Newcastle Brown Ale

In the first chapter of the book, Blinded by the Night, Akira Toyoda, the detective and main character, is in a pub in Roppongi drinking his favorite beer, Newcastle Brown Ale. It is only in the past decade that Newcastle Brown Ale has become available in Japan, but it is gaining popularity because it is full of flavor and easy to drink. In fact, it is now considered chic to walk into a Tokyo English pub and order a Newcastle Brown Ale without as much as a glance at the menu. Newcastle Brown Ale Introduced in 1927, Newcastle Brown Ale was an immediate hit with beer drinkers on Tyneside, and its fame soon spread. One year later, in 1928, Newcastle Brown Ale won two gold medals at the International Brewers’ Exhibition. This naturally helped to increase the popularity of the beer, especially in the North East of England, where it became a symbol of the tough, working-class men employed in the shipbuilding, mining and steel industries. Over the years it has acquired a fearsome reputation as a drink that drives men crazy, and for almost half a century there have been rumors of a special ward in Newcastle General Hospital for those who have lost their minds to this fearsome drink. There is, however, no truth in these rumors. Newcastle Brown Ale is no more likely than any other beer to send men, or women, mad—if consumed in moderation! Newcastle Brown Ale is a dark brown beer that has Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG), which are all European Laws to protect the names of regional foods. It is the top selling bottled beer in the UK and Europe and the second most popular imported ale in the US. In Newcastle, the beer is called the “Dog,” which is abbreviated from the two phrases “I’m going to walk the dog” (take the dog for a walk) or “I’m going to see a man about a dog” (thinking of buying a dog), both of which mean ‘I am going to the pub.“ It is also called “Broon,” which is the Geordie pronunciation of the word “brown.” In other parts of England, it is called “Newkie Brown.” The logo of Newcastle Brown Ale is the famous five pointed blue star, the points of which represent the original five Newcastle breweries that had amalgamated in 1890. The center of the blue star features a Silhouette of the Tyne Bridge. The label consists of the blue star and images of the gold medals on either side. In 2006, to honor the Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer on his retirement from football, a special Shearer edition was released. This unique packaging for this edition features a black and white label, the colors of Newcastle United.

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