Ancestors and Ale

Dwarven alcohol is a thing of legend, and every family has their own recipe for any number of ales, lagers, pilsners, porters, stouts, and so on. Some brews are drunk primarily because of the family that brews them, such as the brew of the existing monarch. Others are so satisfying to the dwarven palate that they make the grade regardless. Still others are tradition and, as everyone knows, tradition is something that no dwarf is willing to sacrifice due to silly things like flavor.

One of the most important things about dwarven drinking, particularly among other dwarves, is that every drink is part of a language unto itself. Among dwarves, it is widely known that the language is exceptionally complex and heated debates can be had with never uttering a word. Taking sips versus long pulls, how the drink is swished or swallowed, and (most importantly of all) the type of drink itself. Oftentimes, if a dwarf is set about having a long conversation, they may order a flight of various drinks to convey complex ideas during a conversation.

Dwarven Beers

Below is a list of examples of common dwarven drinks along with some of the details surrounding what specific drinks say about the dwarf drinking it. The types of alcohol should be considered as examples of available drinks within most dwarven institutions. Buying a Crystal Pilsner in a poor establishment versus a lofty one only changes the price, though a particularly wealthy establishment might call the drink a Diamond Pilsner and a particularly poor establishment might call the drink a Quartz Pilsner. Dwarven taverns and inns carry some version of these available drinks, although patrons may find the quality is much better or worse than expected.

Black Beard Bitter (7%)

Black Beard is for airing a grievance. Dwarves do not bemoan their lot in life to anyone without getting permission first. Drinking this ale informs your companions that you have an issue you want to talk about. However, calling for this ale while another dwarf is talking is a sign that you decidedly disagree.

• Appearance: Golden, hazy, with a foamy white head.
• Scent: Musty and spicy.
• Taste: Earthy and spicy.
• Mouthfeel: Bitter and dry.

Blood and Bone Stout (12%)

Blood and Bone Stout is a dense, molasses style liquid that is oftentimes substituted for a meal. Dwarves often call for this beer for breakfast or lunch, when they cannot be bothered to step away from their work, even going so far to use it in lieu of rations on long marches or during sieges. The consistency and appearance of the drink is akin to a loaf dark rye bread soaked in stout. While dwarves consider Blood and Bone to be a staple, non-Dwarves can almost never stomach it.

• Appearance: Inky with a thick, yellow foam.
• Scent: Burnt Caramel and mushroom.
• Taste: Smokey - almost burnt - dark malts, and oats.
• Mouthfeel: Thick and grainy with an oily residue.

Coalbound Ale (7%)

Coalbound is for dwarves in mourning. It is regularly poured for funerals and is a sign that joviality is not appropriate. In a social context, calling for a drink while another dwarf is talking is a sign that you think they subject is in poor taste.

• Appearance: Ruby red and cloudy with pink foam.
• Scent: Wild berries and oak.
• Taste: Sweet, tart, and acidic.
• Mouthfeel: Smooth and crisp with a dry finish.

ANCESTORS AND ALE | Dwarven Beers

Hangrin's Honey Hop Ale (7%)

Hangrin's is a celebratory ale to be drank at special occasions. It is used for celebrations or as a way of congratulating another dwarf. Calling for this ale while another dwarf is talking is a sign that you would like to buy them more rounds. This is customary and never refused.

• Appearance: Honey with slight cloudiness.
• Scent: Resin, floral, and hops.
• Taste: Hoppy and sweet.
• Mouthfeel: Effervescent and dry.

Ironjaw Brown Ale (7%)

Ironjaw is for discussing coin. Sometimes it might mean a dwarf is down on their luck, other times it might mean they are feeling particularly well off. However, most times it is used to open up the conversation to bargaining. When getting ready to bargain, the seller orders first being quite specific regarding the size of the drink. The larger the size, the higher the price. Ordering for your companion as well can indicate a willingness to hear their offer. Ordering multiple drinks each can indicate you are in no hurry to sell.

• Appearance: Red-brown with veins of crimson and a foamy head.
• Scent: Boozy and clovelike.
• Taste: Biscuity with a metallic finish.
• Mouthfeel: Warm and watery.

