Beer
Across the dozens of cuisines found around the Great Ring, there is no single, universal staple food. But a few come close - and one of them is beer. It is brewed on nearly every island, with hundreds, if not thousands of varieties, each shaped by local tastes and ingredients. In some places, there are drinks that may not technically be beer, but serve the same culinary and social role. These are also included in this overview, which gathers some of the most popular and well-known brews in the Million Islands.
The Breweries of the Bjórfljót
The Northeastern Region produces more beer than any other, with most households brewing their own. But one location draws beer lovers from across the Great Ring: the river Bjórfljót, on the island of Borgaholmr. Its name means "Beer-Flood," and locals claim it offers the best brewing water in the islands. Though it runs only fourteen miles, more than a dozen breweries line its banks, producing some of the most popular styles of ship-beer in the region.
Here are two of their most popular creations.
Hrafnrót Black A dark and briny ship-beer flavored with raven-root; a local bitter herb said to grant foresight to those in need.
Rivenhorn An amber ale flavored with hops - a divisive inclusion that is unique to this brewery.
Resinous and Sweet
While the Kaphtor Islands are better known for their dark wines, they are also accomplished brewers who . Further south, the brewers of the Malikate are known for their sweet barley beers, flavored with honey and dates. Here are two of the popular beers from this region.
Rikon Red This malty red ale is flavored with thyme and bay, with a touch of grape, then sealed with pine resin to age in ceramic amphorae.
Asal al-Ba'rī This thick and syrupy sweet barley beer means "Sea-honey" in Nagari, and is flavored with sun-dried dates and cardamom.
Exotic and Refreshing
Elsewhere in the islands, brewing traditions grow more diverse - stretching what some people might consider beer at all. These are often brewed from alternate grains such as rice, and their flavors are drawn from the local culinary traditions. Here are two final beers showcasing a more expansive view of the beverage.
Kendari Ember Made from glutinous rice and toasted sago palm, this brew is smoky and warm. It is brewed with a wild yeast that gives it a floral aroma.
Yukimura Ale Brewed in the Empire of Wamato, the rice for this beer is treated with a fungus before fermentation, resulting in a delicate pale ale with a subtly sweet flavor.
Ship-Beer
A ship at sea is lost without its beer, and every crew has its favorites. The most common, though, is the style known simply as ship-beer. Brewed with longevity in mind, ship-beer has a higher alcohol content than small-beer - though sailors also appreciate the extra potency. It is typically a sour ale with a pinch of salt, meant to evoke the sea, and most breweries include herbs such as rosemary, mugwort, or sea-wrack.
Hops?
Most of the beers in the Million Islands are flavored with herbal blends. In one brewery on the island of Borgaholmr, they have begun to experiment with adding hops, which provides a bitter, citrusy flavor. This addition has proven divisive - some love it, while others find it a foul concotion. Its proponents claim that one day, all beer will be made with hops - but it is difficult to imagine this coming to pass.
Safer than Water
In many places, beer is the most common beverage for a simple reason: it's safer than the water. The local water supply is often unreliable - brackish, stagnant, or contaminated with disease. Beer, on the other hand, is boiled during brewing, infused with beneficial herbs, and contains enough alcohol to discourage bacterial growth. As a result, it is often the healthiest drink available and is consumed by people of all ages.
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
Beeeeeer. I love reading about some of the different varieties. I am laughing about the hops.
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Personally I’m pro hops. But I know a lot of people who hate them.