Visit to Blackfriars & N2B brewers of Great Yarmouth

Blackfriars - An early December visit by members of Ipswich CAMRA branch to this Gt Yarmouth brewery was a chance to meet the owner (and former head-teacher) Bill Russell, who was originally from Yorkshire. Bill has certainly revived the tradition of quality brewing in this Norfolk town after a gap of nearly 40 years. He launched Blackfriars Brewery just 4 years ago while still working full-time in education, and has very recently transformed some old industrial premises in the town's Main Cross Road (close to the old sea-front amusement park) as his business continues to expand. We tried several of his brews. Bitter (3.8%) - a traditional single-hop beer with mellow tones and a crisp bitter finish. Honey Ale (4.7%) - with Norfolk honey to add a smooth mellow taste. Whyte Angel (4.5%) - a refreshing and golden wheat-type beer. Christmas Ale (5.6%) - based upon Old Habit but with an infusion of herbs and spices. Old Stout - an experimental brew. We were also taken upon a detailed tour of the new premises and could see how much effort is being made to create a quality product. Bill has also started to create a small museum dedicated to Lacons (the last large commercial brewery in Yarmouth which closed in 1968) and has created an educational area devoted to hops and grain along side a shop and bar, to offer visitors a chance to sample his beers. Bill usually brews at weekends with his friend (and another former Suffolk teacher) Maurice Leybourne, but as production has expanded he has also taken on 3 other staff. The visit was also a chance to meet the colourful "uncle Albert" who is their local CAMRA BLO and who helped to serve us with the draft beers. One beer also recently brewed was a special Charter Ale marking the town's 800th anniversary. (Also see www.blackfriars-brewery.co.uk).

Images by Nigel Smith [click on images to view larger]

Bill Russell welcomes us	Maurice & Uncle Albert behind bar	touring the Blackfriars brewery
Carlos & Lesley at N2B	Nigel & Sid at N2B	Rae entertaining at Oliver Twist

Norfolk Square (N2B) brewery - many thanks to Carlos and Lesley Branquinho who enabled members of Ipswich CAMRA branch to visit their brewery (immediately after our Blackfriars visit) which is located at the north of Gt Yarmouth town. The two and a half barrel brewery and shop in Estcourt Rd was a cosy fit for the bus load of still thirsty drinkers, but we certainly all enjoyed sampling the three beers on offer at that time and some took the opportunity to purchase some bottles to take away. Lesley (a barrister) and Carlos (an IT expert) previously lived in London and have made this a life changing business move - we wish them well with their new business and look forward to trying more as they develop their business. The beers tasted were Pi (3.8%) - a light amber ale with a fresh hoppy, citrus aroma. Using a sweet and spicy aroma hop and the other a high alpha bittering hop. Scroby (4.2%) - an amber coloured bitter with a smooth and sweet malty start leading to a more bitter finish. Named after the Scroby Sands wind farm in Great Yarmouth. Sunshiny (5.5%) a golden coloured beer with a bitter sweet taste instilled by the combination of honey and hops. All beers are brewed using local Norfolk malts and two hops. Other beers produced by the brewery include Stiletto 4.5%) a refreshing golden ale with a honey twist and Winklepicker (5.5%) - with a slight roasted flavour, imparted from the chocolate and crystal malts accompanied by a gentle vanilla aroma. (Also see www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk)

NB: After the brewery visit we then headed off to the town centre where several of us enjoyed some meat pies with mushy peas from the traditional local market stalls before heading into the Oliver Twist (North Market Road) where we found two of the Blackfriars beers on offer. Later on the long road home we also visited the Triangle in Lowestoft for a top-up - the fine end to an excellent day!