Westmalle is one of the famous Belgium Trappist Beers. There are eight abbeys in total that produce highly praised beers, with Chimay arguably the most famous.

The Westmalle variety from the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle, produces three beers – Westmelle Dubbel, Westmelle Tripel and Westmalle Extra.

The Dubbel is the 7% version, the Tripel is a hefty 9.5% and the lesser-available Extra is a 5% beer.

The Abbey was founded in 1794 and monks there have played a key role in the creation of Westmalle beer, although now outside staff are widely used.

Chimay Beers are famed for being produced exclusively by monks and are known as Trappist beers as they are made in Trappist monastery.

A lot of beer is produced by a humble monastery with 120,000 hectolitres produced annually.

The Chimay Blue comes in 75cl bottles and are often labeled as Grand Reserve.

Tasting Notes:

The beer has a slightly bitter taste but has considerable depth with notes of fruits and pepper.

Only 30 bottles of the expensive beer, named Antarctic Nail Ale, have been made and each are to be sold for $800 – and it is all in the name of charity.

The Nail Brewing headquarters at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia melted Antarctic ice to make the beer, which could therefore be argued as being the oldest and purest beer.

“Over 90% of beer is water, so the Antarctic Nail Ale could possibly be the world’s oldest and purest beer,” said brewer John Stallwood.

The beers will be sold to raise money to protect whales.

Crow, of the Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market, London, wowed judges with his beer knowledge and pint pouring ability at the championship that was sponsored by Stella Artois.

He walked away from the final, held at the Design Museum in London, with a cheque for £500 and £2,500 prize money for his pub.

He will now take on the best of the world in a bid to claim the ultimate beer title.

Researchers for Iron Press discovered that one in two males would order a beer at a bar out of peer pressure rather than through having wanted to drink one over a soft drink.

However, only one-in-ten went as far as to say they ‘wouldn’t dream’ of ordering a non alcoholic beverage in front of drinking buddies.

A spokesman for Iron Press said: “For many men, it’s important they have a certain image in front of their friends.

“Many women probably wouldn’t think twice about ordering a soft drink when they are with their girlfriends.”

The survey doesn’t explain where they found these guys that don’t want a beer in the first place though.

Jacobsen Vintage No 1

The most expensive beer in the world comes at the hefty price of £204 per bottle (£255 per pint) and there are many reasons for the expense as only 600 bottles have been made, it took two years to brew and the bottle’s label is effectively a piece of art.

The creation by Carlsberg is super-strong at 10.5% and tastes of caramel and sherry, sadly none of us are likely to ever put this to the test.

BrewDog

Controversial Scottish brewers BrewDog have claimed the strongest and most expensive beer by packing it inside a dead animal. Yes, that’s right inside a dead animal. Each bottle is worth £500 and are jaw droppingly freaky!

Vielle Bon Secours

For something a little more ‘affordable’ we have Vielle Bon Secours. This beer is only available from one bar in London and is served in a whopping bottle that works out at roughly £40 per pint. Not exactly a drink you want to get when it is your round!

A 12-litre version would cost £700 but at least there is then plenty to go round.

The beer, which is 3.2% ABW, scored 0.96 out of five to come bottom out of hundreds of beers surveyed, although its standard version scored a little better at 1.35, which put in 41st bottom of the list.

Here is the full top 10, or should that be bottom 10?

1. Olde English 800 3.2 (0.96)
2. Natural Ice (1.03)
3. Natural Light (1.03)
4. Milwaukees Best (1.05)
5. Michelob Ultra (1.06)
6. Sleeman Clear (1.08)
7. Budweiser Select 55 (1.09)
8. Coors Aspen Edge (1.11)
9. Bud Light Chelada (1.13)
10. Busch Ice (1.13)

Worst beer in the world?

In an attempt to maintain custom beyond the morning and lunchtime trade the giant is to include a range of beers and wine along with lattes and espressos.

However, the chain may have difficulties gaining licenses for the move and it remains to be seen if their clientele have any interest in drinking beer while browsing on the wifi and sifting through the daily papers.

The stewards’ panel charged Nikolic with misconduct after he took a can of Victoria Bitter from an esky behind the barriers before the first race at Ballarat last Tuesday, opened it and took a swig of beer, which he spat back out again.

Stewards, acting on a report from the starter, ordered the withdrawal of Nikolic’s mount, Kookaburras, from the race.

Nikolic pleaded not guilty at the subsequent trial but was found guilty and fined $200.

Jockeys only having to have a blood alcohol reading of under .02 and Nikolic said: ”I couldn’t possibly have been over that. ‘This is a bullshit charge.”

West Midlands drinkers pay an average of £2.45 for a pint, compared to Surrey drinkers who pay an average of £3.08.

The survey was carried out by the Good Pub Guide 2011, which looked at 1,110 pubs and found the national average price to be £2.80 – a four per cent rise over the past year.

The Good Pub Guide said: “You can save money on beer by finding one of the many pubs brewing their own, on the premises. About one in 30 good pubs now does this, often producing delicious beers, usually at great savings for their customers, and often very rewarding in taste.”