Limmean Shrimp Beer
Limmean Shrimp Beer is one of the most popular party drinks across the Empire. The original recipe of this beverage is based on the meat of Limmean Arrowhead Shrimps that has been fermented together with herbs and sugars inside barrels of Coral Wood. But it was a mere accident that allowed the shrimp beer to come to existence.
Shrimp Beer was first created on Araszi continent, around year 200 After the Exodus. By that time, Limmeans have already developed a rich tradition of Arrowhead shrimp cuisine. Thus every village had a Shrimp Master who would purchase adult Arrowhead shrimps from fishermen and put them for fermentation inside large barrels of Coral Wood. The role of a Shrimp Master was highly regarded by Limmeans because fermentation process for Arrowhead shrimps usually take five to seven Limmean months to complet, depending on the climate.
Shrimp Master’s daily work usually consists of purchasing Arrowhead shrimps from the fishermen and planning the production that does not stop during the whole year. Meanwhile Assistants or apprentices help the Shrimp Master by doing the hard manual labor of moving the barrels outside the storage during the night and back in the chilly basement during the day. This complicated process is crucial in order to both activate the enzymes that ferment shrimps and this way keep shrimps away from rotting.
Elza dropping two glasses of Limmean Shrimp Beer. It was served with ice and garnished with Araszin fruits and herbs.
The Origins of Limmean Shrimp Beer
According to the legend, it is one of such assistants, that can be blamed or praised for the invention of the Shrimp Beer. One rainy day when the Shrimp Master got sick, his Young Assistant got left in charge of the whole shrimp hut. With no superior to enforce the compliance to the rules and no sun in sight, the Young Assistant chose to not bother with moving all of the barrels down to the cellar. Instead, her left them outside and went away to take a nap.
Unexpectedly, skies have cleared in few hours and bright Limmean sun began to heat the barrels up. As the meat of Arrowhead shrimps began to ferment at a faster rate, it released a large amount of gases, so barrels began to explode one by one. A courier who saw the exploding barrels immediately rushed to inform the Shrimp Master about this accident. Such a disaster meant that the whole village would have to buy fermented Arrowhead shrimps from their neighbours for half a year to come, which meant an economical disaster in itself.
On arrival, the sick Shrimp Master encountered his devastated Apprentice kneeling among exploded barrels. As rage took over the Old man’s mind, without even saying a word, he grabbed the young man by his hair and pushed his face into a broken barrel full of smelly fermented shrimp meat and brine. Unable to resist his Master’s authority, the Apprentice could merely hold his breath and accept the deserved punishment. Suddenly, the Shrimp Master released his grasp as a stroke was taking his life. The last thing the Young Apprentice chose to say while looking into the glassy eyes of his dying superior was “At least it tasted good”.
According to the local tradition, the shrimp hut was inherited by the Young Apprentice, as village was still highly dependent on his services. As the brand new batch of Arrowhead Shrimps began its fermenting, the young man chose to experiment with some of them. The rich bittersweet taste of fermented shrimp brine mixed with small bubbles of gas that bit his tongue were impossible to forget. Also, the purple tint of the brine from Arrowhead shrimps looked mesmerising when held in an overly expensive glass of molten volcanic sand.
These experiences fueled the obsession of the Young Shrimp Master as he began to experiment with beverages that included brine made from fermented Arrowhead shrimps. This was a lifelong journey and on his deathbed, the now Old Shrimp Master has left a clay plate with a detailed description for the recipe for the shrimp beer. The drink was popularised only by his apprentices who began to brew and sell it across the whole of Araszin continent.
Production and Ingredients
Limmean shrimp beer was first conceived as brine, but was not really drinkable in that state because of its overly strong taste and odour of fermented Arrowhead shrimps which was liked by some and despised by others. Only after it was distilled, and filtered in order to remove the smell, the proto shrimp beer started to be liked by general Limmeans. In that state, the “beer” looked more like thick sugary Purple syrup with bubbles of CO2 and could be mixed with spirits or traditionally made grain-based beer. Shrimp syrup in this case did add its rich taste and foaminess to the beverage.
The actual taste of the shrimp beer is given mostly by herbs and sugars that build the foundation for the original brine. Fermented meat of Arrowhead shrimps mostly provides the enzymes, thickeners, colour and gives the unique edge to the resulting purple syrup.
Shrimp Beer in the Imperial Space
Unfortunately, as of today, given the popularity of Shrimp Beer, most of its variations that are sold outside of Limmea are produced of chemical substitutes and have almost no natural substances in them.
Sources
Imperial Informatorium
