Homebrewers (2019) Board Game

Homebrewers is a board game designed by SaRae Henderson and Adam Rebottaro, published by Greater Than Games. It was released in 2019 and has quickly gained popularity among board game enthusiasts. The game is all about brewing your own beer and competing with other players to create the best brews.

Game Components of Homebrewers

1 Game Board

1 Medal Tile

7 Garage Boards

7 Character Cards

1 Start Player Token

20 Wooden Player Pieces

5 Wooden Score Trackers

5 Player Power Tokens

16 Action Cards

10 Charlie’s Cards

52 Money Tokens

40 Grain/Tub Tokens

54 Flavor Cards

12 Quality Track Tiles

8 Event Tiles

11 Judging Category Tiles

5 Sanitization Tiles

5 Reminder Cards

Custom dice.

How To Setup Homebrewers

To set up the game, each player starts by choosing a garage board and taking the corresponding player pieces and tokens. The game board is placed in the middle, and the various decks (flavor cards, event tiles, judging category tiles) are shuffled and placed within reach. The quality track tiles are set up for each of the four beer types (ale, porter, stout, and IPA). The game includes a basic and an advanced version; the basic version involves everyone having the same garage, while the advanced version introduces unique breweries and hygiene regimes for each player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players use custom dice to determine their actions.

Set Collection: Players collect flavor cards to enhance their beer recipes.

Trading: Players trade dice during the club meeting phase.

Engine-Building: Players build their brewing capabilities over the game.

Game Objective: The goal is to gain the most reputation points by brewing high-quality beers and meeting the judges’ flavor preferences.

Game Phases: Each round consists of two phases – the club meeting (trading phase) and the weekend activities (action phase).

Actions: The five main actions are cleaning, performing the event of the month, taking grains, using flavor cards, and brewing beer. Players can also buy an extra action for three dollars.

Player Experience

In **Homebrewers**, players immerse themselves in the world of homebrewing, competing in a friendly yet strategic competition. The game is moderately complex, making it easy to learn but challenging to master. Players must balance their actions carefully, as the limited number of actions and the need to manage resources (like money) add a layer of strategy. The game encourages planning ahead, as the preferences of the judges are revealed at the beginning, allowing players to tailor their beers accordingly.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game offers a good balance between luck and strategy.

Engaging Theme: The homebrewing theme is unique and appealing.

Customization: Players can craft unique beer recipes using various flavor cards.

Components: The game comes with high-quality, sturdy components, including custom dice and flavorful artwork.

Cons

Learning Curve: While the basic rules are simple, mastering the game takes time.

Randomness: Although limited, the randomness in dice rolls and flavor card draws can affect gameplay.

Complexity with Two Players: The game is optimized for 3 to 5 players, with minor adjustments needed for two players.

Personal Thoughts on Homebrewers

**Homebrewers** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a unique theme. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate engine-building and dice-trading mechanics. The game’s balance between planning and execution makes it appealing to both casual and experienced gamers. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking a quick, light-hearted game, as it requires some depth of strategy to fully enjoy.

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