Innovative pub snacks were the order of the day at a beer and snacks pairing event held in Cirencester this week.

The event was co-hosted by regional food and drink quality marque, Cotswold Taste, and its business partner Butcombe Brewing Co at The Bear Inn.

More than 30 discerning tasters took part in a co-ordinated tasting of a selection of jerkies, biltong and toasted seeds. They were then invited to judge how the snacks best paired with some of Butcombe Brewing Co's award-winning beers.

Adam Henson of Cotswold Farm Park and BBC Countryfile fame, was a guest at the event. Butcombe Brewing Co's 'Rare Breed' beer is named in honour of the TV presenter.

The event was compèred by master brewer Tim O'Rourke of The Brilliant Beer Company, an internationally acclaimed expert in beer and food pairing.

Snacks were sourced from The Toasted Seed Company (Broadway), CopperNose Ltd (Cirencester) and Gloucester Biltong Co Ltd (Gloucester), all members of Cotswold Taste.

Nick Waloff, Cotswold Taste's executive chair, said: "Snacks are very big business indeed. It's no surprise that we need to know what we are all snacking on - both in terms of its nutrition value and healthiness. We also need to be thinking and supporting 'local' much more."

Juliette Tuckfield, Butcombe Brewing Co's area sales manager for Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, said: "We had a large number of guests who learnt a lot about our beers and our partners' innovative snacks. It was great for Adam Henson to be there and was just another example of our partnership working together."

Daniel Derry, director of beef jerky producers CopperNose Ltd, said "Great beers, good company, perfect snacks - what more could you wish for?"