Lainey is not a beer drinker. She’s a liquor and wine kinda person. I have drinks with the bff regularly and the only thing even close to a fermented drink she’ll have is a Snakebite (Strongbow cider with beer – half and half).
I personally like my beer. I used to read Beer Connoisseur and I suspect it’s the magazine that made me a bit of an arrogant drinker. I started drinking bocks and ales right off the bat just to appear more sophisticated. Heh!
…but you know, it really grows on you. I started to appreciate the taste and complex flavors that goes into a fine ale.
Anyway, whenever I go out drinking with Lainey she’ll be drinking something other than beer. It was decided that last Friday’s watering hole would be Jarrod & Rawlins in Damansara Heights. She works in that area and I live in Damansara Heights but I don’t think we’ve ever been here together.
We usually go to watering holes in MidValley or TTDI so we headed somewhere different this time. I love Jarrod & Rawlins coz it’s a nice and chill place (and it’s very close to where I live – I could even walk home if I was so inclined). I also like the food there and their toilets are awesome.
Yes, their toilets. I know a lot of places have air conditioned toilets but where else have you seen a self contained unit inside the toilet? Not many places right?
It’s awesome. You can take a dump in peace in a place like this. Comfort max.
It sounds a bit wrong to segue back into food after that bit about water closets but I’ll do it anyway. 😉 I’ve already eaten so we shared a plate of stew and mash. It was then that I noticed they have a lot of tent cards on the tables promoting Newcastle Brown Ale for RM 19.
I have fond memories of my two recent trips to England so I ordered one to try. I ended up drinking 3 bottles. Heh! It is really good. It has been around since 1927 – an unconventional ale brewed by Colonel Jim Porter in (you guessed it) Newcastle, England. He was looking to make a unique ale that’s full flavored yet easy to drink.
An ale is a man’s drink, I’ll like to think. I had a lot of ale when I went to England. They really take pride in their beer over there. It’s a lot harder for new and young drinkers to palate since they tend to gravitate towards the lighter lagers. However, Newcastle Brown Ale bucks the trend by being smooth and easy to drink.
Predictably, Lainey won’t drink the Newcastle Brown Ale. I insisted she try it – I told her to forget all the preconceived notions of beer she has and just sip it like a “blind taste test”. She did it for me, although I could tell she didn’t want to. If you know her, you’ll know she doesn’t drink beer.
I was half expecting her to spit it out or even grimace but surprisingly she had some good things to say about it.
Lainey’s take on it: “It’s a lot smoother than beer, goes down a lot better and it doesn’t have a weird aftertaste.”
Now, if you know Lainey that is VERY HIGH PRAISE indeed since she doesn’t even like light lager…and Newcastle Brown Ale is (obviously) an ale.
Beer is serious business to the British. The Newcastle Brown Ale available here comes in bottles, and contrary to popular belief, you can bottle an ale and have it taste like draft beer too. There’s this ale called Kings Table Real Ale that’s only available in the Tower of London. It tastes just as good and fresh as the ales in local pubs.
I like the fact that Newcastle Brown Ale doesn’t have carbonation – it’s an authentic ale. The ales and beers in England doesn’t have carbonation too – it’s pulled from a pump like device – at least the local brews are.
It tastes real smooth and it reminds me a lot of England…sitting down with a pint and just relaxing. Newcastle Brown Ale will appeal to both new drinkers and the more sophisticated beer lovers – it’s easy drinkability will appeal to the younger crowd while the full body and flavor will find affinity with ale purists.
Newcastle Brown Ale comes in a 330 ml bottle with an accompanying glass and pours well with a golden honey color topped with a puffy white head. It’s 4.7% which is lower than what regular drinks over here weighs in at but about the same as British standard drinks.
I found it slightly sweet and I love the caramel aftertaste too. Just drinking one allows me to revisit the nice memories of going into a local pub in England and drinking a pint of ale…while in KL.
Try pairing Newcastle Brown Ale with cheeses, olives and deli meats like salami – all available at Jarrod & Rawlins. This ale also complements dishes like smoked salmon.
