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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Brewery Tap, Norwich
Norwich
NR3 4LF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Fat Cat Brewery Tap
The range of beers available in Norwich's top alehouses never ceases to amaze me and I think it's fair to say that the 'Fat Cat' pubs lead the way with a staggering selection of drinks available in each. This particular venue is situated next door to their own Fat Cat Brewery, so it is only right that the range here focusses more on their own beer. Options on cask on this visit were Fat Cat Wild Cat, Cougar, Bitter, Honey Ale, Cecil's Revenge, Curly Cat, Hell Cat, IPA, Marmalade, Porter, Puma and Stout plus permanent guests in the shape of Oakham Bishops Farewell and Adnams Southwold Bitter. A healthy list in itself, but in addition to this, a further 20 ciders and perries were listed on blackboards around the bar area, nine craft keg beers from the likes of Beavertown, Mikkeller, London Fields and other such micros could be viewed across the taps and there were fridges packed with interesting bottled beer options plus a decent wine list. I had a tough enough time choosing from this lot, but to further complicate matters there was a beer festival in progress in a tent in the beer garden, where countless additional cask ales were being dispensed. I only had time for one pint, but I would imagine I would need to devote several weeks in order to sample everything on offer. Eventually I plumped for the Hell Cat - a decent, fruity blonde ale in perfect condition.
The pub is an unusual place, set inside a barn-like building with a straightforward single room interior. There are flagstones throughout and the servery runs down the right hand side of the room with the tap room visible through a window at the far end. High stools and drinking ledges fill the space opposite the bar whilst hard banquette booths run along the facing wall. There is a raised seating area to the front with standard tables and chairs and a similarly furnished space can be found to the rear, near the taproom windows. The décor is pretty eclectic, with lots of old pub signs throughout which look excellent, some old cash registers in the windows, hops everywhere, casks, jugs, tankards, brewery signs and mirrors all vying for position and a couple of huge (street?) lamps. Much of this is suspended from the beams, under the gabled roof, whilst to the rear there are some interesting photos of the brewery on the walls. The garden seems very nice, but with the beer festival taking up a lot of the space, it was difficult to get a proper feel for it. Where's Wally pictures have been hung above the urinals in the gents toilets, giving you something to do whilst taking a leak. They've also amusingly captioned them 'Where's Willy?' in a bid to encourage you to keep track of your aim!
This is a remarkable place which, with its extensive ale range and interesting décor, demands repeat visits. I found it cosy, welcoming and exactly the sort of place I could happily spend several hours working through all those lovely beers. Much like its sister pub, the original Fat Cat, this is an essential port of call for any visit to the city.
On 14th November 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Fat Cat Brewery Tap
Have to agree with Gill this pub is truly superb. There were ten ales on gravity and eight on handpump on our visit. Staff were friendly and passionate about their beers. I asked for a cob, but unfortunately they were all gone. The only problem we had was trying to leave. The Dark Star Hophead and Phoenix Arizona kept us here for a good while. Looking forward to another visit.
On 15th November 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3684 recommendations about 3684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Cidershed
This was one of the best pubs we found on our trip round the 15 Good Beer Guide pubs in the 2013 edition. Loved it. Friendly place with a great range of their Fat Cat beers, plus a few other real ales too. It is now called Fat Cat Brewery Tap, and is very smart inside. The cobs were fantastic - cheese and chilli - hot hot hot!! Number 11 bus drops you at the door. We enjoyed Fat Cal Hell Cat and Potbelly Bellowhead.
On 14th September 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paul elgood left this review about The Cidershed
you will either love it or hate it.i love it,a real ale or cider drinkers heaven,some top quality bands from all over the u.k.visit.try the wildcat,its brewed on the premises along with a number of ales and the landlords own award winning ciders.
On 10th August 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 17 recommendations about 17 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Cidershed
When i went i this pub it was just called the Shed and it did resemble a large shed from the outside.
Once inside the pub was better than it looked from the outside and there was a decent choice of beers on the bar,i had a drink of Fat Cat bitter and this was a very nice drink the other beers that i noticed were Fat Cat Top Cat,Taylor Landlord and Adnams bitter.
The beer was nice enough here but this is not really the sort of pub that i like to go in.
Pub visited 3/6/2006
On 3rd June 2006
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]