THE Oxford English Dictionary (other word-based reference books are available) have declared their word of the year for 2022 to be 'goblin mode'.
The pedant in me will resist the urge to point out that that is actually two words and move swiftly on to the official meaning which is "a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations".
The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have at times forced us into enjoying the comforts of our own home and even though 2022 saw an easing of restrictions and a return to the outside world for many, we still seem to enjoy comfort in not going out.
Sales of Oodies have skyrocketed and Christmas jumpers have been replaced by Christmas pyjamas as the must-have clothing item of the festive season.
So if you're going to be pottering about the house in your novelty slippers and oversized thermal-lined hoodie, picking off the leftovers, why not enjoy some nice beers while you're at?
Pairing beer and food is not an exact science and given the array of fayre on offer this time of year, there's no one-size-fits-all beer which will do the trick.
It can depend very much on the food in question. If, like me, you like to make enough ham to graze on into the new year, then an American-style IPA is the perfect accompaniment to cold cuts of Christmas ham.
What Comes Next? is a collaboration between Sligo-based Lough Gill and Bullhouse. It's a 6.8 per cent New England IPA, which is packed with flavours of passion fruit and grapefruit. It's the sort of IPA which goes well with a salty ham and, hey, the fruity flavours might even mean you could slow cook a big hunk of gammon in it.
Beer and cheese go well together and the main guide here is that the stinkier the cheese, the darker the beer. So pales and IPAs for soft cheese like Brie or Camembert and imperial stouts with something like Stilton or Cashel Blue.
But if you like indulgent desserts, then sweet and creamy puddings go well with barleywines or fruited lambics. Red Right Hand is a cracking barleywine from Brehon while if you had the foresight to age something like Boulevardier from Galway Bay, then you're in for a treat.
In terms of fruited lambics, I recently enjoyed Just Like You Imagined, a 6 per cent raspberry, blackberry and cherry gose from Boundary.
It's crammed with jammy and tart flavours, which would go well with a bit of Christmas pud and custard and a bit of leftover trifle.
Whatever your tipple over the festive season, enjoy (responsibly) and have a very Merry Christmas.
