Try to choose a beer in keeping with the Ch'ti character, such as a strong, brown or amber ale (from northern France if you can find it).
This recipe can be varied easily by using different shellfish: clams, cockles, etc. (or a mix).
Translator's note: Ch'ti is a dialect found around Lille in the north-east of France. The area was formerly a centre of mining and heavy industry, like the north-east of England, and with a similar culture. The accent is often seen as impenetrable, much like Geordie.