The Nutcracker (Staffordshire Brewery)

Name: The Nutcracker
Label: "Over exuberance can lead to... ouch! Strong Ruby Beer"
Brewery: Brewed and bottled for Cottage Delight by Staffordshire Brewery
ABV: 4.8%

Tasting notes: "After a few beers - using the stairs might be difficult but if you take your time it could prove to be less painful"

Game: Today we're playing the freebie Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death, Xbox 360 version backcompat [this is lazy talk for 'backwards compatible' - Ed] with Xbox One X. This is an absolute gem of a game - a third person hack and slash adventure in the same vein as Dante's Inferno, Conan and God of War. This follows a similar formula, slowly powering you up and giving you more weapons and combos as you progress. Your character traverses multiple environments ranging from factories, industrial complexes to Tomb Raider-esque temples buried deep in the jungle. There are a vast array of enemies, with new baddies being introduced as you progress to keep things fresh. Go get it!

Rating: 8/10

Santas Christmas Cracker (Staffordshire Brewery)

Name: Santa's Christmas Cracker
Label: "It's safe to say- Santa's pulled! Light Hoppy beer"
Brewery: Brewed and bottled for Cottage Delight by Staffordshire Brewery
ABV: 4.5%

Tasting notes: "This beer is a real cracker too... isn't Santa a lucky fellow!"

Game: Check it out, we've now played through the main storyline in Assassin's Creed Origins *beware minor SPOILER incoming*. During the final cut-scene with Bayek and Aya on the beach, Bayek drops his eagle skull pendant in the sand and the imprint that is left by the skull is the symbol of the assassins! Mind. Blown!

Rating: 10/10

Cold Turkey (Staffordshire Brewery)

Name: Cold Turkey
Label: "The beer is high up the pecking order - Golden premium beer"
Brewery: Brewed and bottled for Cottage Delight by Staffordshire Brewery
ABV: 5%

Tasting notes: "If you're going for a cold turkey, wash it down with a cool beer! MMM Gobble Gobble."

Game: This Christmas has been about finishing off a bunch of games. This time it's Telltale's classic series The Walking Dead. Specifically A New Frontier. This one really struck a chord with an absolute shocker of a cliffhanger on one of the episodes. You should really play it. Like, right now.

Rating: 8 shocking shocks out of 10

Welsh Beacons (Brecon)

Name: Welsh Beacons
Label: "Seriously quaffable Welsh Pale Ale"
Brewery: Brecon Brewing
ABV: 3.7%

Tasting notes: "Welsh Beacons is a traditional Welsh Pale Ale - pale golden in colour, with a blend of UK hops for a fresh, floral aroma and a gentle, refreshing flavour - the Beacons in a glass!"

Game: We love Telltale Games here at GamingAles so it was a great treat to get Tales from the Borderlands for nish on Games with Gold. And Telltale Games have created a stunner here. The art style is fantastic, it has a great soundtrack and the story is funny and engaging. We never quite got on with the Borderlands games but this re-imagining of it pleases us. Lots.

Rating: 8/10

Fruitesse On The Rocks (Liefmans)

Name: Fruitesse On The Rocks
Label: "Fruit beer - serve on the rocks"
Brewery: Liefmans
ABV: 3.8%

Tasting notes: "Refreshing fruit beer, matured on cherries flavoured with sugar and sweetener." Tastes more like fruit juice than beer!

Game: Christmas present for Gaming Ales collection is this Predator. This is the Limited Edition Ultimate Hunting Trophy set that includes the Predator head and a 3D blu-ray of the film. The film being Predator by the way [yes, I think they've probably worked that out themselves - Ed].

Rating: 10 trophies out of 10

Predator Limited Edition Ultimate Hunting Trophy

Rocking Rudolph (Hardys and Hansons)

Name: Rocking Rudolph
Label: "A full bodied, malty and fruity Christmas ale"
Brewery: Hardys & Hansons
ABV: 4.2%

Tasting notes: "A full bodied, malty and fruity Christmas ale, with a refreshing bitter finish"

Game: Merry Christmas! Today we've finished playing through South Park: The Fractured But Whole. Gameplay-wise it was very similar to the first game in the series (Stick of Truth) - this isn't a bad thing. Some major difficulty spikes in it though that were a little annoying but overall it was an enjoyable RPG-lite romp through South Park. Plenty of toilet humour too, literally - one of the mini-games involves taking a crap on various South Park residents toilets!

Rating: 7 farts out of 10.

Golden Crown (Harpers)

Name: Golden Crown
Label: "Golden ale - Brewed with pale biscuit flavour malts and a touch of tropical hop for a fruity finish."
Brewery: Harper's
ABV: 4.1%

Tasting notes: "Exotic hops from around the New World contribute rich aromas of tropical fruits and soft citrus. Look out for passion fruit, plump stone fruits and a touch of gooseberry."

Game: Third Eaglemoss Alien and Predator Collection item is the Special Edition 2: Alien Newborn Figurine.  I thought this was really unpleasant in the film. The figurine is equally as unpleasant which makes it great!

Rating: 9/10

Special Edition 2: Alien Newborn Figurine

Medusa (Harpers)

Name: Medusa
Label: "Ruby Red Ale - A deep mahogany beer with rich toffee apple and roasted chocolate aromas."
Brewery: Harper's
ABV: 5.0%

Tasting notes: "Chocolate and Toffee give way to a fresh fruity aroma and rich red hues. Dried fruit flavours and a roasted taste blend to produce a balanced bitter-sweet finish."

Game: Eaglemoss Alien and Predator Collection Issue 18 - and this one is doozy! This is 'Grid' from AvP. The grid pattern is when the Predator fires the net over the xeno and it cuts into its head.  Quality stuff, great figurine.

Rating: 8/10

Issue 18: AVP ‘Grid’ Xenomorph Figurine

Golden Sheep Ale (Black Sheep)

Name: Golden Sheep Ale
Label: "Refreshing golden beer with a clean & wickedly moreish finish"
Brewery: Black Sheep
ABV: 4.7%

Tasting notes: "Born from the pioneering spirit of Paul Theakston who, in 1992, followed his heart and dared to start a new brewery. Brewed in Masham, North Yorkshire, this beer is the culmination of six generations of family brewing expertise."

Game: Today we have an Eaglemoss Alien and Predator Collection delivery. This is Issue 19: Bishop. The figurine shows Bishop just before he gets in the tunnel to go and fix the satellite to call the spare ship down to the planet. The resemblance in the face is not quite there to be honest. They should have maybe done one with him speared by the Alien Queen's tail or cut in half.

Rating: 6/10

Issue 19: Bishop