Spot on its not named Nuclear Brown for nothing it fills you with wind and tastes horrid. Much rather have one from the micro breweries anytime.
It has long been known that the colour in Newcie Brown is caramel. It has also long been known that it is an inferior beer - sorry. As a northerner it hurts me to say this! Now brewed by Heineken, of course, not exactly a recommendation. So many wonderful brewers up here, for example Wylam.