Question: Is it really such a good idea to rinse and fill beer bottles under an asbestos corrugated roof? Last Sunday, to my horror and amazement, I was there - looking on as it was going on - at the Contreras bottling plant, in Gavere. I have to admit all the same that their Valeir blond is one of my favourite new discoveries.

L.Luc

Answer: The brewer assures us that the rinsewater pipes and beer pipes are completely separate from each other and that, consequently, there is never any contact between the bottles and the ambient air under the corrugated roof plates. Nor, in point of fact, is there any contravention of the relevant European directives or Belgian legislation. So now you can just sit back and enjoy your Valeir blond.