PubsandBeer

History: Home > Virtuoso (formerly Ketts Tavern)

Virtuoso (formerly Ketts Tavern) (Free House)

We believe this building is NO LONGER a pub

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Colorado RedExcellent2
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Norwich Pale Ale (NPA)Excellent1
Golden Triangle - CitropoloisExcellent1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear BoudiccaExcellent1
Top Out - Staple Pale AleExcellent1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear ClassicExcellent2
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear PawterExcellent1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear New SeasonGood1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Teddy BearGood1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Pooh BearGood1
Wild Beer Co. - FreshGood1
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Santa ClawsGood1
Hop Studio - Fire & IceAcceptable1
Ilkley - Mary JaneNot Tried0
Bristol Beer Factory - SevenNot Tried0
St Austell - Spring BrewNot Tried0
Wild Beer Co. - Madness IPANot Tried0
Hop Studio - YorkNot Tried0
Wild Beer Co. - MillionaireNot Tried0
Axholme - Root BeerNot Tried0
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear LegendNot Tried0
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Platinum BlondeNot Tried0
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Smokey Bear V2Not Tried0
Elmtree - Burston's CuckooNot Tried0
Lymestone - Stone BroodNot Tried0
Ilkley - Ruby JaneNot Tried0
Adnams - Ghost ShipNot Tried0
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - La TèneNot Tried0
Picture 1. Virtuoso (formerly Ketts Tavern), Norwich, Norfolk

Visits Details

28 May 2015 (HSB)
16:15 Once again very quiet. I wish this place would put the pumpclips on the handles rather than hanging them above the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wild Beer Co. - Fresh5.50Good
Ilkley - Mary Jane3.50Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Seven4.20Not Tried
St Austell - Spring Brew4.30Not Tried
Wild Beer Co. - Madness IPA6.80Not Tried
Hop Studio - York3.80Not Tried
Wild Beer Co. - Millionaire4.70Not Tried
Axholme - Root Beer3.90Not TriedGarden herbs and spices.
08 Apr 2015 (HSB)
17:45 Having got back to Norwich this was our first stop as my mate hadn't seen the changes made. Very quiet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Top Out - Staple Pale Ale4.00Excellent
Elmtree - Burston's Cuckoo3.80Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Colorado Red5.90Not Tried
Adnams - Ghost Ship4.50Not Tried
Lymestone - Stone Brood4.40Not Tried
Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - La Tène3.50Not Tried
29 Mar 2015 (Dosser)
25 beers plus on here
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Colorado Red5.90ExcellentCrackin
28 Mar 2015 (HSB)
13:00 My first visit since the change of ownership. Now called the Virtuoso Smokehouse. The Norwich Bear range of beers has gone, to be replaced by a varied selection for all over the country. There is now a range of craft keg beers alongside the regular fizz. The pub has been decorated and smartened up. The beer choice is displayed on computer screens over the bar with pumpclips hanging on hooks next to them. I was stuffed choosing a beer without my glasses on. The pub itself was quiet. The smoked food platter was excellent. The nano brewery kit from the Rose has been moved here and is planned to be used sometime in the future.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Colorado Red5.90ExcellentWow. What a beer. Loaded with hops.
Golden Triangle - Citropolois3.80ExcellentAs hoppy as the name suggests.
Hop Studio - Fire & Ice5.00Acceptable"Winter pale ale with a hint of vanilla." More than a hint, the vanilla came out fighting. Hard going on its own but worked well with the food.
Elmtree - Burston's Cuckoo3.80Not Tried
Lymestone - Stone Brood4.40Not Tried
Ilkley - Ruby Jane4.00Not Tried
03 Oct 2013 (HSB)
15:15 Very quiet. Half the bar was out of use and undergoing re-decoration.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Classic3.80GoodA aftertaste reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc wine
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Legend4.30Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Pooh Bear4.20Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Norwich Pale Ale (NPA)4.70Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Platinum Blonde5.00Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Smokey Bear V24.50Not Tried
15 Dec 2012 (HSB)
Late afternoon. Packed with people watching the football on the tele.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Classic3.80Excellent
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Santa Claws4.80Good
25 Sep 2012 (HSB)
Late afternoon. Steady trade.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Boudicca4.50Excellent
08 Sep 2012 (Stephen Harris)
A few customers starting to trickle in on a Saturday evening. Watched a bit of Paralympic sport on TV here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Norwich Pale Ale (NPA)4.70ExcellentGolden, hoppy and full-bodied.
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear New Season4.50GoodAmber-coloured, sweet and fruity.
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Classic3.80Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Legend4.30Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Pooh Bear4.20Not Tried
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Platinum Blonde5.00Not Tried
25 Feb 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Fairly quiet on a Saturday lunchtime with a few locals in, some enjoying the excellent home cooked food.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Pawter5.00ExcellentAn authentic brown porter that has an excellent balance of flavours. Bitterness comes both from dark malts and hops and a little sweetness from the malt too. The finish is fruity with a hint of citrus. My score 17/20.
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Teddy Bear3.70GoodAn amber brew with malt dominating over hops. The finish is fairly dry and biscuity. My score 15/20.
Norfolk Square - Norwich Bear Pooh Bear4.20GoodA pale beer with added honey giving a sweetish and smooth character. Some citrus hop in the finish. My score 15/20.

About the Virtuoso (formerly Ketts Tavern)

The pub sign. Virtuoso (formerly Ketts Tavern), Norwich, Norfolk

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent8
Good6
Acceptable1
Poor-

The pub is found in Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4EX.

Formerly the Ketts Tavern with its own brewery Norwich Bear. Now renamed Virtuoso Smokehouse with a revamp of beer range to be national in flavour with the beer choice displayed on computer screens over the bar with pumpclips hanging on hooks next to them.

We have visited this pub 9 times, seen 28 different beers and tried 13 of them.

Map location

Postcode: NR1 4EX