Stormhammer Porter (40%)

Stormhammer is for the dwarves who just want a solid drink to take away their cares after a long day. One of the strongest drinks, it is meant for sipping for a long while, and does not lend itself well to the rapid consumption of other brews. A dwarf drinking it is likely letting anyone else know that he is not in the mood for subtleties and politics. In a social context, calling for a drink while another dwarf is talking is a sign that you are not interested in the conversation. The usual result is that they will not try to pull you further into talk about the given topic.

• Appearance: Dark black with frothy tan head.
• Scent: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, and espresso.
• Taste: Full bodied chocolate, vanilla, and bitter coffee.
• Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, and flat.

The Monarch's Malt (7%)

Always drank when toasting the monarch in power, and the exact brew changes with the monarchy (example below). Because some families stay in power for generations, the Monarch's Malt could remain unchanged for hundreds or thousands of years. Those who drink it regularly, do so to express their approval of the current monarch and are willing to put their beards forward for that monarch, if need be. Alternatively, ordering this beer in small quantities, dumping it out, or spitting it out all carry implications of dissatisfaction, anger, and possibly a full-blown uprising.

• Appearance: Yellow with tall snowy head.
• Scent: Toasted grain, caramel, and hops.
• Taste: Earthy hoppiness with herbal aftertaste.
• Mouthfeel: Light, thin, and dry.

Inebriation Rules

Alcohol is considered a poison and your character's ability to process the effects of alcohol is based on their weight and Constitution.

• Creatures resistant to poison have advantage on any saving throws against the effects.
• Creatures immune to poison do not suffer any effects from alcohol.

Use the Base Alcohol Constitution Save table to locate your starting DC based on your weight and constitution score.

• Creatures may consume a number of drinks equal to their Constitution modifier (minimum of 1) before making any Constitution saving throws against poison.
• After consuming these drinks, the creature's save DC increases by 1 for each additional drink.

Example. Valgor, the dwarf, weighs 175 lbs and has a 16 Con, meaning that he has a starting DC of 9. The first 3 drinks he takes require no save and do not change the DC. His 4th drink is a DC of 10, but he makes the save at Advantage, since he is resistant to poison. His 5th drink is a DC of 11, and is 6th drink is a DC or 12.

ANCESTORS AND ALE | Inebriation Rules

Alcohol Effects

The effects of alcohol consumption vary based on an individual's ability to metabolize it. The more quickly an individual drinks alcohol, the more quickly the alcohol affects that individual.

The size of an alcoholic drink is comparable with modern standards (adjusted for easier math):

• Ale: 12 oz (5%)
• Malt Liquor: 8 oz (7%)
• Wine: 4 oz (12%)
• Spirits: 1.5 oz (40%)

For each failed save, increase Drunk Level by 1 and roll on the Random Drinking Effects table. Too much alcohol can result in alcohol poisoning, and even death.

Drunk Level

 Buzzed. You have begun to experience the effects of alcohol, feeling somewhat relaxed and perhaps a little lightheaded.

Tipsy. You may or may not be aware of how much alcohol is affecting you, and are more likely to take actions or make comments that are outside of your normal behavior. Your current emotions, whether positive or negative, are amplified.

Drunk. You are likely unaware of how drunk you actually are. Your speech is somewhat slurred, you are unbalanced, and your judgment is impaired.

Hammered. You are confused, have trouble speaking clearly, staying on topic, or understanding the conversation around you. Your coordination is severely impaired and your emotions are extreme.

Stupor. Your eyes blink independently of each other and you cannot spell your own name. You cannot walk straight, your speech is almost incomprehensible, and you do not know where you are.

Blackout. You have lost consciousness and cannot be woken up. Alcohol poisoning has put your life in danger.

Removing the Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a poison. Any spell or ability that affects poison also affects alcohol.

Any society or culture that takes drinking seriously is quite aware of magical means of removing the effects of alcohol. Additionally, such societies would impose restrictions on spells and potions that might affect the outcome of important events, such as a drinking contest.

