"I’m ex-player, ex-technical director, ex-coach, ex-manager, ex-honorary president. A nice list that once again shows that everything comes to an end." - Johann Cruyff

It is a rarity for one man's importance to exceed that of the collective group, rarer still for that to be the case when talking about teams of the magnitude of Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands. But the mark that Johan Cruyff left on these teams, and indeed football as a whole, is so significant it could be argued he was football's greatest ever ambassador.

We're one week removed from Cruyff's death and during stages of grieving and reflection, I still can't quiet equate just how big a blow this is to the world of football. Although Cruyff weaved his magic on the pitch generations before I was even born, thanks to this YouTube age, his was a character I became enamoured with. His style, philosophy, desire & steadfast approach all combined with his unequaled innovation & creativity not just revolutionised the game but reinvented it.

Breaking onto the scene at his hometown club Ajax, he brought both club and country out of the footballing wilderness and onto the peak of world football. Always to be a man of firsts, Cruyff combined with his mentor and coach Rinus Michels to gift to the world a footballing philosophy of pure beauty - total-football. This ethos transformed football from a sport into an art-form. There was method in the beauty too, as Cruyff's master-strokes spearheaded  Ajax into a period of unrepeated success. During his first stint in the Dutch capital, he led Ajax to six Eredivise titles and three European Cups.

But while the romantic in us all appreciate a one club man, Cruyff left Ajax to join a team club which encapsulated Cruyff - Barcelona. At 6 million guilder he may have been the world's most expensive player, but Cruyff was worth every penny. While the marriage of club and player did not yield the European glory he found in Holland, he did help end a La Liga drought which had lasted for 14 years. 

Success followed and after a stint in America, he returned to where it all began, Ajax. Where Cruyff went success followed and his home-coming was no different, his return yielded back-to-back Eredivise titles for the club, before he controversially left for rivals Feyenoord. True to form, the Eredivise title followed him to Feyenoord for his one and only season with the club.

On an international level, he'll forever be remembered for that turn, but he also guided Netherlands to the final of the 1974 final against West Germany. There was to be no World Cup in Cruyff's extensive trophy case however, as despite an early lead the Dutch let the German's slip in and steal the title. Although Cruyff being Cruyff, he has another take on matters...

"Maybe we were the real winners in 1975. The world remembers our team more." - Johann Cruyff

.... and who am I to say that he's wrong?

Despite having a trick or two up his sleeve, he always made the game look simple, this could very well have been his biggest trick of all. But whatever the secret of his success, his individual brilliance hasn't gone unnoticed and he became the first ever three time Ballon D'or winner, while also being named European player of the twentieth century.

“Football is simple. But nothing is more difficult than playing simple football.” - Johann Cruyff

As the father of a footballing philosophy, it only seemed natural that the mercurial Dutchman tried his hand at coaching. And who'd have guessed it? He was as much of a natural on the sidelines as he was on the pitch. Three years as Ajax coach resulted in a Cup Winners Cup and two Dutch Cups & while he may have never quiet tasted Eredivise success as Ajax boss, his side never broke the cardinal sin of boring football, scoring a total of 120 league goals in the 85-86 season.

Much like his playing days, Ajax led to Barcelona. During his 8 year spell on the Catalan bench, Barca became a force of football winning not only 4 league titles, a Cup Winners Cup & Coppa del Rey, but the clubs first ever European Cup - thanks to a Ronald Koeman freekick against Sampdoria in Wembley. Considering their success since Cruyff's victory in 91, It is strange to think that the 5 times winners had to wait so long for their first victory in the competition, but it was because of Cruyff that they became so successful. The total football of Rijkaard and tiki-taka of Guardiola all blossomed from the club's adaptation of Cruyff's methods. In his 8 years as Barcelona coach, he laid the ground-work for the next 10-20-50+ years. Few men excel on the pitch, even fewer manage to excel on the sidelines too, but Cruyff stands alone as a man who managed both these feats while creating a footballing dynasty and ethos which would dominate for generations.

