Every tavern and every table is graced with the stained rings of glasses and mugs filled to the brim with the sweet froth of summer's ale. No matter where one travels, it is possible to fill an empty belly with the warming flavors of honey and grain, the sweet flavors of fruit and sugar. To most, this drink is a sweet nectar, filling them more than water or the wines and heavy liquors that many of the races prefer. But it is to the perfectly balanced mead of the
Dwarves that all turn when coin is low and drink is necessary. It is this simple beverage that can be found the world over, no matter how far removed a place may be from the
Dwarves.
The various flavors of mead produced by the
Dwarves are a common sight on tables all over the world, not just in the
Great Furnaces or the depths of
Káto that the
Dwarves call home. The drink's aroma and easy-on-the-stomach flavors make it a drink for the masses, one that is easily produced and shared, no matter where one must go. Dwarven Mead is called such because the recipe originated in the halls of the
Dwarven Kingdom, but now it is a staple of many tables throughout the various kingdoms and empires.
Dwarven Mead, no matter the flavors or where it is being made, begins in the
Dwarven Kingdom amongst the
Master Dwarves who have dedicated their lives to the art of brewing and the creation of a variety of sustaining alcohols that have graced their tables for generations. With grains imported from the
Cradle of Clay, honey gathered from the
Little Greenwood, and centuries of practice, the
Dwarves can turn these simple ingredients into an aromatic beverage that warms both stomach and heart, keeping morale up when the days are tough.
Those outside of the
Dwarven Kingdom who wish to brew their own Dwarven Mead often study under the
Master Dwarves to learn the proper techniques to harness the flavors and aromas of the coveted ingredients. While grains and honey from anywhere in the world will do, the
Dwarves have curated their imports and made deals with both the
Cradle and
Coastland for the best of the crop to share their wondrous beverage with the world. Part of a brewer's training with the
Dwarves also details the selection process of ingredients so that the mead will have the desired flavors.
Everyday Mead
Mead has been a staple of
Dwarven Culture since the stout folk first appeared in the world. The
Dwarves of both the surface and the depths have coveted mead as a drink more useful than water, one that hydrates and lifts the spirits when all seems difficult. The
Dwarves' ability to hold their drink well has allowed mead and many other alcohols to be a staple of their tables, even as the centuries have changed.
Those traveling through the
Dwarven Kingdom or the
Kingdom of Gems have experienced the hospitality of these people and the drinking that comes with it. Many took the spirit of Dwarven Mead back to their homelands, creating their own alcohols that were meant to do the same thing, but nothing truly lived up to the standards that the
Dwarves kept for their own alcohol. This often led to people returning to the kingdoms for tutelage in brewing, expanding the reach of Dwarven Mead the world over.
You make it sound really tasty. :)
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025