Hangover

Your hangover is represented by exhaustion and your Exhaustion is equal to your Drunk Level, with the exception that death is only being unconscious. Unlike normal exhaustion, each 8 hours reduces the effects of the hangover by 1 level, assuming you are doing nothing but resting. If you are unconscious, you cannot wake up until your exhaustion level is at least a 5.

You may find that you are hungover for up to 48 hours if you had a particularly wild night. Once per 24 hours, you may make a Constitution Saving Throw against poison, where the DC is equal to 8 + (Drunk Level x2). For instance, if you had a Drunk Level of 3, you would be hungover for 24 hours. The DC to reduce that time by 8 hours is a 14. If you succeed, you are only hungover for 16 hours instead.

Addiction

Addiction to alcohol is probably best addressed through roleplay, but sometimes having a set of numbers to fall back on is helpful. Most characters will likely drink socially and not rely on alcohol during their adventures. For characters that do become addicted, the DC should exist as a parabolic curve, where they must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw equal to 8 + years of addiction (maximum of 5 years), increasing by 1 each day for 7 days and then decreasing back to its base.

Example. Valgor, the dwarf, has been drinking for 35 years, meaning that he has a starting DC of 13. The first day he stops drinking, the DC is 14, the 7th day is 20, and the 11th day is 16. If Valgor fails his save, he will crave alcohol and do his best to obtain it. If Valgor faces the option of obtaining alcohol but must take actions against his character or alignment, he may make an additional save.

Once the save has returned to the base, the option of roleplaying or addressing addiction may continue to exist throughout the character's life, where particularly stressful events or events that remind them of drinking (festivities or celebrations) may require additional saving throws to resist the urge and relapse.

ANCESTORS AND ALE | Inebriation Rules

Brewing Unique Beers

Below are a series of rollable tables to make beers on the fly. These should be effective for creating unique and immersive drinks for characters to consume.

Liquid Clarity

Clarity is usually only evident with lighter beers. Brown, Walnut, and Black beers are usually dark enough that the clarity is not required or evident.

Foam Collar/Texture

Also known as the beer head, the collar is the foam atop the beer is a characteristic of the beer that is usually taken into account.

Foam Hue

Like the color of the liquid, the color of the foam is usually determined by the type of bear to some degree. Lighter beers should not have darker foams and vice versa.

Scent

The scent of the beer is usually a reflection of the taste. As you are determining or rolling taste attributes, consider how it might smell. For instance, if you roll smokey malt and pine hops, the smell might be woody or foresty. If you roll lemony hops and peach fruit, the smell might be fruity or fresh.

Taste

The flavor of beer can vary widely based on the ingredients used during brewing. Different types of beers tend to contain certain flavors, and while a variety of flavors are provided below, they are by no means the limit in beer flavoring. Additionally, depending on the type of beer, the flavors below may have no place. For instance, fruit flavors are not present in a large number of beers and the specific level of malt or hop flavoring is also expected to vary between beer types.

Hops

Hops are a plant from which the flowers or cones are extracted and added to the beer. Hops can be a bittering agent for many beers, but can also be more subtle, adding freshness and aroma. Additionally, hops play an important role in the size and stability of the foam

Fruit

Fruits can be added to beers to increase the sugar, sourness, or bitterness of a beer based off of the type of fruit added. Fruits are not always added to the brew, depending on the type of beer, it may be seen as an off-flavor.

ANCESTORS AND ALE | Brewing

Mouthfeel

Mouthfeel is the texture of the beer as it hits the tongue, gums, and throat. Beers can vary widely in this regard, as some are clean and crisp from their hops, while some are thick and creamy from their malt. The mouthfeel affects the overall sensation and flavor of the beer, as a thin, sharp cherry flavor with a clear finish is much different than a balanced, round cherry flavor with a sticky finish.

Afterfeel

The afterfeel or finish is the last impression that a beer provides to the drinker. Sometimes, this sensation may determine whether or not going back for another drink is enjoyable.

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1d12	Afterfeel/Finish
1	Astringent
2	Sticky
3	Smooth
4	Dry
5	Oily
6	Bitter
7	Warming
8	Vanishes on the Tongue
9	Effervescent
10	Clean
11	Gassy
12	Tingly

ANCESTORS AND ALE | Brewing