Beer sellers: Beers of Europe, Kings Lynn

First published in Beers of the World April 2008

Beers of Europe

The UK’s biggest range of international beers, comprising over 1,700 lines, can be found at a shop and warehouse in an industrial unit on the unpromisingly named Garage Lane, Setchey, just off the A10 on the rural southern outskirts of Kings Lynn. Surprising, perhaps, since the old port of Lynn, while pretty and historic, is hardly a buzzing metropolis. But if you offer a service like Derek Clark, his wife Carol and sons Jason and Daniel, the dedicated connoisseurs will come to you.

The area does have its other attractions, with the Royal residence of Sandringham just up the road and the beautiful Norfolk Coast and Broads close at hand, so some customers combine beer shopping with a leisure break. But others regularly trek from London, Birmingham or from even further afield, such as the two Californian abbey beer devotees in search of Tongerlo Dubbel.

Belgian beer shelves in Beers of Europe

“They emailed me the day beforehand to check I had it in stock,” says Derek. “Then they flew to Heathrow, hired a car, came straight here, bought a case, spent a day on the coast and flew home. They worked for the airline so they got cheap tickets.”

Seriously big bottles at Beers of Europe

Though born in London, Derek grew up in the area and first worked designing TV aerials for the family firm, which happened to have associate offices in Belgium and Bavaria. While visiting these Derek got a taste for the local beers, particularly the darker examples, and thought they should be available back home. The Clarks first planned a wholesale business but when this didn’t work went direct to the customer, opening Beers of Europe in 2000, just as both internet shopping and interest in speciality beers were growing in Britain.

Don't forget the glasses: Beers of Europe

Today a third of the beers are Belgian, and about a sixth German, including some that rarely travel beyond their home town. The German collection is a particular strength, with rarities such as unfiltered lagers, and even impresses German visitors delighted to find beers impossible to obtain at home thanks to their notoriously regionalised beer market. Of the rest, a third is British, including a good range from East Anglia, and the rest genuinely international despite the company name. “If it’s unusual, even if I can only sell a case every six months, I’ll buy it,” says Derek. Glassware, fine ciders and unusual wines and spirits complete the range.

 Expansion is planned, and there’s talk of adding a bar and perhaps even a brewery. Internet and mail order are a core part of the business, but Derek insists the walk-in shop plays a critical role: you sense face-to-face contact is a big part of his job satisfaction. “Our customers are nice, honest people who appreciate the good things in life,” he says. I’ll drink to that.

Fact file

Address: Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn PE33 0BE
Phone: +44 (0)1553 812000
Web: www.beersofeurope.co.uk
Hours: 0900-1800 Monday-Saturday, 1000-1600 Sunday
Drink in? No
Mail order: Yes, UK only

Manager’s favourites: Weltenburger Asam Bock, Peroni Gran Riserva, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby

Beer picks

Five dark beers of Europe

• Achouffe McChouffe 8.5%, Achouffe, Luxembourg, Belgium. Strong but drinkable Scottish-inspired speciality with burnt twig and flower aroma, fruity herby palate and sweetish lightly roast malt finish.
• Budweiser Budvar Dark (tmavý ležák) 4.7%, České Budějovice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Easy drinking malty dark lager with caramel and gently smoky cigar notes from world-class brewery.
• Koningshoeven La Trappe Dubbel 6.5%, Berkel, North Brabant, Netherlands. Chestnut ale from the Dutch Trappist brewery, with malty dusty book aroma, aged port and candy on palate and mint chocolate finish.
• Tipples Hanged Monk 3.8%, Acle, Norfolk, England. Bottled conditioned dark mild with blackcurrant liquorice and cola aroma, pastilley malted mik palate and lightly dry smooth finish with mineral notes.
• Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock 6.9%, Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany. Outstanding reddish-brown strong monastic lager, with toffeeish aroma, firm but soft toasty palate and nuts and oaked wine in rich malty finish.