Brass: Birmingham

Brass: Birmingham – a deep economic-engine eurogame set in the heart of the Industrial Revolution, with strategic network building, industry development, and market-driven selling.

Forge your industrial empire in Birmingham’s canals and railways! Brass: Birmingham demands smart planning, risk-taking, and timing to secure victory in this tense, thematic masterpiece.

How the Game Works

You manage industry cards to build canals in the Canal Era, then railways in the Rail Era, constructing industries, linking networks, and selling goods for victory points. Use Coal, Iron, and Beer strategically while managing loans and timing actions to optimize payouts.

This two-phase game challenges you to develop cotton mills, potteries, manufactured goods, and breweries, each rewarding different strategies. Swap between earning income, expanding your network, developing better industries, or scouting new options as markets shift around you. [oai_citation:0‡The Dice Tower](https://www.dicetower.com/board-game/224517?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Why You’ll Love It

• Complex economic engine: deep strategic planning between Canal and Rail eras
• High-interaction network building: canals and rails connect your infrastructure for scoring
• Elegant resource markets: coal, iron, and beer fluctuate and influence timing
• Multiple industry paths: cotton, pottery, manufactured goods, and brewing each deliver unique tempo
• Clean, sharp art and premium components with historical theme
• Replayable in varied strategies and negotiation dynamics between players

🧩 Game Details

• 🧩 Players: 2–4
• ⏱️ Playtime: 60–120 minutes
• 🎂 Age: 14+
• 🗂️ Genre: Economic Strategy, Eurogame
• 🎯 Complexity: High – deep engine building, long-term planning
• 🔁 Replayability: Very High – shifting markets and strategic paths
• 🎮 Great for fans of: heavy euros, modern worker-less strategy games, economic simulation

What’s in the Box

• Game board (double‑sided: Canal & Rail Era)
• Industry cards (cotton mill, pottery, manufactured goods, brewery, coal/iron mines)
• Canal & rail links, cubes (coal, iron, beer), money tokens, player markers
• Loan track, market board, income track
• Rules booklet and reference cards

How to Play

Watch this exceptional tutorial by Rodney Smith from Watch It Played—perfect for mastering setup, actions, and era transitions:

Click play above to watch a full, clear rule walkthrough—highly recommended for both new and experienced players. 

Featured Review

See The Dice Tower’s Tom Vasel break down the strategic weight and game feel of Brass: Birmingham:

Watch to hear his balanced and nuanced perspective on why it's a great system‑heavy gram.

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