Elminster's Choice was a popular beer exported from Immersea in Cormyr and sold through Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue in the mid-to-late 14th century DR.[1][2][3] The name was also attributed to a certain wine.[4][note 1]
Description[]
This dark beer had a thick head and was clouded with yeast. It had a smokey aftertaste due to its bitterness.[1][2]
Availability[]
The beer was brewed at the Five Fine Fish inn in Immersea, Cormyr. Batches were prepared almost every day and the inn stunk of the process.[3]
Elminster's Choice could be purchased from Aurora's in the following containers:[1]
Elminster's Choice was served at the Friendly Arm inn for a single gold coin.[6]
Reputation[]
One of the more popular beers supplied by Aurora's, it was favored by adventurers active around the Wyvernwater in Cormyr.[1][2]
It remained unclear if Elminster actually favored this beer (he was reputed to drink anything that could be counted as alcohol) or if it was a simple marketing ploy by those who brewed it.[1] In fact, in a footnote in Volo's Guide to Cormyr, Elminster claimed he located the man who took his name for the beer and threatened, and possibly even punished, him with being transformed into a stone toadstool for eighty years. After this, he forgave him and enlisted his aid in certain matters. Elminster called it "second-rate" and an insult.[3] Revising his opinion in later years, he confided to Gerana on the world of Adenthia that "'tis not really my kind of drink at all."[7]
History[]
Elminster's Choice was served at a reception for the Merchants' Guild held in the Sheaf of Wheat inn in Ghars, Cormyr, on Eleint 19 in the Year of the Shield, 1367 DR. Jasper suspected Mayor Tobald had drunk several mugs of either Elminster's Choice or Suzale.[5]
Circa 1368 DR, the gnome bard Heino kept a stock of the Elminster's Choice wine and spent much of it on getting information out of a minor Thayan official.[4]
On the world of Adenthia, whilst celebrating defeating a returned Sammaster with a local adventurer named Gerana at the Wolf Keep tavern, Elminster declared a wine "the true Elminster's Choice".[7]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The name "Elminster's Choice" has been applied to both a beer and a wine at various points, and it is unclear if these are two separate, coincidentally named drinks or if the beer is misidentified as a wine. This article covers both types, with the rarer wine noted in the History section.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Anthony Herring, Jeff Grubb (1993). Player's Guide to the Forgotten Realms Campaign. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 1-56076-695-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 153. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 11. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chet Williamson (July 1998). Murder in Cormyr. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 29, p. 184. ISBN 0-7869-0486-0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 BioWare (December 1998). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 SGRA Studio (2023). Dragonheir: Silent Gods. Nuverse.