Have you ever dreamed of opening your own brewery and crafting the perfect ale? Ale Abbey, a new early access game, lets you do just that, but with a unique twist. Set in 14th-15th century Rome, this side-scrolling tycoon game puts you in charge of a monastery dedicated to brewing and selling ales. We got an early peek at Ale Abbey, and here’s our in-depth take on whether it’s worth grabbing in early access.
Prefer to watch instead? Check out our video on Ale Abbey here
Forget your typical beer tycoon setting. Ale Abbey’s monastic backdrop adds an intriguing layer to the gameplay. The tranquil setting juxtaposed with the bustling business of brewing creates a unique atmosphere. You begin with a humble monastery, brewing basic ales and working your way up the brewing ladder.
The recipe system is surprisingly in-depth, allowing you to tweak ingredients to influence four key virtues: flavor, color, strength, and foam. Each ingredient has a different effect on these virtues, and a clear, color-coded system helps you aim for the perfect balance. Crafting the ideal ale requires careful consideration of the ingredients and their interplay, offering a satisfying level of strategic depth. You’ll find yourself experimenting with different combinations to discover the most effective recipes.
Of course, no monastery can run without its monks. You’ll need to hire “fermentines” (nuns and monks) with varying stats like intuition, productivity, and, importantly, their “drunken scale.” Yes, your monks can get a little too fond of their product, impacting their productivity and the quality of the ale. Managing their sobriety becomes a crucial part of your management strategy. Do you let them indulge a little, risking a dip in quality, or do you keep a tight rein, potentially impacting their happiness?
Once you’ve assembled your team, you can construct your brewery and start churning out those ales. The brewing process involves selecting a recipe, choosing how much to brew, and assigning a monk to the task. Each monk’s experience and sobriety influence the quality and speed of the brewing process. Experienced monks will produce higher-quality ales faster, while inebriated monks might create a less-than-perfect batch.
Selling your ale is where the real tycoon action comes in. You start with a single sales location, and unlock more as you gain experience and reputation. Each location has its own market preferences, paying different amounts for specific ales and having varying demands. Some cities favor light, refreshing ales, while others crave the rich, complex flavors of blond, herbal, or old ales. You’ll need to adapt your brewing strategy to meet these ever-changing demands, and some cities won’t even accept certain types of ale at all. This adds a dynamic element to the gameplay, forcing you to stay on top of market trends. Custom orders add another layer of complexity, tasking you with brewing specific ales in specific quantities for a set price. These orders offer a good source of income but require careful planning and resource management.
But brewing and selling are only part of the equation. You also need to keep your monks happy, which means ensuring they have enough ale to drink (and preventing them from getting too rowdy). A happy monastery is a productive monastery. Ale also serves as a valuable bribery tool. Bandits will occasionally attack your ale wagons as they make their way to the different sales locations, and you can bribe them with ale (or coins) to avoid trouble. This adds a strategic element to your sales operations, forcing you to weigh the cost of bribery against the risk of losing a shipment.
As you progress, you’ll unlock more ales (around 20 in the early access version), each with its own unique challenges and brewing requirements. New ingredients with different qualities and attributes become available, allowing you to refine your recipes and even revisit older ones with newfound knowledge. Discovering new ingredient combinations and perfecting your recipes becomes a rewarding endeavor.
Looking after your monastery is also crucial for maintaining a positive atmosphere and keeping your monks content. Monks need adequate light and a pleasant environment to thrive. You’ll need to place candles, lanterns, and decorations, and keep things tidy. A well-maintained monastery not only looks better but also contributes to the overall happiness and productivity of your monks. Later on, you can even automate these tedious tasks with custodians, freeing you to focus on the more strategic aspects of your brewing empire.
A robust research tree offers two distinct paths: innovation and decoration. The innovation side unlocks new equipment, brewing techniques, and advanced ingredients, while the decoration side lets you beautify your monastery with aesthetically pleasing items. The research tree is essential for unlocking advanced brewing techniques, like adding fruit and spices, which are necessary for completing later missions and accessing new, more lucrative markets.
The merchant system, unlocked with the storage room, allows you to buy ingredients, often at discounted prices, and store them for later use. This is especially useful for stocking up on ingredients that are in season or on sale, allowing you to save money and ensure a steady supply for your brewing operations.
Ale Abbey shows a lot of promise. The side-scrolling perspective is a refreshing take on the tycoon genre, and the core gameplay loop is addictive. While it’s still in early access, the game feels polished and complete, with plenty of content to keep you busy. We’re excited to see what the future holds for Ale Abbey and eagerly await the full roadmap. If you’re looking for a unique and engaging brewing experience with a charming historical setting, Ale Abbey is definitely worth checking out.
You can check out Ale Abbey here!
Until next time, stay caffeinated!