Triple C (Crafty Dan Micro Brewery)

Name: Triple C
Label: "Chinook, Citra & Centennial hops - Citrus edge, crisp and clean, for hop heads only"
Brewery: Crafty Dan Micro Brewery
ABV: 5.3%

Tasting notes: "A full, smooth and balanced beer with an intense citrus hop aroma"

Game: Lots of negative reaction about the latest Assassin's Creed game. You know, stuff like the graphics on peoples faces going a bit wrong, getting stuck on a box or a bit of shrubbery, chests not opening when they should. There are some real horror stories out there ('haters gonna hate' I think the phrase is) so here are 5 reasons why Assassin's Creed: Unity was ace:

1. The graphics are AMAZING. Like, photo-realistic amazing.
2. Great story where you assassinate baddies.
3. Have you seen the size of the map?? You can run the length and breadth of it without any loading screens
4. Double air assassination mid-parkour: never gets old
5. For completionists and OCD sufferers, collecting all the collectible things

Orange Peel (Wadworth)

Name: Orange Peel
Label: "The Beer Kitchen is a new range of intensely flavoured, hand-crafted beers, made for the discerning by Wadworth. Brewed in small batches, using the absolute finest ingredients, these beers were specially created to perfectly complement food or savoured on their own."
Brewery: Wadworth
ABV: 6.0%

Rating: "Rich, golden and full bodied with a sweet and tangy orange flavour, and aromas of citrus, melon and spice. Munich malt, US hops and orange peel provide complexity but with perfect balance. A superb compliment to game."  A beer that actually says it goes well with gaming! Finally!

Game: Two DLC packs got released the other day and being season-passed up to the eyeballs I now has extra content for Assassin's Creed: Unity and Alien: Isolation. The Alien DLCs are the timed challenges which are a great change of pace to the main campaign. The difficulty however seems to be turned up to a thousand and I can't turn it down! The Alien is a total pain in the ass (and face). I'm working my way through the challenges though slowly but surely. "Get away from me, you bitch!" Did I mention that Alien: Isolation was Gaming Ales's game of 2014?  Just did.

Amber (McEwan's)

Name: Amber
Label: "Light and Refreshing - Amber Ale"
Brewery: McEwan's
ABV: 4.2%

Rating: "McEwan's have been brewing since 1856, and here's evidence that we haven't lost our touch. Whether shared among friends at the weekend or enjoyed in peace and quiet after a hard day's work, McEwan's Amber is the ale for any occasion. Light in colour, with the gentle aroma of Maris Otter malted barley, it offers a delightful floral, citrus finish. It makes for perfect refreshment, all year round."

Game: Being a massive Assassin's Creed fan and a fool I was easily parted with a further £23.99 to purchase the AC: Unity season pass. Then Ubisoft's Yannis Mallat (brother of Timmy) said that because Assassin's Creed was so glitchy, all season pass owners would be eligible for a free game from the following: The Crew, Far Cry 4, Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, Rayman Legends, Just Dance 2015!  Is this Ubisoft attempting to salvage what's left of it's tattered brand? Or are they just genuinely a great company wanting to give us fans free stuff?  I think the latter because Ubisoft are ace and they make ace games. Everything is awesome :)

Black Pepper Ale (Batemans)

Name: Black Pepper Ale
Label: "Bottling the past, creating the future"
Brewery: Batemans
ABV: 5.1%

Rating: "No strangers to innovation, Batemans have been craft brewers since 1874. With a wealth of good old fashioned know how and a healthy blend of imagination, energy and passion, Batemans are devoted to the delivery of a truly exceptional range of 'Sovereign Beers. An unmistakable aroma tickles the nose. A subtle tingle of crushed black pepper with bellowing heat. A clean and beautifully balanced beer. A perfect match for Popcorn and Strawberries!" This was extra awesome because it came with a little sachet of black pepper!

Game: (To be read in a French accent) I av 'eard a lot of 7 out of 10 type reviews for Assassin's Creed: Unity. Well those reviews are officially ludicrous! AC: Unity is magnifique! This is proper next-gen... but now.  So 'Now-gen'.  Graphically it's formidable. Not seen anything quite like it. What I always think are pre-rendered cut scenes merge into actual playable sections of the game. And the game comes with absolutely ZERO glitches from what I've seen thus far and a fantastic companion app. Gaming Ales rating: 59 hundred out of 10.