The loss of such  an artisan is amplified in the current footballing climate in which the sport's ugly side seems to be on constant display. Indeed if ever there was one man who exemplified the the term 'the beautiful game' it was Johan Cruyff. May he rest in peace.

"In a way I'm probably Immortal." - Johann Cruyff

I know no tribute can accurately sum up just how significant a contribution Cruyff's was on the sport,  but out of his numerous quotes one summed the man up perfectly:

"Quality without results is pointless, but results without quality is boring" - Johann Cruyff

I guess it is fair to surmise, that Cruyff was in no danger of ever becoming either pointless or boring.

                                                                                                                                                                  

For more information on Cruyff, check out this Podcast from the Football Ramble.

Or this video from Sky Sports:

On my first foray into the 'free-to-play' section of Steam, one title caught my eye - Clicker Heroes. From the title I assumed that this was a generic click-fest ARPG, but indeed the game was altogether more compelling and original than that. I was surprised to find a game with a mechanic similar to the mini-game implemented into the 2015 Steam Monster Sale; a mini-game which I found rather enjoyable - despite the unmanageable amount of lag and single-minded game-play. But could this formula generate enough interest in itself? The mini-game after-all was something you invested 5 minutes a day in when passing by the market-place, but never for a minute would I have thought about sitting there for a couple of hours mindlessly clicking away.

Clicker Heroes: Game-play.

The single aim of Clicker Heroes is level progression. Each level has 10 monsters to kill and every 5th level houses a boss, which must be killed within a 30 seconds time-limit. A simple mechanic with an even simpler game-play. 

Your weapons of choice are the various heroes which you can acquire by spending gold, which is dropped from monsters are rewarded in quests. You can also choose to invest gold into leveling up your current heroes rather than waiting to but a new one. 
As you level your heroes they will gain access to additional stat-buffs or abilities - but at a certain point these will dry up (around level 75-150). Don't be put off however, as even the lowliest hero can pack quiet a punch later in the game, as they gain x4 damage multipliers every 25 levels & x10 damage on level 1,000.

Contrary to what the title may have you believe, there isn't an overly huge amount of clicking going on in this game, in-fact only the first hero you acquire directly contributes towards your click damage. The 'auto-attack' heroes will deal most of the damage for you, outside of the boss fights that is, & generally I held off from the clicking until I had an appropriate ability engaged.

Your heroes never rest & they continue to farm gold or level progress even when the game is shut-down; most your progress will occur while you are AFK. 
I realised quite quickly that essentially all I was doing was investing time to help the game defeat itself, the decisions and actions you take have little input into the direction the game takes. Indeed, the only real decision you'll be faced with, is deciding on when the right time to 'ascend' is. Ascension, is an ability unlocked by one of your heroes, which basically restarts the game - any hero souls you amassed in the previous play-through adds 10% onto your DPS, so the level-grinding is less severe. 
1 Hero Soul is obtained for every 2000 levels invested into your heroes Alternatively they can be obtained by defeating primal bosses, which are found after level 100, or from mercenary missions - another wait for reward dynamic to the game. While at first reverting to level 1 may seem like too much of a grind, the added damage really adds up and you can breeze past the first 100 levels with ease after a small handful of Ascensions.

One further aspect which can help make the grind easier is by ways of achievements, each unlocked achievement adds increased DPS, gold gain or some other minor-boost. I suppose achievement hunting could be the hook for most people and with this added bonus, it could very well be enough bait to keep people on board.

Free to Play or Pay to Win?

Like all F2P games there are micro-transactions. Players can purchase rubies which can be used to invest in gilded heroes (buffed up versions of unlocked heroes) or other upgrades. Is this pay to win? While the method may not be quiet as neutral as cosmetic upgrades, there are a couple of reasons which bring me to the conclusion, that no this not pay to win.

Firstly the game is single player, so you by paying for these rubies you are not getting an unfair advantage over a human opponent.

