Heaven & Ale (2017) Board Game

Heaven & Ale is a board game released in 2017 by eggertspiele. Designed by Michael Kiesling and Andreas Schmidt, the game is set in the world of brewing beer, where players take on the role of monks trying to brew the best beer to impress the Abbot.

Game Components of Heaven & Ale

Player boards with spaces for 30 resource and/or monk tiles, and storage sheds

Main board featuring a track for resource and brewmaster management

Resource tiles (five types)

Monk tiles

Scoring discs

Bonus cards

Money (ducats)

Barrel spaces with bonus tiles

Shed tiles

Brewmaster marker

How To Setup Heaven & Ale

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and twenty-five ducats. The main board is placed in the center, with monk tiles indicating the number of rounds left in the game. Resource tiles and scoring discs are distributed according to the game’s setup rules. Players choose their starting position on the main board, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Rondel: Players move their figure around the main board to perform actions.

Tile Placement: Players place resource and monk tiles on their player board.

Track Movement: Players manage their resources and brewmaster on the main board.

Once-Per-Game Abilities: Scoring discs can be used once per game to score specific sets of tiles.

Highest-Lowest Scoring: Scoring mechanisms that reward players based on the value of their tiles.

Game Objective:

The objective is to brew the best beer by balancing the upgrade of your cloister’s garden and harvesting the necessary resources. Players must manage their money, resources, and monks to refine their barrels and score points. The game ends after a set number of rounds, and the player with the most points, earned through efficient resource management and scoring, wins.

Player Experience

Heaven & Ale offers a engaging and strategic gameplay experience. Players must constantly balance their short-term needs for money and resources with their long-term goals of brewing high-quality beer. The game is praised for its smooth pacing, with minimal downtime between turns, and its ability to scale well for different player counts. However, it requires a good level of strategic thinking and resource management, making it more suitable for experienced board game players.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game offers a complex and engaging gameplay experience with significant strategic depth.

Smooth Pacing: The game is well-paced, ensuring that no player has to wait for long periods.

Balanced Player Interaction: The game provides balanced competition among players without being overly cutthroat.

Visual Appeal: The game’s theme and design are visually appealing and thematic.

Cons

Learning Curve: Some players find the game challenging to learn and master.

Complex Scoring Mechanic: The scoring system can be unforgiving and requires careful planning.

Resource Management Stress: Managing money and resources can be stressful and demanding.

Personal Thoughts on Heaven & Ale

Heaven & Ale is an excellent choice for fans of economic and strategic board games. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy Euro-style games with deep mechanics and strategic planning. While it may not be the best fit for new board game players due to its complexity, it offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time and effort into mastering its intricacies. If you enjoy games like Glen More or other resource management titles, Heaven & Ale is definitely worth considering.

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