Blandford Flyer (Badger)

Name: Blandford Flyer
Label: "A bite of spicy ginger"
Brewery: Badger
ABV: 5.2%

Rating: "With the hot summer sun beating down, the patient fly-fisherman of the Dorset Stour await their catch. These 'Flyers' are celebrated in this warming ale with ginger overtones, rumoured to be originally included to remedy the bites of the infamous Blandford Fly. The rounded sweetness of this medium-bodied brew makes it an ideal and refreshing accompaniment to a hot lamb biryani or spicy crispy chilli beef."

Game: Crikey, Mass Effect 3 has caused some controversy! Now it's all about the 'rubbish' endings, which I actually happen to quite like. I didn't really understand what was going on but there was explosions and stuff which looked ace. Anyway, there's been a petition to get the endings changed and now Bioware are releasing DLC to make it happen. An horrific turn of events, I'd sooner have the Reapers destroy Earth than let mob rule choose the endings of the games I buy. Fans are fans, not writers, writers are writers and that's why they write games. Hopefully you can see the logic there.

Harvest Pale (Castle Rock)

Name: Harvest Pale
Label: "The finest blonde beer - quality ales fortified with flavour"
Brewery: Castle Rock
ABV: 4.3%

Rating: "Originally brewed under the name of Trammie Dodger for the 2003 Nottingham CAMRA Beer Festival, Harvest Pale has become a beer of which we are particularly proud. We believe that we've created a golden, crisp and satisfyingly hoppy beer that retains the guile and poise that you'd expect from a true champion. Enjoy!"

Game: Killed a Reaper. Still playing Mass Effect 3. Not played anything else for ages. Possibly turning into a Husk. Sad face. By the way, the best synopsis ever for a TV program: Andy Farrant (@Farrantula) on SentUAMessage about The Walking Dead, "... about some people arguing in the woods near some zombies." So simple, so true. Everyone's in agreement though, it is a brilliant series. If you've never seen it, it's well worth a watch.

Fraoch (Heather Ale Ltd)

Name: Fraoch
Label: "Fraoch is Scotland's native ale. Fraoch is Gaelic for "Heather". Heather ale has been brewed in Scotland for four thousand years and is the oldest style of ale still made in the world. The Picts who ruled Scotland until the 9th Century were known to brew the legendary heather ale, these "people of the designs" were the creators of the artistic style of our label."
Brewery: Heather Ale Ltd (William Bros. Brewing Ltd)
ABV: 5.0%

Rating: "Fraoch has a floral, peaty aroma, full malt body, spicy herbal flavour and a dry wine like finish." I've just realised that Scottish ale is ace, and this one in particular is sublime. Seek it out!

Game: Still playing Mass Effect 3 (obviously).  Tonights mission is the release-day "From Ashes" DLC. A controversial move by Bioware given that it wasn't included in the game, and yet released on the same day as the game, so you have to pay extra to play it. Fortunately, I won ME3 (thanks to the awesome playr2.com), so shelling out the 800 Microsoft points didn't hurt quite as much. For many gamers though, it has definitely been a bitter pill to swallow. If you don't agree with the DLC don't buy it, it doesn't make or break the overall Mass Effect 3 experience. Said experience being incredible, by the way. Admittedly, purchasing this extra mission is a bit of a contradiction for me because I despise DLC and generally refuse to buy it. I blame the Reapers, they're up to no good I tells ya.

Beacon Bitter (Everards)

Name: Beacon Bitter
Label: "Brewed in Leicestershire"
Brewery: Everards
ABV: 3.8%

Rating: "This excellent session ale has won numerous awards over the years and it is easy to see why. Brewed using Maris Otter malt and Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger hops, it is hoppy with a dry finish which makes it irresistibly moreish."  It's great stuff, I'm drinking this while controlling the Ever 'Ard Commander Shepard!

Game: The grim Reapers are here, quick run and hide!  I've just started Mass Effect 3 and already I feel like all hope is lost!  How can anyone survive the Reaper attack? They're just decimating every planet they land on, for pity's sake.  As C-3PO would say, "We're doomed".  All the species in the universe are surely going to be extinct within the next week or so. You may as well go and get a beer, you're going to be a Husk soon (while you're waiting, claim your free pint glass at www.everards.co.uk/freeglass). This is one of those games where if you're not playing it right now, you need to stop whatever you're doing and go and play it right now.