Also as the game essentially plays itself, you are merely speeding up an inevitable process rather than breaking-through a barrier which may prove difficult to circumvent otherwise.

Clicker Heroes: Verdict.

The repetitive circle of Clicker Heroes may seem less of a grind the more you progress, but this title acts as nothing more than a game you check-in to for 5 minutes; it certainly isn't a game that will keep you up until the wee hours of the morn - perhaps that is the beauty of Clicker Heroes; it may as well be called "AFK Heroes" or "Checker Heroes", as your contribution is not always needed in order for you to progress. However, for me this makes the title somewhat pointless and I don't consider a title which lacks any required skill or effort on the players part as a game.

3.5/10 - Perpetual idling - Don't wear out your index-finger with this one. But if you must, you can check it out on Steam here.

Christmas has come and gone & with it a whole range of seasonal beers. Every year I eagerly await the new batch of Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale; but this year I wanted to break from my traditional Christmas with a wider range of seasonal ales.

One such drink I stumbled upon was De Ranke's Père Noël, a strong pale-ale from a Belgian brewer.

The opaque orange colour of this ale omits a warming red glow, it's quiet a welcoming site to behold. The visibly thickness of the beer does not amount to an overly hoppy taste, indeed the moderate bitterness of the hops quickly makes-way for layers of sweetness and spice. A fabulously warming combination which comes as somewhat of a surprise considering there is not much of a nose on this one.

The pleasant flavour remains throughout, which makes Père Noël a fine choice for savouring over-time, perhaps with some seasonal food. The spiced sweetness makes for a fine complement to many a Christmas snack, but I for one, recommend Père Noël with mince-pies.

De Ranke Père Noël - The Verdict:

7/10 - This strong pale-ale would be a welcome site in your Christmas stocking. It is one to be savoured and makes a fine accompaniment to some Christmas desserts. It is a niche beer which has its target, but this also means it may seem out of place in an environment outside of Christmas. 

Not that I care, of course, I say "Deck the halls with boughs of hoppy'" (I'm sorry).

Price: €3.29 - Deveneys of Dundrum.

In many ways, this was the least eventful Steam Sale in recent memory. The lack of game specials, or flash sales, made the sale an altogether more relaxed and structured experience. Although I did enjoy waiting for the upcoming deals, some of which I'm sure we missed out on due to the format change, the piece of mind I had because of the static pricing made my shopping more structured & less rushed. And while I made less forays into the Steam market than I had for recent sales, my purchase frequency reflected that of previous sales, while I also think my game haul is filled with greater quality than usual.

Steam always inserts a gimmick into their sales, as a way of inserting fun into the experience and enticing users to return often. This year came in the form of an episodic graphic novel, with a Christmas / Film Noir theme - or black Christmas.
Although not quiet as engaging as recent gimmicks, the clicker battles of the summer was particularly addictive, the art and parody in the story was compelling and I genuinely wanted to see how it ended. Of course, adding a beginning, middle and end to a 12 page graphic novel is tough & it did fall flat towards the end, but it was an enjoyable freebie all the same.

Click Here to Check out the full "North Pole Noire" Graphic Novel.

Now down to the important stuff; what did I buy?

Battlefield Bad Company 2 (€2.49) + Battlefield Bar Company 2: Vietnam (€3.29).

This was a throwback to the good 'ol days for me, more than anything else. Many a weekend was wasted cherished gunning down planes, capturing control points and executing ad-hoc teamwork amidst the carnage of war. Indeed, the Battlefield franchise is one close to my heart. Unfortunately their appeal has waned in recent instalments, as the move away from team-play towards a Call of Dutyesque run & gun model has meant the series now appeals to a different audience.

Depending on how you view it Bad Company 2 is either the beginning of the end or the start of an era - I'll look forward to finding out as even a diluted version of Battlefield 2 would keep me happily entertained, especially at this bargain-basement price.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €9.99 -75% / €9.99 -75%

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €1.00 / €3.29

Space Engineers (€11.49)

A game straight from the wishlist & one which I've been eyeing up for quiet sometime. At €11.49 it came in as my second most expensive purchase, but I have a feeling it could be worth every cent. 

