for a 'happy medium' - but still with far more taste than the American mega-brews.

Newcastle Brown Ale isn't one of my favourites either - not much body, as you say. But since it's widely available in bottles, it's an OK standby if you find yourself in somewhere they don't really care about beer - a hotel bar, for instance. But even there, in the past few years, brewers have often managed to sell them an acceptable beer they can keep on tap without specialist knowledge. I'd certainly expect an average pub to have a couple of bitters on tap that are more interesting than Newkie Brown.

I'd say Sam Adams is the nearest in concept to how a lot of British breweries run - commercial, but with some commitment to an interest in taste and style. It's also the only big brewer I saw in the USA listed under 'imports' :rofl: .