Brass Birmingham Coal, Iron & Beer Rules: Connection Differences
Coal, iron and beer use different connection rules in Brass: Birmingham. Treating them as interchangeable is one of the most common rules mistakes.
Coal: connection required
When coal is required, use the closest connected unflipped Coal Mine with coal available. If no connected mine is available, you may buy from the Coal Market only if the consuming location is connected to an appropriate Merchant connection.
Does coal have to come from your own mine?
No. You can consume coal from any player’s connected Coal Mine. The closest valid source takes priority.
Iron: no connection required
Iron does not require a network connection. You may consume iron from any unflipped Iron Works with iron available, regardless of distance or ownership.
When do you buy iron from the market?
If no Iron Works on the board contains iron, buy it from the Iron Market starting with the cheapest available space.
Your own beer
You may consume beer from your own unflipped Brewery without a network connection to the location where the beer is required.
Another player’s beer
To use beer from another player’s Brewery, that Brewery must be connected to the location where the beer is required.
Merchant beer
Beer beside a Merchant tile is available only during a Sell action to that Merchant and requires the normal selling connection.
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Rules checked September 2026.