It truly deserves the title of The One and Only. I just wish it comes in a larger pint sized bottle coz I’m used to drinking pints instead of half pints. 🙂
That is good to hear, HB. I am a discerning beer drinker as well.
We need more variety and Newcastle Brown Ale distributed to restaurants and food courts is a step in the right direction.
I have seen Newcastle Brown Ale elsewhere in town too, and I love it.
It is good to see the Malaysian beer drinkers start to be more aware of what they are drinking and order the quality ales.
Cheers to you, HB!
Hello Christopher!
Yeah, I agree, it’s always good to have a more premium ale like Newcastle Brown Ale outside of the usual pubs and bars. It goes well with food and sometimes you just want to eat in restaurants instead of pubs.
Cheers Chris! 🙂
I won’t mind to have Newcastle Brown Ale to complement with smoked salmon(my favourite dish)!
Hi, swinging by from My Little Sprouts and thanks you for visititng my little ones!;D
Hello Alice! I’ve always wondered why people like to go to I-City, now I know. Heh!
Yup, ales generally go well with smoked stuff like salmon. 🙂
I’ve seen Newcastle Brown Ale in other cafes and restaurants too!
i’m expecting a birthday post.. tapi tak ada .. LOL..
and this post makes me hungrier.. T.T
oh.. Happy Birthday once again.. ^.^
Thanks Rose! I haven’t even started writing my birthday post. It’s still the 5th of April – my birthday is not over dear. 😀
I’m eating food cooked by my gf right now – my second birthday dinner. I’ll write about my entire birthday once I sort out the formidable amount of photos and videos.
Oh ya, I like Jarrod & Rawlins, this branch is the best, IMHO. It’s the closest one to where I live and the place is nice. 🙂
HB. very nice to chill and for a meal and drink. I love ale very much and also wonder was that mince beef stew over mash potato or ground beef? I live just across the street from a pub Dirty Nellie where I hangout with friends after work in San Francisco.
Hello Mike! Yup, I love ale too. It’s a bit on an aquired taste, not many people like it at first but once you get aquainted with it, you’ll love it.
It’s not mince beef stew btw, it’s beef chunks over mashed potatoes. 🙂
iberian pork pate. yum. can only get nba from j&r?
Hello Gerald! Yeah, I was about to have the Iberian pork pate too. Keen eye you have there. 🙂
Newcastle Brown Ale is available at all outlets of Jarrod & Rawlins and some other cafes and restaurants and pubs – Sid’s, The Apartment, Malones, Finnegan’s, even TGIF at the Curve. 🙂
F..M..L..
Hello bff! 😀
this place a bit pricey…haha…toilet got aircond…
Well, the price is pretty standard compared to similar restaurants.
I like Jarrod & Rawlins coz they actually serve pretty good food! 🙂
…and yes, the toilets too. 😉
Dude, I hope IPAs hit the shore of Malaysia someday, you’ll never go back to plain ale or lager. Designed to quince thirst on a humid hot afternoon, IPAs is my choice of summer drinks.
There are IPAs over here – it’s a matter of taste, I think. I prefer the creamier and heavier ales, but Newcastle Brown Ale is surprisingly smooth and full flavored despite being a rather refreshing ale. 🙂
Thanks, it’s usefully
No worries! 🙂
I have never tried it with smoked salmon. The funny thing is, I have smoked salmon in my fridge right now and no Newcastle Brown Ale. It’s normally the opposite!
Does this mean that you’ll be joining me in rooting for England’s finest football team (in my mind, at least), Newcastle United? 🙂
Heh! Yeah, I know what you mean buddy, it’s usually the opposite for me too – beer but no food. 😉
I’m not a big fan of Newcastle United (the football team) but I guess when they’re playing teams I don’t support, I’ll root for them with a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale in hand. 🙂
I keep forgetting you live SO NEAR to me … yet we’ve never done drinks!!!
Hello Mell! 😀
Yeah, we are practically neighbors! We live so close together.
Come, let’s go and have a couple of drinks!
Next week sound good to you? We can head down to Jarrod & Rawlins again, feel like eating their Iberian pork pate washed down with a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale. 🙂
…but you know, it really grows on you. I started to appreciate the taste and complex flavors that goes into a fine ale.