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The Brewmaster Game


Reviewed by John McCallion
Games Magazine

To beer, or not to beer? This game is thematically convincing and entertaining, and no knowledge of the subject is required. Ingredient Cards represent Hops, Malt, or Yeast.

Each indicates from one to six beers (Ale, Lager, Stout, Porter, Wheat, or Belgian) they can be used to brew. Start by dealing everyone six cards. Reveal the top card of the face down stack to start the discards; shuffle the Event Cards and place them face down.

Players begin turns by drawing from the deck or by taking the top discard. One card each of Hops, Malt, and Yeast may be used to brew one of five beers; Belgian requires two Yeast. Discard the ingredients used, and place a Marker in your color on the brewed beer’s board space. Spaces accommodate a stack of three Markers at most; if you brew for a space that’s full, you must remove the enemy Marker closest to the stack’s top. 
Using the notoriously unpredictable Adjunct Malt requires a die roll: If you roll a one or two, you discard without brewing.

After each brew, draw an Event Card. Five cards are Beer Festivals, in which a die roll determines the winning beer. You get a trophy for most Markers on the winner’s board space or, in the case of a tie, for having yours on top. Other Events cause you to gain or lose beer, ingredients, or turns. The draconian Big Breweries card nastily forces the top Marker on each board space to revert back to its owner’s supply.

End each turn by discarding one card before redrawing to six -- an unusual mechanism often requiring a difficult decision. Play concludes with the last trophy earned. Trophies and Markers on the board earn a point each. Highest score wins.

Add this quick, refreshening brew to your collection and enjoy its hidden depths over a drink of anything!

(This review appeared in the November 2002 issue of Games Magazine. The magazine followed up by naming The BrewMaster Game to the "Games 100" list in the December 2002 buyer's guide issue. The game was recognized under the family game category.)
TESTIMONIAL:
"When I first saw the huddle of brewers around a table at the (American Homebrewers Association) Conference, I assumed they were talking beer. It was even better, they were playing beer. I sat in, shared a pint with some friends, created some recipes, won some medals and had a great time. BrewMaster is awesome fun for beer lovers."

-- Paul Gatza, Director, Institute for Brewing Studies

Here are some HBA favorites:


BrewMaster: The Craft Beer Game: If you appreciate good beer, you'll love BrewMaster: The Craft Beer Game. Using mechanics similar to the classic card game rummy, players combine cards to produce six beer styles including ale, stout and Belgian. In doing so players will use some of the 90 beautifully crafted cards representing real beer ingredients. No beer knowledge is necessary, as this is not a trivia or drinking game. Indeed it is the perfect game for settings involving beer and non-beer fans alike. A Perfect Holiiday Gift!
Rocky's South Paw Swankey:: Pennsylvania Swankey was a common style in this state before being lost due to Prohibition. The term "Swankey" comes from the German "schankbier", meaning a beer of lower than usual gravity. This historic and very American style was brewed to be a session beer (a tasty, low gravity, low alcohol beer that one could sip for an entire evening of socializing without becoming too inebriated or too full). In terms of body and color it's similar to an English Mild Ale. It's hopped just enough to balance the malt sweetness with American varieties and flavored with aniseed. Our recipe suggests 1/8 oz. (approximately 1.25 tsp.) of aniseed as a starting point. This will give your beer a very subtle licorice character. You can pump it up if you like but be forewarned, a little bit goes a long way and the licorice flavor is not for all tastes. (Starting Gravity: 1.026 - 1.030) (Finishing Gravity: 1.006 - 1.010) (24 IBU's)
Bridget's Love Potion Saison: Saison beers are distinctive specialty beers from the Belgian province of Hainuat. These beers were originally brewed in the early spring for summer consumption, though contemporary Belgian saisons are brewed all year round with pale malts and well dosed with Belgian hop varieties. Lively carbonation ensues from a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The color is classically golden orange and the flavors are refreshing with citrus and fruity hop notes. (Starting Gravity: 1.066-1.070) (Finishing Gravity: 1.014-1.018) (Approximate Alcohol content: 6.5-7.2%)
Catherine the Great Imperial Stout:: Dark black example of a beer originally made specifically for export. Essentially a black barley wine it has high hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. The high hop flavor and aroma, though unusual for the stout style, are required for an Imperial stout.
Chappaquiddick Ale:: Chappequiddick Ale is a Boston style ale that is characterized by a malty body and medium bitterness with a very clean finish devoid of yeast characteristics. It will be medium to dark amber in color. A refreshing ale with the hues leaning towards tan. An excellent session beer! (Starting Gravity: 1.042-1.048) (Finishing Gravity: 1.007-1.013) (Approximate Alcohol Content: 4.0-4.5%) (35 IBU)
St. Nick's Holiday Ale:: St. Nick's Holiday Ale is a delightfully spiced ale with accents of cinnamon and vanilla. Mildy hopped with nice honey flavors balanced by the nutmeg and clove. This Amber colored malty ale will really warm up your winter nights. Brew early to make the Holidays! (Starting Gravity 1.070- 1.075) (Finishing Gravity 1.011 - 1.016) (Approximate Alcohol Content: 7.0-7.5%) (25 IBU)