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By Rich Rabassa
November 16, 2001 -- Charlotte, NC
 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.
After producing beer players place chips (representing crowds) onto the handsome laminated game board. As the game continues players try to make better beer and steal crowds from each other. The player with the most beer festival trophies and crowd markers wins the game.
The game is great for two to five players and generally takes less than an hour to play.
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.
As brewers and others have noted, the game captures the fun and romance of brewing and makes the perfect holiday gift for those who love beer.
The game was designed by twin brothers Chris White and Mike White. Chris is the founder and president of White Labs, a yeast manufacturing company serving the beer and wine industries. His career spans an era commonly regarded as the renaissance of good beer in the United States. Mike is a journalist and beer fan.
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Rules of the Game
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| Cold Creek be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the rules or any other aspect of the game. Email us at coldcreekpub@aol.com or write us at Cold Creek Publishing Co., PO Box 12636, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Fax, (253) 981-7534. |
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Mike and Chris tested the game with beer and non-beer fans at pubs, airports and beer festivals across the country over the past two years. It was difficult to tell who had more fun -- the beer experts or their friends and significant others who knew little or nothing about beer, at least when the game began.
The testing process included a thorough mathematical analysis. Mathematician and professor Gregory Leibon played more than 1 million games via computer. The results proved that, yes, Belgians are by far the most difficult beer to brew.
The first copies were sold at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO, in September 2001.
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Here are some HBA favorites: |
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 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!
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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) |
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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%) |
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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. |
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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) |
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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) |
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