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🎙️ Episode 97: Beer & Bread & Butter

Welcome to Meeples & Wine, the podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand! I’m Michael and I’m joined by Suzy. Today we are balancing our pallets and our game boards with a “harmonious” pairing.

🍷 The Wine: Bread & Butter California Red Blend

We aren’t overthinking it today! Our pick is the Bread & Butter California Red Blend, a classic everyday red that’s all about relaxed vibes.

• The Vibe: An affordable crowd-pleaser, usually found for $14–$17 per bottle.
• Style: A plush, velvety, medium-to-full-bodied blend often heavy on Cab and Petite Sirah.
• Tasting Notes: We’re getting juicy black plum, dark cherry, and blackberry with smooth layers of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel.
• Stats: It holds a steady 3.9/5 on Vivino as of 2026.
• Pairing Tip: Perfect for burgers, pizza, or a cozy movie night.
• Check it out here: Bread & Butter Wines

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🍞 The Game: Beer & Bread

This week we’re hitting the fields with Beer & Bread, a multi-use card game designed for exactly two players.

The Premise

You represent rival villages sharing a monastery’s fruitful lands. Over six years (alternating between “fruitful” and “dry”), you’ll harvest resources, brew beer, bake bread, and upgrade your facilities.

The “Twist” 🥨

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 least. If you go all-in on beer and ignore your bread, you’re going to have a bad time.

Quick Stats:

• Designer: Scott Almes (The Tiny Epic guy!)
• Artist: Michael Menzel (Catan, Dominion)
• Publisher: Deep Print Games
• Complexity: 2.36/5 on BGG
• Links: BGG Game Page | Our Tiny Epic Dungeons Episode

Our Ratings:

• Michael’s Fun Score: 8/10 ²²
• Suzy’s Fun Score: 9.5/10 ²³
• Couch Score: 2/5 (Won’t wreck your relationship!)

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🚀 What Else is Brewing?

• Kickstarter Spotlight: We’re keeping an eye on Grassfed: A Farm to Tabletop Game from the Ascension team. Check it out on Gamefound.
• MGC 2026: We will be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year (April 25–27)!

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📬 Contact Us!

What everyday reds are you reaching for this winter? We’d love to hear from you! ²⁷

• Email: meeplesandwine@gmail.com
• Socials: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn
• Voicemail: (707) 572-5282

See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

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