h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, has 3 breweries (Sam Smiths, John Smiths and Bass .. must be something in the water!)
A pint of Sams Smiths here is £1.15.

Belgium has something like 600 different kinds of beer. Not bad for such a small country uh ?

Not bad at all and I like the look of your top 10. It must be a lifetimes work to try all 600. How does Stella Artois rate with you (or doesn't it). We think it's strong in the UK but looking at some of your choices you probably think it's a bit 'mainstream'.

Well actually stella for me has no rating. I think the correct term in english for the type of beer is "lager" (i.e. blond beer with foam and a alcohol percentage of around 5%), and to my experience there isn't too much difference between different brands, even if you go to different countries.
All the beers in my top 10 have a higher alcohol percentage (between 6 and 11).
But even for the Belgium low alcohol beers (around 5%) Stella is the one that I would never drink (if there is no alternative I rather take a coke).
Similar to Stella but better we have beers like Jupiler (the funny thing is that it is brewed by the same brewery, but then again it isn't that unexpected since the brewery that makes Stella (interbrew) has taken over many other breweries) and then some less mainstream beers like Palm and Hoegaarden (wich I always drink rather than lager).
One final note on Stella : I tried several beers in other countries (such as Nepal) and to my humble opinion most beers are to be preferred above Stella.
I have to think back now to my visit to Mexico. The mexican beer that you can find in Belgium (and probably in many countries) is Corona. Now the same brewery makes another (dark) beer called 'modelo negro' and this is a much more interesting beer, but you'll never find it in other countries.
This again proves that the beers of a particular country that you generally find and that sell much are not the 'best' beers but that it is more a question of marketing (probably beer is not exceptional in that aspect)

We tried some Delerium Tremends beer at 9% which was fantastic. We had to buy over the net at www.beersdirect.com The bottles are stunning also with pictures of dancing crocodiles and pink elephants.

if u go to india, try out the 'knock out' beer (yes, that's what's it's called!).....
one bottle and...POW!...u r knocked out.

still trying to figure out, was that a beer or a fizzy sleeping pill ?

I wonder if you could deploy all this wisdom about beer, after tasting your Preference list...

note:
please take a look at the "entry BEER" discussion

no I wouldn't, but maybe someone else could ...

I had a look at www.beersdirect.com. There are some more belgian beers but I think you picked out the best .
Forbidden Fruid (actually 'Verboden Vrucht') is not one of my favorites.
Hoegaarden is quite nice. It comes in different kinds. The one that is indicated here is the lightest version (5%). It is one of the most refreshing beers that I know. Ideal for a hot summer night
Kasteel (like castle) has two variants. A brown beer and a blond. The brown one is more common, but I prefer the blond one.
Leffe is the most commercial of the stronger beers (for me certainly not the best) It comes from the same brewery as Stella.

So if you want another try on beers that are available through beersdirect I would recommend Hoegaerden.

I don't think I'll get in India in the near future but has anyone suggestions for beers in Peru ?

Modelo is found sporadically around in the U.S. Of course, I live 80 miles from the Mexican border, so it's probably more easily found here than in, say, Milwaukee.
It seems that the beers most countries export to other countries are the beers no one drinks. Foster's is advertised in the States as Australia's signature brew, but from what I understand, no one drinks it there. Anyone able to confirm/deny this?

Milwaukee has Modelo Negro, just to let you know.

Happy Holiday wishes to all