<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">🎙️ Episode 97: Beer &#38; Bread &#38; Butter</h1> <p>Welcome to <strong>Meeples &#38; Wine</strong>, the podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand! I&#8217;m Michael and I&#8217;m joined by Suzy. Today we are balancing our pallets and our game boards with a &#8220;harmonious&#8221; pairing.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">🍷 The Wine: Bread &#38; Butter California Red Blend</h2> <p>We aren’t overthinking it today! Our pick is the <strong>Bread &#38; Butter California Red Blend</strong>, a classic everyday red that&#8217;s all about relaxed vibes.</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>The Vibe:</strong> An affordable crowd-pleaser, usually found for <strong>$14–$17</strong> per bottle.</li> <li><strong>Style:</strong> A plush, velvety, medium-to-full-bodied blend often heavy on Cab and Petite Sirah.</li> <li><strong>Tasting Notes:</strong> We’re getting juicy black plum, dark cherry, and blackberry with smooth layers of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel.</li> <li><strong>Stats:</strong> It holds a steady <strong>3.9/5 on Vivino</strong> as of 2026.</li> <li><strong>Pairing Tip:</strong> Perfect for burgers, pizza, or a cozy movie night.</li> <li><strong>Check it out here:</strong> <a href="https://breadandbutterwines.com/california-red-blend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bread &#38; Butter Wines</a> </li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">🍞 The Game: Beer &#38; Bread</h2> <p>This week we’re hitting the fields with <strong>Beer &#38; Bread</strong>, a multi-use card game designed for exactly two players. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Premise</h3> <p>You represent rival villages sharing a monastery&#8217;s fruitful lands. Over six years (alternating between &#8220;fruitful&#8221; and &#8220;dry&#8221;), you’ll harvest resources, brew beer, bake bread, and upgrade your facilities.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The &#8220;Twist&#8221; 🥨</h3> <p>Balance is key! At the end of the sixth year, you only score the coins from the category (beer or bread) where you earned the <strong>least</strong>. If you go all-in on beer and ignore your bread, you’re going to have a bad time. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Stats:</h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Designer:</strong> <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/43431/scott-almes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scott Almes</a> (The <em>Tiny Epic</em> guy!)</li> <li><strong>Artist:</strong> <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameartist/11825/michael-menzel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Menzel</a> (<em>Catan</em>, <em>Dominion</em>)</li> <li><strong>Publisher:</strong> <a href="https://www.deep-print-games.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deep Print Games</a></li> <li><strong>Complexity:</strong> 2.36/5 on BGG </li> <li><strong>Links:</strong> <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/369880/beer-and-bread" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BGG Game Page</a> &#124; <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.meeplesandwine.fun/tinyepicdungeons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our Tiny Epic Dungeons Episode</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Our Ratings:</h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Michael&#8217;s Fun Score:</strong> 8/10 ²²</li> <li><strong>Suzy&#8217;s Fun Score:</strong> 9.5/10 ²³</li> <li><strong>Couch Score:</strong> 2/5 (Won&#8217;t wreck your relationship!)</li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">🚀 What Else is Brewing?</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Kickstarter Spotlight:</strong> We&#8217;re keeping an eye on <strong>Grassfed: A Farm to Tabletop Game</strong> from the <em>Ascension</em> team. Check it out on <a href="https://gamefound.com/en/projects/stoneblade/grassfed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gamefound</a>.</li> <li><strong>MGC 2026:</strong> We will be at the <strong>Midwest Gaming Classic</strong> again this year (April 25–27)!</li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">📬 Contact Us!</h2> <p>What everyday reds are you reaching for this winter? We’d love to hear from you! ²⁷</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Email:</strong> [email protected] </li> <li><strong>Socials:</strong> Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn </li> <li><strong>Voicemail:</strong> (707) 572-5282</li> </ul> <p>See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>