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Norwich Bitter

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Pale golden and light, Norwich Bitter shows a fruity character with floral, citrus aromas, while the hops and English pale malt stay in balance. Maris Otter forms the base, and Brewer's Gold, Krpan and Amarillo are the hops. At 3.8% it is the lightest beer in the brewery's core range, and it carried the name Fat Cat Bitter before it became Norwich Bitter.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycleanbready
malty
clean
bready
earthy
hoppy
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with straightforward malt character from locally grown Maris Otter — biscuit and bread crust notes dominate.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Norwich Bitter

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and a fine, persistent white head. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a delicate foam collar that clings to the glass with steady presence. The overall impression is one of classical English ale clarity — inviting and clean.

pale goldenclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with straightforward malt character from locally grown Maris Otter — biscuit and bread crust notes dominate. Subtle earthy and herbal hop character emerges underneath, with a light floral quality. The overall aroma is restrained and balanced, typical of a well-crafted session bitter.

biscuitbread crustearthy hopsherbal

◐ Taste

The palate enters with clean, crisp malt sweetness and a gentle bready character that carries through the mid-palate. Moderate bitterness builds steadily, complemented by subtle caramel notes and earthy hop presence. The malt-forward profile remains the focus, with sufficient hop bitterness to provide structure without overwhelming the session-friendly body.

malty sweetnessbreadymoderate bitternesscrisp

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively dry, with a lingering subtle bitterness that fades gracefully. A light caramel sweetness persists in the aftertaste, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

drylingering bitternessrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Norwich Bitter

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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, clean, crisp character as Norwich Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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