Newcastle Founders' Ale:
Ah Newcastle, what a good and misunderstood beer you are.  Most people that encounter you are not impressed by your taste and most of those are drinking you incorrectly.  I have found through experience that Newcastle is best enjoyed in a room temperature glass and the beer itself floating around 55 degrees to allow the flavors in the beer to develop through out the drinking process.  With Newcastle’s limited release brew, Founders’ Ale, that knowledge and habit is put to use once again.  An English Pale Ale, this beer is designed to be a bit milder than a typical pale ale and I would have to say that the good people at Newcastle got most of it right.  Can’t tell you how it pours (thanks for the paper cups Hampton) but it does sport a questionable  nose of damp dog and just plain alcohol.  The taste begins sweeter than any pale ale I’ve ever tried with a bit of unidentifiable sweetness (most reviewers I read said honey) and oak and quickly evaporates into a very subtle hoppiness that doesn’t dry out the mouth or throat but leave a feeling of slight film on the back of the tongue which, while noticeable, doesn’t distract one from the beer.  Overall it’s okay, nothing to rush out and get.  I love regular Newcastle and while that love might be leaning this review into a slightly more positive review than it could otherwise be, I feel that the effort is well meant, just the result isn’t there.