Having only invested an hour or so into this so far, I've already realised that this is a game that will give maximum reward for an extended input, but it has a brutally unforgiving learning curve. I enjoyed playing around in sandbox mode, but feel like I could get lost in the vast galaxy of mining, construction, engineering and navigation that exists in  standard mode. The fact the game is still in development, but looks & plays better than many AAA titles, fills me with encouragement that indeed Space Engineers was worth the outlay.

I think I may mess around with it a bit more and try gather some better understanding of the overall dynamics of Space Engineers, but may wait until a few more friends have added this title to their own libraries before trying to truly get to grips with all it has to offer.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €22.99 -50% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €8.99

Footlol (€0.99)

A game which combines my love for football and my love for carnage, what's not to like? Frankly, this was bought off the back of the price-tag alone - although the Worms-like presentation of the game also appealed. 

I can say that I've made my money back and then-some already, having invested 2 hours into this title. Many more hours will surely follow in future dates. I've only played single-player at the moment, as I want to unlock all the weapons etc. before trying my hand at multi-player. I can already see how this game can be addictively appealing when paired off against a miked-up opponent - pure carnage!

This is a pick-up-and-play game with huge appeal & I feel like many a coffee-break will be spent on the killing fields of Footlol.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €4.99 -80% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €0.99

Black Mesa (€9.59)

Messing with perfection is a very risky undertaking & I was always a bit sceptical of Black Mesa in the past; but nonetheless, I decided to take the plunge this Christmas. It was worth it.

I have finished the game - or at least, what's available to play so far - & intend to release a review soon, so won't prattle on about it too much here. But all I say, is this game is as good a remake as you could expect. It keeps true to the story, exploits technological advances & mixes it up just enough to keep everything fresh.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €19.99 -52% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €9.59

Divinity: Original Sin (€26.79)

I broke a rule of mine on this one, by paying over the odds, but this is a title which I've been coveting for a while. I need a good ARPG in my life & while Grim Dawn is enjoyable, as is Path of Exile, neither gave me the same thrill as Torchlight 2 or Diablo 2. Hopefully Divinity: Original Sin could be my next ARPG love.

The reviews and hype behind this had me chomping at the bit & needless to say it was top of my steam wishlist. Although I have yet to really give this game a real go - I've only booted it up the once - I am intrigued by the game-play; it lies somewhere between Baulder's Gate and Diablo. It is a game that demands a real time investment, so despite me coveting Divinity: Original Sin, it will be something I'll reserve for a date in which I can invest the time it demands.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €39.99 -33% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €26.79

Bastion €3.74 (26/12)

While Divinity was too vast a meal to consume, I figured Bastion's snack-size packaging would be provide sufficient ARPG sustenance. 

The game is very pretty & I the commentary is fantastic; it's narrated by a voice akin of Sam Elliott meets Ron Pearlman. I did however feel repetition in the game-play quiet early on. While I also discover that Bastion may fix my ARPG hunger but not my loot addiction. This led to me growing bored of the game, quiet quickly. It's not a bad game by any means, just not the style of ARPG I was looking for.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €14.99 -75% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €1.97

Hero Siege €0.89 (31/12)

The short-term, bargain basement fix. The methadone or codeine that would solve my loot-sickness. 

This game requires you to look past the pixels and into the game-play; you will be rewarded. 

It ticks all the boxes, loot-driven with an engaging skill-tree & for an added bonus the game features wave-based levels. Love it.  A word of warning howevr, this one is more difficult than you'd think. Maybe I just suck, but I got frustrated of having to start a level from the start after dying. Town-portals tended to die when you did and having to repeat 20 waves to mend an error was quiet unforgiving. 

I'll get back to this for sure & act perhaps a more conservative approach will curb my frustration. This will curb those loot cravings until I find time for Divinity. 

