Mainbrace IPA (Shepherd Neame)

Name: Mainbrace IPA
Label: "Complex & Refreshing with a Light Citrus Tang & Lingering Hoppy Aftertaste"
Brewery: Shepherd Neame
ABV: 4.5%

Rating: "This exquisitely smooth ale boasts a light malty flavour and is brewed with locally grown hops and chalk filtered mineral water drawn from the well of Britain's oldest brewer."  From Asda's Extra Special range selected by Leiths School of Food and Wine no less!

Game: Forza 5 is great. The graphics are great. And yes, ace graphics make an ace game.  This is indisputable fact. Maybe... There are only a few tracks which is fine because it means feeble brained people like me don't have so many to learn. My only quibble is the sound when you crash into another car. It's like someone's held up a foil covered baking tray and hit it with a rolling pin.  I'm hearing it a lot too... especially on the Australian Mount Panorama Bathurst track. 9/10.

Santa's Beard (Brains)

Name: Santa's Beard
Label: "The Perfect Christmas Ale"
Brewery: Brains
ABV: 4.5%

Rating: "Santa's Beard blends five malts - Pale Ale, Munich, Crystal, Brown and Chocolate malts - with roasted barley to create a dark beer with a rich depth of malty wonderment. With flavours of caramel, burnt toffee and roast coffee balanced by a sweetness from lactose sugars, this is a luxuriously sumptuous sweet milk stout, perfect for Christmas. A great accompaniment to aged cheese or rich, chocolate puddings."  The last of the Christmas themed ales for this year, the decs are down, work is looming. Big fat sad face! On a positive note... er... beer! Yay beer and games!

Game: I thought I was getting good at Forza 5 so I decided to turn off all the assists. Then the track suddenly turned into an ice rink so I quickly put them back on again. Well in reality I've just got the traction control thingy switched on. I mean seriously, who the heck has breaking assists turned on? I don't see the point. Although I do have automatic transmission on which I guess is the same but opposite? I don't know. I don't even know what I'm talking about. It must be because the hols are coming to an end. I'm just seeing that as an excuse to drink more ale anyway. That's my New Years resolution. Drink more beer! Forget abstinence! Happy New Year folks!