ICENI BREWERY

There can be few breweries that have a more exotic history than this one -- exotic, that is, not long! Iceni was founded in 1995, after a dream in which the owner, Brendan Moore, saw Queen Boudicca stopping a lorry full of duty-free French lager, and indicating the pure waters of the Ickburgh spring. The choice of name -- Boudicca's tribe -- was self-evident! Follow the link to 'history' on the brewery website for the tale in pictures!

This is a visitor-friendly brewery: as well as a shop, there's a hop garden and wheat field. Tours can be arranged. As the invitation on their website says: "feel free to sniff the malt, rub the hops to bring out the aroma and sample the beers".

The beer

Iceni is a prolific brewer, with frequent specials and a seasonal brewing policy with ales for the summer, Christmas and even 4th July! Our own first taste was in the 'Crown' at Downham Market, who often feature Iceni as one of their guest ales -- watched by the regulars who knew what was coming, I had the glass to my lips before I noticed that the beer was red!

There's a full catalogue, with tasting notes, on their website, which is a good place to check out what might be available now. And if you can't find it locally, the brewery shop sells practically everything they brew to take away. Meanwhile a (small) selection of beers:

Fen Tiger: 4.2% abv, A malty beer brewed with coriander; a fine distinctive taste.
Pride of Norfolk: 4.0% abv. Iceni's first beer using traceable malt from Branthill Farm near Wells in North Norfolk. A reddy-gold colour.
Boadicea Chariot Ale: 3.8%. Iceni's first brew of all. A very moreish 'session' beer.

The beers listed below are all somewhat different from the usual range:
Deirrie of the Sorrows: 4.4% abv. This is a beer suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It's a light amber ale with a distinctively pleasant taste that lingers.
Thomas Paine porter: 4.2% abv. Evidence that the range of Iceni beers is not limited to bitter beer. This prize-winning beer is a dry black stout in the Irish tradition.
Red, White & Blueberry: A full-bodied golden bitter with blueberries!