Kevin Hopkins dropped us a line last week to let us know about a brand new brewery that’s just opened its doors in the Norwich area. Norwich Bear Brewing [The Ketts Tavern, 29 Ketts Hill, and The Rose, 235 Queens Rd, both in Norwich and owned by Kevin and Dawn.”

Here’s the rest of the press release:

“Phase 1 has been to produce 3 cask ales – ‘Classic’ a 3.8% refreshing golden ale, ‘Legend’ a 4.3% copper-coloured fruity beer and ‘Platinum Blonde’ a 5% full flavoured hoppy ale.

“Phase 2 will take a little longer – a refurb of The Rose to include a small brewery (1.5 – 2 barrel) to indulge in some ‘extreme brewing’ – small batches of unusual, individual and distinctive beers to be mainly bottled – guest brewers and enthusiastic amateurs are welcome to become involved!

“Both pubs will become ‘Beer Emporiums’ and will exclusively sell these beers plus bottled beers from Belgium, Germany, USA and anywhere else offering exciting and different brews. Phase 2 is expected to be completed later this year.

“‘Classic’ and ‘Legend’ are on sale now at The Ketts Tavern and The Rose.”

I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of that extreme brewing project.

A further email from Dawn, just in today, adds that “Norwich Bear Brewing Co’s Platinum Blonde (5%, full flavoured and hoppy) is available now for the first time, ever, anywhere in the whole great big wide world, at The Rose”.

Norwich is quite a trek from Manchester, so it’s unlikely that I will be able to sample Norwich Bear’s beers any time soon, alas. But it’s always great to see a new brewery starting up and I’d like to wish Kevin, Dawn and Carlos every success with their venture!