It's been a great afternoon - me and my pal have spent lots of it chatting with friends. He's now gone home and I am having this to finish at @yeoldevic.bsky.social Truly superb beer.

Group of Santas at the Magnet...

Christmas Eve has started well with Fyne Jarl at the Magnet.

Public Service Announcement: Sarah Hughes Snowflake barley wine (8%) will be on sale at @yeoldevic.bsky.social tomorrow from opening at 5pm.

Gearing up for my second Christmas/Winter beer talk at @petersgatetap.bsky.social . The eagle-eyed will note that this time the St Bernardus is in a bottle. It's also been cellared for a year so should be particularly good.

Well now...this Sorachi Ace barley wine, on cask, really is the business. Another @torrside.bsky.social triumph.

Christmas shopping in full swing at @torrside.bsky.social . This is a rather fine chocolate orange imperial stout.

Just finishing the Opening Times proof reading. This afternoon I am out Christmas shopping. In New Mills. At @torrside.bsky.social . Refeshment may also be taken.

Good times at @yeoldevic.bsky.social

Must say, I am delighted to have once again been asked to chair one of the judging panels for the next @camraofficial.bsky.social Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition. Very much looking forward to it. This year it's being hosted by Liverpool Beer Festival.

Other beers have now been opened...

And we have a great crowd

Great to be back at the @petersgatetap.bsky.social hosting another talk. It's Christmas and Winter beers and we have a cracking lineup.

The cheese & onion cobs at @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social are delicious and the Green Hop Bitter is a perfect match. Yum.

Starting the Block Party at @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social Tap. Excellent food options here.

I had a few people round for beers last night. My good friend @daveratkins.bsky.social brought some elderly Belgian Christmas beers along. This one, from a brewery closed in 1954, was astonishing with a trace of carbonation and wonderful depth of flavour with no oxidation at all.

Pleased to say I have now purchased a ticket for the Sunday session at @torrside.bsky.social Smokefest 2026. So looking forward to this.

This might be one of the beers of the day...

The bottle share continues..

This perry is an early highlight, courtesy of @jamesksowerby.bsky.social

Just about to embark on a bottle share. This might get messy.

We all need to get behind this: www.neilsowerby.co.uk/2025/11/17/w...

Very soorry to hear about Jimmy Cliff - a real legend. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today I spent several hours tidying and sorting out my beer cellar, and also updated my spreadsheet. Always slightly surprised by some of the stuff I come across. Treated myself to this 13.5% number, which is a Pohjala/Pinta collab. The word lush doesn't do it justice.

Just started on the notes for my Christmas/Winter Beer talks at @petersgatetap.bsky.social . Of the six beers, only one has an ABV below 10%. Yikes! It's all sold out for 14th December but tickets may be available for 21st. You don't want to miss this.

Although I didn't post anything yesterday afternoon, it was because I was having such a great time at @salfordbeerfest.bsky.social . Great beer, great atmosphere and great company. What more could you want?

We finish on a bit of a lower point. Not sure about this one and certainly the least successful of the beers we have had. Not sure it works.

Our penultimate beer (number eight) is Sorachi Brut (9.4%) - very enjoyable. A great way to use Sorachi do it doesn't dominate. Good dry and subtle bitterness on the finish.

Beer number seven is a collaboration with Manchester's. @balancebrew.bsky.social . We think West Country IPA is basically a Cantillon Iris clone (says @daveratkins , and he should know) but none the worse for that.

Beer six is Saison Wet Stone (6.5%). Definitely in the saison ball park. Quite easy drinking but also extremely pleasant. Really enjoyable.

We reach beer number five: Munich (6.4%). Malt on the nose, good body and depth of flavour. Not sure what the aged Citra hops bring to the party. Lovely dry finish.

Next is Saison Spelt (5.8%). Not quite a saison but well on the way. Nonetheless, it's rather good and it's certainly something we'd seek out.

Beer number three is Old Cellar (5.2%) - aged in cask for five years. Rather musty, lots of Brett on the nose and on the palate. We aren't sure about this one.

Second beer is Cherry Reds (5.2%). It's quite 'krieky' but also with definite Flemish Red notes, particularly in the nose. We are impressed.

First is Airy Okay bottle conditioned with local honey. Sharpness perhaps softened by the honey. Some woodiness. An uncomplicated beer.

About to have one of our periodic Mills catch-ups with @daveratkins.bsky.social at @petersgatetap.bsky.social (to whom thanks for letting us do this again). We have let things accumulate a bit, though.

Pub number five is not an official #ioldtomday venue but again it's on superb form.

Pub number four as we continue celebrating #oldtomday is the Arden Arms. Another delicious example...

Stop number three for #oldtomday is the Red Bull on Hillgate. Another superb example.

Stop number two for #oldtomday is the Armoury.

I can confirm we have a pretty spectacular lineup this year. Should be great fun so do book a ticket.

Starting #OldTomDay in the Blossoms...

Just hosted a very successful Belgian beer talk and tasting at Silly Country in Droylesden. Now back in Stockport for a restorative pint and pizza at @runawaybrewery.bsky.social

The Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby currently drinking very well in @yeoldevic.bsky.social ...

After an excellent day at Stoke Beer Festival we have finished in @yeoldevic.bsky.social on @fyneales.bsky.social Jarl. Just look at that clarity and shimmer..

Wrapping up with Spartacus Ten, a 10% version of Spartacus IPA . It's on the Triple IPA/barley wine cusp. Exceptional.

On we go. I have an interest in this one as it came from the Stockport Beer Festival homebrew competition. Grendel (9.5%) is an imperialised London porter from homebrewer Jon Britton. It's still terrifically good.

Moving on - this is Do Sharks Have Birthday Parties, a Sorachi Ace barley wine at 9%. This is seriously good.

My third @torrside.bsky.social Monster is the bourbon barrel aged High Regard. Very assertive with booze on the nose and palate.

Moved on to High Regard, an 1897 imperial stout at 9%. Delicious.