Hello again brewers :D
Another week comes to an end and we're bringing you the highlights of what the Hammer & Ravens team worked on these past few days. But what do we have for you this time... That would be new animations for our angry Monks, new handymen & handywomen models for that extra help around the Monastery, and some new icons to bring some more IRL vibes to our UI.
Read on!
-- New UI icons
Still true to our focus on realistic depiction, we're adding a few new icons to Ale Abbey's UI to make sure all styles available are represented as they should. This time we do this with actual beer glasses. Not the ones that grace you with a more acceptable version of your surroundings, but rather the actual glassware your favorite beverage is served in!
You already know that certain styles are traditionally served in very specific glasses... so how many of the glasses do you think you can recognize?
Top, from left to right: 1) Goblet, 2) IPA, 3) Mug, 4) Shaker Pint
Bottom from left to right: 1) Pilsner, 2) Nonic Pint, 3) Weizen, 4) Tulip
-- Workers of the Abbey, unite!
The Monks, Nuns, Abbots, and Abbesses of Ale Abbey... the Merchant, the Cook, and the Handyman we revealed quite some time ago, are not going to be the only ones offering their services in the Abbey. Let us give you a small list of workers we're testing and want to include in the game. A Monastery can't run on beer and men of the cloth alone and these little chaps will gladly take on the tasks your brewers shy away from!
-- More angry Monks
Following last week's line of work on angry Monks and Nuns, we now have a few more who want to show how they feel about reduced ale rations in the Monastery. Make sure to keep those brewers happy, no matter what... your brews absolutely depend on them.
And of course, we added a few of them who will break the 4th wall. Can't have the player feeling too safe and cozy behind his monitor now, can we?
-- Keeping yeast happy
The feisty Monks and Nuns we've been animating these past couple of weeks remind us - vividly - of the nature of a brewing ingredient that is also quite.... temperamental. If you thought of yeast, you'd be correct!
Yeast, being a living microcosm that you use to turn sugars into alcohol and fizzy goodness, has needs that would freeze some Olympian Gods in disbelief. So how do you keep that yeast active, alive, and well-behaved so it can excel when its time comes to shine?
- Refrigeration: Store yeast in the refrigerator. The cold temperature helps slow down the metabolic activity of the yeast, extending its shelf life, but
- Avoid Freezing: unless it's a specific strain that can handle freezing. Always err on the side of caution, because freezing can damage yeast cells and reduce viability
- Minimize Exposure to Air: limit the exposure of yeast to air when opening and closing its storage container. Oxygen can gravely impact yeast health. This one tip can be broken down even further, with the introduction of
- Sealed Containers: that protect the yeast from exposure to air, moisture, and contaminants. Many homebrewers use small glass jars or vials with airtight lids and some will even use vacuum-sealed bags or containers with a one-way airlock
- Sanitation: and this cannot be stressed enough! Ensure that the storage container and any equipment used to handle the yeast are properly sanitized to prevent contamination
Follow these and repeat after us... happy yeast, happy feast!
As always, enjoy your weekend responsibly, and join us next week for more Ale Abbey news!
-- Hammer & Ravens
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