The Great Middle-earth Booze Guide

[saelind]

Hey friends! As a follow-up to the Elvish mixology post I made last night, tehta had the idea that we ought to make a list of the "typical" drinks for various time periods and regions, from Gondolin to Gondor and back again. I'm certain there are many people who've developed various headcanons about this sort of thing over the years, and it'd be great to hear them so that we can put together a comprehensive list! This way, not only will people have readily-available fic fodder, but we'll all know exactly what to drink when in need of inspiration :D.

SO...discuss! 

Comments

[tehta.livejournal.com]

Argh! Sorry to ask about this, then go away. I was, er, doing research. Relevant research! Conclusion: many wines are delicious.

Maybe we should try this as a meme-like direct question? I will post something in my LJ. We can collate answers later.

[suzll.livejournal.com]

Hah, no worries! That seems like the perfect kind of research :D.

And yes, I like the meme-like direct question approach! I shall be compiling my own headcanons later this afternoon...

[suzll.livejournal.com]

OKAY, got a chance to record all of my own:

3rd-age Dunedain. I'm torn on the kind of beer they primarily brewed--my instinct says a lighter ale rather than stout, but I'm pretty sure my instinct is informed by my own personal tastes rather than anything else :P. And now I'm wondering if maybe it makes more sense for them to make lagers, due to the colder climates... Probably they had both, especially if they were trading with other cultures of Eriador (they spend so much time protecting the Shire, etc).

They also make a mean single-malt whiskey.

(this whole thing does also raise interesting questions of trade and commerce! Who was importing what from where?)

Rivendell: They brew cider, and drink that primarily as opposed to beer (I'm afraid that headcanon came not through any sort of logic but due to the month I drank nothing but cider while writing about Elrond). They are also partial to wine, though I haven't gotten quite so far as to guess what kinds. In terms of climate, I suppose probably colder-weather types? Arwen likes to import wine from Lorien as well.

Rohan: mead country!