A Taste-ful Event

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 10th May 2017

Characters: G'ran, Sh'dori, Olwinna, L'exan, P'rell, H'lei
Description: Some ale, some fellow riders, and some good food, and you have yourself a good time.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 14 of Turn 8

A smaller hold had sent over a tithe recently that largely consisted of ale. A pair of L'exan's wingmates had heard about it, and suggested an ale tasting with a hearty dinner. Being the kind of man who enjoyed ale over all other forms of alcohol -although he wouldn't say no to a good brandy or wine-, L'exan had asked to be included, since the servings would be smaller than usual. Last he had heard, a good amount of people were interested in joining in, and the pair who had brainstormed the idea had gotten permission to distribute some of the samples. Thus, all that was left was to see who would show up, what was for dinner, and how the ales would taste.

Sh'dori wandered in, having heard the rumours of the ale. He never said no for a good brew. "Hello, L'exan," he greeted.

"Sh'dori, hey!" The bluerider immediately offered the brownrider a wrist-clasp. "Haven't had a chance to speak with you for a while. Everything been all right?"

"Yes, all's fine. Been doing the usual stuff. So, I heard we have new ale to taste?" the brownrider replied.

L'exan nodded as some other riders approached with their dinners to seat themselves. "H'lei and P'rell got the idea. Y'know, that tough old pair that usually flies the first shift in Cyclone Wing? They found a bunch of glasses and wooden goblets about this big," he said, holding his fingers approximately four inches apart. "They figured that's enough to make sure everyone can get a good taste of all these ales that were tithed to us and not get too tipsy while we're eating."

"Do you mind if I join in?" G'ran walked in next and asked. He wasn't the most social of riders but occasionally he made an effort. Besides, who didn't like an ale tasting?

"You can barely _taste_ from a cup that small," Sh'dori chuckled and replied to L'exan before nodding to G'ran.

L'exan hastily gave G'ran the proper salute, then offered his hand for a wrist-clasp as well, if G'ran were inclined to be less casual. "The more the merrier," he said. "We'll likely be starting in a few minutes, so be sure to grab your grub before you start drinking. And hey," he added to Sh'dori, "nothing wrong with asking for a refill, right?"

"You're right about that," Sh'dori chuckled. He waived to a familiar face. "Hey, Olwinna! Like to taste a new ale?"

"Oh, ale. I'm a wine person myself," the small sized healer replied. She did walk over to snatch one of the nibbles from the table.

L'exan was delighted. This was becoming a regular party, and it promised to only get better, because P'rell and H'lei were coming, pushing a serving cart of the promised ales and cups, which were immediately passed around or placed in front of spaces meant to be filled by other people. "We hope you're ready for this," P'rell crowed as he helped H'lei lift a small keg onto the table. "We'll be starting with this one; it's marked as a dark stout, which should go nicely with our cuts of roast."

"Stout," Olwinna made a face, "I'll pass that one. I won't mind trying a light lager or pale ale."
Sh'dori chuckled at her and handed out his mug to be filled. "I rather like stouts."

L'exan tasted his serving, first with a sip, then a mouthful. He let it sit on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. "Good amount of hops here," he said, "and the citrus taste is interesting. I swear it's lime, but who puts lime juice in an ale?"

"Some adventrous brewer, I suppose," H'lei said, and had a taste of his own. "Can't say I'm disappointed in the flavor. Very refreshing. It'd definitely go well with a simple but hearty sandwich."

"We may have a pale ale here made from wheat," P'rell commented to Olwinna.

"Wheat? Really? Let's try that one next," another bluerider requested, sounding intrigued.

G'ran watched Sh'dori drown his sample with one go. "You didn't taste anything," he said with amused voice.

"I don't need to taste it to know it's good," the brownrider replied.

"I can try that one," Olwinna replied to P`rell.

"You realize that made no sense, right?" L'exan kidded Sh'dori as the pale ale was served out, and sipped the pale ale. "Now this I like. Probably could use some orange zest to really make the flavors stand out, but I could have this with baked fowl."

"Yes, I can drink this," Olwinna agreed. She swirled the ale in her mouth before swallowing.

"I think having to pair drinks with certain foods is nonsense," a greenrider said cheerfully as the wheat ale was tasted and met with mass approval. "If you love white wine with beef, have it. If you love red wine with noodle dishes, have it. And if you think an ale would be great with a creamy noodle stew, have it."

"This next barrel says this brew has klah in it," P'rell announced. "Probably the darkest mix we have, so if you'd rather another serving of the wheat ale instead, we can do that," he added to Olwinna.

"Who mixes klah and ale?" Sh'dori wondered. "I prefer them separate," he continued with bewildered shake of his head.

G'ran actually chuckled at that. "I'll give it a try," he said.

"You're such a brave bronzerider," Olwinna teased him and batted her lashes at him.

"I've had something like that before," L'exan said to Sh'dori. "It's like the darkest stout you can think of, really tasty. I bet you'll like it," he added to G'ran. He accepted his serving and savored the flavors like he was savoring the company. It was just as relaxed and entertaining as one of his parties. Maybe he ought to organize something like this in the future.

G'ran took a taste. "Not too bad, I could drink this. Although this feels like something you take when you want to warm up. More suited to Dragonsfall's climate," was his judgement.

Sh'dori was inspecting the kegs. "Hey, citrus-ale! This is for you. Olly. I bet you like it, it's a girly-drink."

"Girly-drink? You think I'm a girl?" Olwinna asked and took an exagarated, seductive pose. She was mother of two and it showed in the round curves of her hips.

"Eh, you know what I mean, the kind of fruity drink ladies like." Sh'dori said.

"Careful there," G'ran warned him. There was spark of humour in his eyes while his face stayed deadpan. "Never offend a healer. She might forget the numbweed next time you get Scored."

"Hey, those fruity drinks pack a punch, to hear my daughter's mama tell it," L'exan spoke up. "Don't be surprised if Olwinna could drink you under the table while quaffing those." He nodded to the healer respectfully and reached for the next tasting that was going around. If he did something like this for one of his own parties, he'd have to invite Olwinna. She had quite the personality.

"Hardly unlikely," Olwinna replied, first looking her barely five feet tall body and then all the bulking dragonrider's muscles around her. "More likely you could get me drunk enough to pass out and then you could carry me to your weyr and take advantage of me," she sounded like she very much wanted it to happen.

G'ran nearly chocked on his ale, hearing that. Sh'dori gave him a slap in a back. The brownrider was quite familiar with Olwinna's quirks. She was mother of one of his grandchildren, after all.

"Hey, if I get tipsy, will you take advantage of me?" L'exan leered with a friendly grin in the healer's direction. Anyone who could make a bronzerider choke on their beer in surprise was good in his books.

Olwinna eyed him up and down with speculative look. "I'm happy to," she finally replied flirtingly and saluted him with her mug.

The bluerider hastily slid his small mug back to P'rell and H'lei. "Next one!" he exclaimed, grin getting wider.

Last updated on the June 8th 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Taste-ful Event