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €5.99 -75% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €0.29

The Evil Within €8.99 (31/12)

The only modern AAA title I bought this time around & something that has sat in my checkout basket many times in the past, only for me to opt out at the last second. As a huge fan of Resident Evil, particularly Resident Evil 4, this game has appealed to me since it launched. For me Shinji Mikami is gamings answer to Stanley Kubrik, a genius in every aspect of his work. 

But there was a reason I stood off from this in the past, reviews have been relatively mediocre, while recent Resident Evil titles have failed to impress me. I'm sure I will enjoy this game, but will it be able to live up to the high-standards early Resident Evil titles has built up? 

It is installed and on my hard-drive, so I plan to find out this weekend.

What savings did I receive: RRP STEAM: €59.99 -85% 

                                             ALL TIME LOW: €8.99

I'm quiet pleased with my outlay this Christmas & I'm sure that I'll be kept entertained by these titles until the Summer Sale comes around - even if I have reverted to form, by blasting through hordes of zombies in Killing Floor 2 rather than booting any of these titles up for a meaningful play-through. Hey, there's always next week.

Late December will always be a team ear-marked in many a PC gamer's diary. Sure Christmas is fine and all, but the Steam Winter Sale is the headline event for a lot of eager gamers. Stocking up on best of year titles while digging up rare gems for pennies, what's not to love?

Steam have changed their sale's formula for this one, so no more flash-sales. But, if done correctly, the Steam Sales can still provide you with an abundance of gaming goodness without breaking the bank. Just check out these 5 tips & transform your Steam library into something worth browsing.

1: Steam Wishlist.

Logging into Steam during the sale can be a little over-whelming, the sheer number of discounted games on the store-page can mean that locating any relevant deals becomes a real chore. While the more popular titles & sale-items will be readily displayed, what about that small indie-game that caught your eye a few months back? Chances are you've forgotten its name or the game itself, so forever will it be consigned to the "Where's Wally" game of Steam discounts.

By using the Steam Wishlist however, this becomes less of an issue. Essentially, it is a one-stop shop for your coveted games. Simply, navigate to your wishlist and browse through your own personal shopping-list of sale items. Additionally, you can opt to have Steam mail you when a game on your list sees a price-change.

An invaluable tool, whether the big sales are on or not. 

2: Enhanced Steam Plugin.

There's one main problem with Steam; it's only one retail outlet in an ever growing marketplace. So what if a game is on a 50% discount, it could have a 66% discount in the Humble Store, Greenman Gaming or Gamersgate. Indeed, in order to stay somewhat competitive during the Steam Sales many of these retailers launch a sale of their own - while none will be quiet as big as Steams, you may very well pick up a few titles for considerably less elsewhere.

Rather than trawling through a list of sites to find the best deal, you can use the Enhanced Steam Plugin for Chrome or Firefox. The plugin will not only tell you exactly where the best price for any game can be found. but it will also tell you the cheapest this game has ever been on sale for - letting you know how impressive that 50% off sticker really is.

Some of the other functional uses for the plugin include:

• Highlighting owned games in the store in green.
• Highlighting games on your wishlist in blue.
• Calculating the actual discount amount of bundles.
• Listing of Metacritic scores.

It makes the whole process of buying games online a lot less of a gamble and frankly I don't know how I managed without it.

3: Know when to pull the trigger.

The reality is that newer, more popular titles are unlikely to see the mega discounts which older games may see, so may still be relatively expensive. With this in mind, you should always ask yourself this question before committing to purchase - will I play this & when?

I've been burnt be my own over-optimism of what I will play through in past sales and have barely touched the dozen or so games I bought in the Summer Sale this year. Indeed, I invested a grand total of 2 hours of my life into Dungeon Defenders 2 - having picked it up for €11,49 at 50% off - but now it is free to play. I knew that I was buying into the beta and it would eventually be free, but this didn't stop me. I could, and should, have waited. 

4: Dig & discover.

