Sam Skinner-Watts, organiser of the Keans Head’s very successful bottled beer festival, held around national bottled beer week in June, was under no illusions – it would be hard, verging on impossible, to complete the line up of all the world’s ‘Trappist’ beers. Many, like Orval and Chimay, are regulars on the bar – but one of the seven holy beers is almost impossible to stock. “It’s just not possible to phone up a supplier and order a case,” says Sam. “Only personal visitors to the abbey are sold any and even then there are rules about how many and how often.

“Fortunately, one of our regulars heard our plea and made the magnanimous offer of a single bottle of Westvleteren…..it was gorgeous.”

The Keans Head bottle fest presented over 130 different beers. The most popular were the group of American seasonal beers including Brooklyn Summer and Goose Island Summertime. Sam says, “The Belgian Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA also went down a storm.”

Sam with proof of seven up - a bottle of Westvleteren 'Trappist' beer.

Sam Skinner - Watts at the bar surveying some of the bottles.