Duvel's not bad, I agree, but then I'm spoilt for choice - about 15 miles up the road, I have Britain's biggest beer shop - Beers of Europe in Setchey, Norfolk. The first time you walk in, you look left, shade your eyes with your hand, and go "F*** me! Where's the end of the aisle?!" Well, I did, anyway. The shop itself is about 1/3 of one of those pre-fab type warehouses. The entire first aisle (both sides) is UK beers (plus ciders), with a special section for local breweries. Half of one aisle is devoted to world beers, the opposite side, plus another 1/8 or so, is Belgian, and about 1/2 an aisle, wrapped around the far end & down the outside is German.

Then there's the two racks (one aisle is about 8 racks, I think) of whiskies (mostly single malt), and the several racks of assorted spirits & liqueurs from around the world. Plus a rack or so of homebrew stuff. Did I forget to mention the overspill area just beyond the far end, filled with meads, country wines, cordials, and syrups? Oh, and the staff are very friendly. Basically, if you're ever in the vicinity & you like your beer... They have a website too.

Since I think I've answered michael's opening question satisfactorily, shall we now just make this a thread "all things beer" (whatever type)? Tesco used to sell a very nice Bohemian black lager, Herold. Having a good proportion of dark malt in it, it had some of that warm, dark, rounded flavour that I enjoy. Can't find it now, alas. I'm not a bitter man (I've tried a few Hook Norton's - all too bitter for my palate; each to their own!). I still say, although again I haven't seen it for a long time in Tesco, one of the nicest beers I've had is Trent Mild - out of a can, & 2.7%! But you drink beer for the flavour - if all you want is alcohol, there are spirits...

Having said that, I confess that most of my favourites are 5.5%+. "Standards" recently (all available in my local T's) are Abbot Reserve (6.5%), Shepherd Neame 1698 (6.5%), and their Bishops's Finger (5.4%), which is just on the bitter edge of my range (their Spitfire is nice too, but just the other side of the line, if you see what I mean).

My two favourite ever beers, though... Good King Henry from a Norfolk brewery, Old Chimneys (who can be found here ), a 9.6% Imperial Stout. First came across it at Norfolk Beer Festival - gorgeous, deep, chocolatey. The other is another strong one (you may have the idea by now...) that went defunct, but is now back in production, apparently. Thomas Hardy Ale, originally brewed in 1967/8 to commemorate the eponymous author's death, by Eldridge Pope (the new incarnation is here). My memory says it was around the 12% mark; the new version is similar, give or take, and is described as a barley wine. Just to show you how nice the Setchey people are (which is where I discovered it), I queried its disappearance with the older chap in the shop (I'm guessing if I say it's family owned & he's the head of the family, but you get the idea). He explained that the American owner had... I forget whether it was stopped brewing or stopped exporting (given the history on the new site, I guess he meant the importer had either run out of stock, or wasn't selling it in the UK any more). But then, as a regular customer, he both kindly & generously opened a vintage bottle (can't remember how old was) so that I might try a sample. The taste? Indescribable! I can't comment on the new version, but the old one, along with GKH, are the only 2 beers I'd give 10/10.