Chances are if one game in a series is on sale, so is all the other games and expansions in that series. So while you may already own the title featured on Steam's store-front, it may be worth checking out the series' other instalments.

This could also move you in a direction of further discounts in the form of an entire series combined into a highly-discounted bundle.

5: Set a Budget.

Just because a game is on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. It is wise to set limits going into the sale. Personally, I try not to buy a game with a discount higher than 50% on newer games and 66%-75% on older titles. With this model I rarely spend more than €10 on any game, while I also end up with a handful of solid games each costing me less than a bus trip into town. 

According to a leaked Paypal announcement, this years sale begins on the 22nd of December.

With the Steam Winter Sale just around the corner, I decided to pay homage to a gem I uncovered this past summer sale - a little puzzle game called "Antichamber".

I didn't know too much about Antichamber before purchase, in-fact all that I did know was that A) it was a first-person puzzle game, that gave you a gun which could manipulate your environment (Sound familiar?) and B) that it had rave reviews. 

I was in the market for a single-player puzzle game & was waiting for the Talos Principle to reach an acceptable discounted level, naturally I jumped at the €1.89 price-tag.

And boy, did that low-stake gamble pay-off. I've sunk more time into this than the much more heralded Talos Principle ( the special edition of which I managed to snag for 66% off, or €19.67)

Graphics:

Built on the Unreal 3 Engine, the game doesn't try to overplay itself graphically. The minimalistic design is however easy on the eye as well as the GPU. While the majority of the environment consists of a black and white colour scheme, the frequent injection of reds, blues & greens does play a major role during puzzles.

There are few soft edges here - which is appropriate considering you have a cube shooting gun - but this doesn't mean you should expect a pixelated presentation ala Minecraft. I wouldn't go as far as calling the design gorgeous, but it is very pretty to look at and quiet a pleasant environment to play in.

Audio:

The audio is sterile, but in a positive way. Its devoid of any distortion, echo or reverb, but despite these absences, a huge sense of isolation is generated with these tones.

Everything sounds just right, irregardless of the fact nothing sounds like anything you've heard before. From the noise when placing blocks, to the ticking of clocks or the animated 'woosh' when free-falling, it all seems to fit in with the experience perfectly. 

Of course, like all games, you develop a greater appreciation for Antichamber's audio, with a headset.

And then there's the soundtrack, which is as fitting and enjoyable as you could imagine. The relaxing songs just adds to the ambience perfectly and together with the sterility of the sound-effects helps create a warm-sounding environment. So enjoyable was the soundtrack, that I spent many times the game's entry-fee on that alone (check it out on bandcamp).

Gameplay:

The simplicity of the graphics is echoed in the the construction of the gameplay, nothing is over-engineered here. There is no story attached and indeed no 'main-menu'; once loaded you're thrown straight into the action. Well, sort of. In fact, there is a main-menu of sorts, it is just integrated into  the game itself. The home screen, which can be accessed at any-time by pressing escape, is controlled by your character rather than yourself. It consists of basic graphical and control options; a map which can be used to teleport to a previously visited location & a countdown, which will hit 0 to no consequence. I assume the countdown is utilised to create an 'enemy' of sorts, something to play against, as there is no threat from any conventional enemies during the play through. Once it hits 0, you'll be invested enough into the game to ignore the fact you're playing against yourself.

You quickly realise that reality can be augmented and the answer to some puzzles may not be immediately visible. 

Often puzzles have the right amount of complication and require a degree of trial and error. But occasionally, you may solve a test with little effort or be met with a seemingly unsolvable puzzle. I'm not afraid to admit that these frustrations had driven me to an online guide on a small number of occasions. Once I found myself in-front of a puzzle before I had the means to solve it. If it wasn't for an online search I wouldn't have realised this point - the game should do more to let you know when something is currently unsolvable. 

That being said, the game does try to point you in the right direction, with clues and hints plastered on many a wall. Some of these clues are very helpful, while others are either too abstract or irrelevant to really provide any real assistance.

