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Italian foodies have invented a way for beer lovers to enjoy their favourite drink for breakfast - without the risk of being forced to attend those troublesome Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Chocolatier Napoleone and brewery Alta Quota, both based in the central Italian province of Rieti, have joined forces to create the world's first spreadable beer, which they've called Birra Spalmabile.

The ale-flavoured, jelly-like substance comes in two flavours, using either Omid dark ale or Greta blonde ale. According to Italy Magazine, "one is delicate, while the other has a more intense aroma and stronger taste".

Claudio Lorenzini, the owner of the brewery, told the magazine: “This is not the first time in Italy and in Europe that someone has tried to make a non-liquid beer, but the experiments carried out have not been successful because the combination of ingredients was not a winner. We believe that we have found the right formula with the use of high-quality products. For us this is the future.”

Luckily for anyone craving some booze with their Nutella, Selfridges is now selling the noxious-sounding spread for just £8.

Here's what the department store says about its latest product: "Beer lovers rejoice, you can now enjoy your favourite tipple with cheeses and bread with Greta blond ale spreadable beer.

"An ingenious collaboration between an Italian chocolate maker and an Italian beer brewer, the result is a sweet and beer-perfumed jelly with a delicate blond ale flavour. The beer spread makes a unique accompaniment for hors d'oeuvres and cheeses, or try spread on toast or even as a stuffing or garnish for tarts and cakes."

Now doesn't that sound, erm, interesting? ®

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