Shellac can vary widely in color and is generally sold by the color. "Super blonde" is about the lightest you'll find and it's a very pale when applied and dry. I use it all the time in the shop. You can look at
www.shellac.net (price list page) for a sampling of the colors and recommended woods.
If you're buying the premixed "Bullseye" dewaxed clear shellac what you're getting is a blonde shellac and it does look pretty brown in the can. No need to worry, it'll dry not exactly clear, but about what the clear plolurethanes look like after a few years.