Norfolk brewers offer taste test to win votes

Two Norfolk brewers are competing to be named a locally-sourced hero for their region.

There are just two weeks left for shoppers to cast their votes for The Norfolk Brewhouse or Woodforde’s Brewery to be named the East of England Co-op’s Producer of the Year.

The pair are now set to ramp up the competition with an event at Norwich’s University of East Anglia designed to encourage the public to taste their products and pick a winner.

This will take place on February 12th at the Hive, between 11am and 3.30pm. Beer lovers will also have the chance to win a crate of local beer to share with their friends.

Master brewer Neil Bain from Woodforde’s Brewery said: “We put our heart and soul into what we produce.

“All we can hope is that the passion and attention to detail that we bestow on our products will be recognised by the people of Norfolk.”

David Holliday, who runs The Norfolk Brewhouse with his wife Rachel, said: “Global domination is not on the agenda. Our passion is being a small local producer.”

 “We are passionate about what we do, and passionate about the county we do it in,” Rachel added. “We take the best of Norfolk and bottle it – simple!”

The pair are two of six finalists from across the East – joining two companies from Essex and two from Suffolk who are also vying for public votes.

Voting runs until 21st February. One winner will be picked from each county, before a panel of food and farming experts will judge who will be crowned overall champion.

Roger Grosvenor, Joint Chief Executive at the East of England Co-op, urged anyone who hadn’t voted yet to join in.

“This will be a fascinating battle between two remarkable brewers. While The Norfolk Brewhouse claim to love Norfolk so much they put the county name on every bottle, Woodforde’s is Norfolk’s largest brewery, which already boast 133 awards for their beer,” he said.

“We are asking the public to pick just one of these incredible businesses to represent Norfolk.

“Not only is it important to get behind local producers but there’s an added incentive for getting involved,” he added.

Those who vote will have a chance to win £500 of vouchers to use in East of England Co-op stores.

To find out more about each of the shortlisted producers and to vote visit: www.eastofengland.coop/poty2019