Norwich and its Belgian twin city to brew new beer together

For the last year, beverage makers from Norwich and Leuven, based in Belgium, have been brewing beer for festivals in the two cities.

And now eight breweries from the two "twin" cities have come together to create a new drink set to be released later this month.

Strangers Red Ale is being brewed with identical ingredients at both Norfolk Brewhouse - the home of Moon Gazer Ales in Fakenham - and De Coureur in Leuven, east of Brussels.

From left: Bart Delvaux, of De Coureur Brewery in Leuven; Dave Cornell, of Poppyland Brewery; Michael Green, of Tindall Brewery; and Phil Halls, of Grain Brewery (Image: Phil Halls) Beer lovers in both cities will be brought together by video link as they get their first taste of the new ale at simultaneous launch events.

These will take place at The Plough, in Norwich’s St Benedicts Street, and De Coureur’s Belgium tap room.

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The beer will be available in both cask and KeyKeg, and will be bottled by Poppyland Brewery in Cromer.

The other Norfolk breweries behind the beer are Grain Brewery in Harleston and Seething's Tindall Ales.

From left: Michael Green, of Tindall Brewery; Dave Cornell, of Poppyland Brewery; Bart Delvaux, of De Coureur Brewery in Leuven; and Phil Halls, of Grain Brewery (Image: Phil Halls) David Holliday, Moon Gazer Brewery’s owner, said: “We get a real sense that Strangers Red is just the beginning and that more brewers and more beers will be part of this journey.

“It has created a real buzz among the two beer communities and with beer lovers in both regions.

“The red ale has a lovely malt complexity to it and a soft hop which makes for very easy drinking and brings together characteristics of an English bitter and a Belgian ale”.

Andrew Woods and David Holliday of Moon Gazer Ales with their Strangers Red Ale (Image: Phil Halls) The "strangers" part of the name comes from a historical bond between the two cities dating back to the 14th century.

Refugee weavers from Flanders and the Low Countries sought refuge in Norfolk to escape religious persecution for their Protestant beliefs.

Norwich became a sanctuary for the refugees, who were referred to as "strangers".

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In Norwich, dye brought over by the Strangers to create a red madder dye was sold at the Maddermarket.

• A launch event will take place at the The Plough on October 25 at 6pm.