Boozy management sim Ale Abbey puts you in the sandals of a beer-brewing monk

The deity of video game news seems to be on a rampage this weekend, unleashing a flood of game announcements to obliterate any remaining game journalists. Bring it on, God! What have you got? Ah, it’s Ale Abbey, a management game centered around brewing beer in a medieval monastery inhabited by monks, who occasionally indulge in their own brew. You can’t fool me, god of game reveals, as this game has been in development on GameJolt for 2 years. However, now that the developer is teaming up with the creators of Northgard as a publisher, it’s time for the world to take notice.

Ale Abbey shares a charming resemblance to Game Dev Story and other simulation games ending in “Story”, but it appears to be more intricate than your typical Kairosoft clickathon. “No pre-made recipes in Ale Abbey, oh no. It’s a canvas for true beer alchemists,” say developers Hammer & Ravens. Get ready for a plethora of lager varieties.

“Dive into a vast array of over 20 European styles, meticulously choosing the equipment that best suits your needs. Adjust the quantity, quality, and mash temperature to blend the perfect brew. Decide whether to store it for aging, or sell it at the market.”

Meanwhile, you’ll need to construct parts of the monastery as you progress. Excavate the ground below to create cellars, while providing accommodations for your monks upstairs, including living quarters, refectories, libraries, and offices. There are hints of challenges beyond your monastery doors. “Appease Lords, befriend neighboring abbeys, and handle bandit encounters,” as stated by the developers.

The tipsy seminarian simulation game was showcased during the PC Gaming Show amidst the wave of summer game news. It doesn’t have an exact release date yet, but it aims to debut on Steam in late 2024, according to the creators.

As mentioned, the team behind the frothy friars has diligently documented their development progress, delving into the intricacies of their pixel art simulation. Now, Shiro Unlimited has stepped in as a publisher. Shiro is known for the successful viking RTS Northgard and the sci-fi strategy game Dune: Spice Wars. It appears they are expanding into publishing other developers’ games as well. Impressive move by them.