It's become a tradition to have a perry from Ross on Wye Cider & Perry company with the Christmas pudding, and this year was no exception. The best part is sharing it with guests who have no idea what I'm serving them and hearing how much they enjoy it. #perry #christmaspudding

Mikeller Oktoberpretzel Märzen. Burnt orange in colour. Biscuit aroma like you might expect from a lager. Full bodied bitterness from start to finish but building and prolonged. Made with pretzels, though this is not obvious through saltiness or pretzel doughy-ness. #beer

Belgium here we come! Travelling to Ostend for a family holiday full of sand, sea, food and drink. Does anyone know of any cider producers I can visit in Belgium, especially West Flanders? #cider #cidre #Belgium

Judging at the #InternationalCiderChallenge today. A high standard of entries and some stunning ciders tasted. #cider #perry

Distressing scene on the school walk this morning.

Earlier this year I was gifted a bottle of one of my favourite ciders of the last decade, Franko from Chapel Sider. A delicious melange of Dabinett apples and red wine barrels. I saved it for Christmas lunch and have no regrets, a great match for Turkey and beef. #cider #christmaslunch

Oh my. This promises to be a Christmas Eve treat. #cheese #cider

Christmas eve is my favourite day of the year, and I like to cook a special dinner. This year: beef carbonnade (a Flemish stew made with beer), triple cooked chips, and savoy cabbage fried in butter and seasoned with nutmeg. Paired with a St. Bernardus Pater 6. #Belgium #food #beer

Found this hidden in a cupboard. Achel is no longer a Trappist brewery because it isn't supervised by monks and they have renamed this Achel dubbel. Spices, dark fruits, chocolate in the finish. If the recipe's unchanged enjoy as an indulgent winter warmer. #bier #Belgium #beer