The cube-gun, which you find early-on can be upgraded numerous times. Each upgrade unlocks a further array of puzzle solving options, which may be required to progress. 

Conclusion:

A one-man development team has created something more playable than the huge majority of AAA titles. The simplistic of design coupled with a solidly executed idea make a must-have title for puzzle game lovers. It is not quiet Portal, but it's not far off.

7.5/10: A real bargain of a find, I hope that the winter sale will unveil a similar gem for me.

Check out Antichamber on Steam: http://goo.gl/XTSFai

Cooper's Brewery would be a name familiar to everybody who enjoys a micro-brew or two. These Australian brewers have made their beers common-place in off-licences and bars located half-way around the world. There must be good reason for this.
A look online suggests high-quality produce is propelling this brewer towards the main-stream, while the drunken handful of times I've come across Cooper's in the past have all been positive.
So naturally I was anticipating this more sobering encounter.

Matching expectations?

The first sip was good, very good, the mild floral scent was matched by an equally mild, yet fruity, flavour, a welcoming treat for my pallet. Oh, how I wish this lasted.

The after-taste hits you hard and holds no prisoners. It somehow manages to be a complete contradiction from the original taste; a terribly bitter assault which attacks the taste-buds which have just opened up for something altogether more sweet. In itself, the after-taste wouldn't be all that bad, if you enjoy bitter beers, but when teamed up with such a pleasant taste, it becomes like an unwanted party-guest that you just get rid of.

The texture itself is quiet light & lends itself well to the base flavour. Unfortunately this only increases the power of the bitter after-taste.

Like any beer, the longer it stayed standing, the less enjoyable it became. All flavour had virtually evaporated by the time I was two thirds through the bottle. Whether this was something to do with the way in which the ale was brewed, or because the after-taste made me sip rather than gulp this down, I'm not quite sure; but one that I am sure of, is that this became about as appetising as toilet-water as the mls disappeared. 

Verdict.

I don't think you'll need a hint to know what I thought about this one.

3/10. A supremely disappointing experience that I . While not entirely undrinkable to begin with, it slowly drifts in that direction. Flabbergasted at how it has created the reputation which it holds, particularly as I recall a few decent sips on this in the past. Perhaps, it was just bad batch or perhaps it could be something which is best enjoyed when already in a drunken haze, I don't know. But for all the hype, Cooper's Brewery Sparkling Ale is not something I'd clear out fridge space for.

Price: €2.25 - Molloy's Liquor Store.

A look at the website of '13 Guns' brewer Daniel Thwaites would put most people off this beer - clearly the brewing is of secondary importance for Mr. Thwaites; and as far as I could tell 13 Guns doesn't feature anywhere on site. Indeed the website resembles something from a by-gone era, while the imagery looks like something straight out of Shutter Stock. If this half-baked website was anything to go by then perhaps a secondary project would receive even less attention.
So, not a positive start then; but there is the small matter of 13 Gun's Gold Award at the 2014 World Beer Awards. Could it be that the resources have been diverted in the wrong direction? I had to find out which way was this gun going to fire, as my interest had been peaked and I wanted to see if Crafty Daniel Thwaites kept his power dry for this one.

The Good:

First thing you notice when raising a glass of 13 Guns towards your face-holes, is the aroma. It is not exactly something which will be unfamiliar to anybody who has drank IPA's previously, but it is pleasant none-the-less. A typical fruity scent, which is the Marmite calling card for IPAs. A thumbs-up from me.

Moving onto the taste, you'd imagine from the scent that it would tow the party-line and deliver that traditional IPA flavour that we all know so well. Largely it does, nothing too out of the ordinary in terms of flavour, but the drinking experience as a whole is noteworthy. As you'd expect from a beer who carries a tagline of 'An Intense Hit Of Hops', 13 Guns is a fairly hoppy IPA, but it's hardly overbearing. Instead it manages to release all the flavour of the hops without completely taking over and nullifying any further taste from the drink. The hops do, what I believe, hops ought to do - they warm, they add substance and compliment the fruity taste already present in the beer. If anything, the hops may just take the edge off the fruitiness which could appeal to some people not won over by the traditional IPA taste.

