Brewers from Norwich and Leuven are raising a glass once again, to the long-standing connection between the two regions, with the launch of “Strangers’ Blonde” a new Anglo-Belgian collaboration beer inspired by Belgian and British brewing traditions and brewed in Norwich.
The new beer has been created through the ongoing brewing partnership between Norfolk brewers and Belgian breweries, building on the success of previous cross-border collaboration brews developed through the Norwich and Leuven beer twinning initiative.
Brewed in the Norwich region, Strangers’ Blonde is a Belgian style blonde ale made using locally sourced UK malts, grains and hops including heritage varieties, combined with a classic Belgian style yeast chosen for its fruity esters and subtle spicy phenols. The beer is finished with British hops including the relatively new Opus variety, added late in the brewing process for aroma and character.
The idea behind the beer was simple: a beer brewed in Norwich but unmistakably Belgian in style. “Following the success of Strangers’ Red Ale, which was more British in style, we wanted to create something that had more Belgian features,” said Phil Halls of Grain Brewery.
“Working with Adept and De Coureur breweries from Leuven, meant we could blend Norfolk brewing expertise with traditional Belgian influences to create a beer that reflects both regions.”
The collaboration continues a cultural connection between Norwich and Flanders that dates back to the 14th century, when Flemish refugee weavers, who became known as the “Strangers,” settled in Norwich after fleeing religious persecution in the Low Countries. Their arrival transformed Norwich’s textile industry, bringing prosperity and wealth to the area, and left a lasting cultural influence that still links the two regions today.
That shared heritage became the inspiration behind the original Strangers’ beer collaborations and remains central to the project today, celebrating friendship, craftsmanship and cultural exchange between Norfolk and Leuven through brewing.
The first public outing will be at the Cambridge Beer Festival, followed by a simultaneous launch in Leuven at De Coureur Brewery and at The Plough pub in Norwich on 28 May 2026.
Strangers’ Blonde will be available in Norwich at The Plough, The Grain Brewery Taproom and The Leopard, where plans are underway for a special keg versus cask serving of the beer. In Belgium, in addition to the De Coureur taproom, the beer will be available at De Smederij,a converted forge and meeting point, just outside Leuven, where visitors can find a range of beers by the Adept brewery.
The Norwich and Leuven beer twinning initiative continues to strengthen brewing and cultural ties between the two regions through collaborative recipes, brewer exchanges and shared celebrations of beer heritage.
Photo credit: Brewery de Coureur
Brewers that have been part of the twin cities initiative:
Braxatorium Parcencis (Leuven)
Den Adept (Herent, near Leuven)
Hof ten Dormaal (Tildonck, near Leuven)
Moon Gazer Brewery (Fakenham, Norfolk)
Grain Brewery (Harleston, Norfolk)
