I havetravelled several times with beer bottles. It is usually OK to have them in your carry-on - preferable as you can protect it from being tossed around.
If you check it I would recommend doing the following. wrap once with bubble wrap or a cloth then put the wrapped bottle in a big ziplock bag then put the zipock bag between a sweater or towel in your luggage.
This has worked fine for me a couple of times.

About Newcastle in the US - readily available on tap & bottled. not sure if it contract brewed - if so - they probably do it in Cananada - so it will still qualify as an import.
A great internet forum(of which I am also a member for all things beer related is www.ratebeer.com.
R