This blending of the hops also effects the texture of the beer, such that it goes down quite easily despite appearing like heavy work.

The Bad:

Not much to say here, the drink was quiet enjoyable, but I do have one major gripe. While all the elements worked well together, I for one think that the taste has been curbed just a little bit and it holds 13 Guns back from being a truly delicious beer. A shame really, as they've concocted something brilliant in every other regard, but at the end of the day the most noticeable thing about a drink is its flavour. And while 13 Guns is not necessarily an unenjoyable drink, it doesn't do enough to stand out of the crowd when put up against the competition. I feel there is a truly spectacular drink waiting to be released in this brew, but for whatever reason Crafty Dan settled for this. Perhaps, they were right to, they did win Gold after-all.

The Verdict:

Despite the last paragraph, I did enjoy this beer and for sure I will be drinking it again in the near future. I just wish that they didn't play it so safe and pushed the brew just a little bit further, it would have been enough to turn a fine IPA into a spectacular IPA.

7.5/10 - 13 Guns has won me over to a certain degree, and definitely has the pulling power to turn my head when passing the beer section in the supermarket. Unfortunately however, I don't think it will ever be the main feature on a shopping list of mine. So close, yet so far. 

Price: €2.75 - Molloy's Liquor Store.

Craft-beers are a dime a dozen these days, so when looking to move away from the safe favourites I usually need something standing out to grab my attention. Well, enter Metalman Equinox. The Irish brewing company recently released their rage of beers in cans - so that was enough for me to chose Equinox as my latest victim.

Metalman Equinox has a lot to live up to, the pale ale - with which it shares its Christian name with - is my drink of choice when it comes to the end of week social in the local pub. On paper though there is no reason why Equinox can't dethrone its brother from my weekly tradition. Not only is Metalman the brewers of one of staples but wheat beer is what first brought me away from the macro taps and into the world of craft beer. Surely this review will be a slam dunk of positives so.

The Good.

It is a refreshing drink indeed, with a fruity flavour & lemony tang.  It's sweetness ads to the refreshment and overall lightness of the lager. I wouldn't worry about bloatedness if I was on Equinox for the night.
All these properties are something which can also be found in Metalman's Pale Ale, although to a lesser degree. Despite Equinox being a lager and the other being a beer, one could see Equinox as 'Metalman Light'.

The Bad.

However, I wouldn't want to do that kind of injustice to what is a fabulous light Pale Ale. 

While Metalman have gotten the levels of sweetness just right with their Pale Ale, Equinox is an altogether less enjoyable experience. I may be more of an ale drinker these days - and that is sure to throw some bias into this review - but I tend to steer clear of the heavier options on offer. This is a mantra that I carry over to wheat beers also. I do see myself as a light ale drinker.While I know ales and lagers are as different as apples and oranges Metalman Equinox is far too light for my liking. The sensation I have when ingesting the beer is not dissimilar to what I remember feeling when forcing a pint of Budweiser as a teen. A feeling which I'd rather avoid from now on.

As for the sweetness, I think it's overkill in that department too. I would liken the beers sweetness to that of sparkling wine - which is nor exactly a property you expect when sipping on a wheat beer.

Metalman Equinox - The Verdict.

Being too light for my delicate pallet, suggests that there really shouldn't be much of a market for Equinox. Perhaps, it's Irishness; brewer reputation and nifty design will help them sell some units, but other than being a gate into pale ales for American macro beer drinkers, I fail to see who Equinox actually appeals to.

Perhaps I'm over-looking something here, but overall this drink was a disappointment.

4.5/10 - I would begrudgingly finish a pint of the stuff rather than pour it down the drain; but that's not to say I would take a free Equinox when I could buy something more pleasing on the pallet. 

Price: €2.90 - Molloy's Liquor Store.