Tavern at the Crossroads

The Harvest of the Halfmoon

As memory fades into the gloom of twilight and the season becomes frigid, a final milestone must be met before sheltering for the stormy year’s end. Let not the deepening chill temper thy designs nor the growing darkness suppress imagination. With the passing of the cycle, thou mayest evaluate the experience of the paths travelled through relishment of pertinent memories and dispense the weight of mistakes from ventures past. Such reflection may evoke feelings of gratitude for the knowledge bestowed. Allow the abating moon’s gleam to stand as matron to thy mental encumbrance, absorbing adverse tension until the culmination of release by a renewed rotation, a new beginning.

The Harvest has come, and with it, a time for feasting, a time for merriment, a time for celebration with friends and strangers alike before Winter’s breath threatens to bite through the bones of any foolish traveler left in the wilderness. Beneath the waning moonlight, ‘tis an opportunity to cleanse thy soul of dreariness, undo the bindings of uncertainty and adjust course back towards the goal with newly invigorated purpose. For at the road’s end, thine own measure of fortitude shalt be matched only by the yield of the Harvest itself. Upon its waxing return, flames shall be kindled anew amidst the tavern to the fore, perpetuating as a beacon of realized potential.

Beneath a robust canopy, an ale of stout flavors begins to concoct, and a crafty brewmaster is said to have poached a fabled recipe from a tavern of yore. Proprietors of the tavern blend seasonal spices with newly garnered squash and begin stuffing fresh links of wurst. Warmed by solitary hearth, the lodge’s starches begin to bake and rise, whilst apples are baked into a pudding accompanied by a bone-thawing mulled wine. ‘Twill be an ambitious affair amongst modest proportions, yet wisdom gained by faults previously tread upon shalt alloweth for refined innovation. Vivid and famishing are the dreams of this wanderer’s next destination, but ‘tis the Harvest season, and nary a morsel must fail to be recounted nor partaken.

Let the insight achieved by previous sojourns hone thy methods, fellow wanderers, and press on towards the adventure’s climax. The journey will be long, allowing for proper preparations to be made, and further doubt to be washed away. A sudden sense of anxiety and excitement begins to grow as with the turning cycles of the moon’s glow, and with growing illumination from the waxing gibbous orb, a budding strength begins to take hold. No longer will the harsh rays of the hot sun obscureth intent or ambition, for the moonlight shalt guide thee towards transformative refinement. Set out with restored determination, and seek to fulfil thine own wishes, for the Halfmoon Harvest awaits.

To celebrate the end of the harvest, a golden, crisp, ale flowed from the taps in memomy of seasons past, and in anticipation of the apporaching cold of winter, a dark, heavy stout warmed the hearts of many...

2-Row Pale Malt: ᚢ Our base malt provides all the alcohol with a clean and slightly malty character
Honey Malt: ᚢ A malted barley that adds slightly sweet and nutty notes
Torrified Wheat: ᚢ An adjunct addition that gives more toasted flavor, as well a wonderfully frothy top
Munich 10L: ᚢ Another malted barely that adds deeper color and maltiness
Willamette Hops: ᚢ Pairs nicely with the malty notes added by the grains, these hops add in gentle bitterness and floral, herbal, and fruity characteristics

2-Row Pale Malt: ᚱ Our base malt provides all the alcohol with a clean and slightly malty character
Flaked Oats: ᚱ An adjunct addition that creates a full body, silky texture, and foamy head
Victory Malt: ᚱ Provides nutty and buscuit flavours
Caramel Malt (60L): ᚱ Gives added sweetness and caramal flavours
Chocolate Malt: ᚱ Adds chocolate and coffee notes to the brew
Roasted Barley: ᚱ Imparts a rich, sharp flavor as well as transforming the colour to inky black
Columbus Hops: ᚱ Just a touch of bittering hops to balance the strong malty backbone

As the sun faded below the horizon, warm breads and cheeses filled our bellies...

Flour: 🕈 A high protein flour adds delightful chewiness and texture
Sourdough Starter: 🕈 A living microcosm of microbes and yeast that give our bread all its tangy flavour and lift!
Salt: 🕈 Can't have bread without salt

Barley Flour: 🕈 A sweeter, nuttier flavour compared to wheat that gives a tender texture
Wheat Flour: 🕈 Adds an earthy flavor and denser texture - a perfect carrier for cheese
Buttermilk and Butter: 🕈 Adds softness and flavour to the bread
Salt: 🕈 Can't have bread without salt

Delicious sausages and squashes cooked on the fire...

Pork Butt: 🕈 Despite its name, the butt is from the top shoulder of the pig. It is the main ingredient of this sausgage and gives the sausgage the bulk of the flavor an juiciness
Veal: 🕈 The second meat in this sausage rounds out the flavour and gives the meal a delicate touch
Spices: 🕈 A blend of allspice, caraway, marjoram, white pepper, and salt

Pork Butt: 🕈 Despite its name, the butt is from the top shoulder of the pig. It is the main ingredient of this sausgage and gives the sausgage the bulk of the flavor an juiciness
Bread Crumbs: 🕈 The crumbs add to the texture of this sausage and mellows out the flavor
Spices: 🕈 A blend of white pepper, ginger, sage, mace, and salt

Acorn Squash: 🕈 A winter squash with a sweet and mild nutty flavor
Spices: 🕈

A sweet dish with spiced wine bid everyone a warm farewell...

Bread: 🕈
Cream and Butter: 🕈
Currants: 🕈
Spices: 🕈

Cabernet Sauvignon: 🕈
Spices: 🕈

Games of Challenge

Patron's strategy and accuracy were tested in the fading light.

Nine-Men's Morris

Objective: (A game for two players) Reduce the opponent to two pieces left on the board.: 🕈 Players may bet as much as they like before the start of the game.; 🕈 Players decide which color to play - white or black; 🕈 The game is played in 3 phases
🕈 Phase I: Placing Stones: 🕈 White plays first.; 🕈 Players take turns placing their stones.; 🕈 If a player, places three of their stones in a row (called a mill), they may remove one of their opponents stones that is not part of "a mill". If there are no other options, they can remove a stone from an opponent's mill. This stone is permentantly removed from the game.; 🕈 When each player has placed each of their 9 stones, Phase II begins.
🕈 Phase II: Moving Stones: 🕈 White plays first.; 🕈 Players take turns moving a single stone one place along the lines. Stones may not "jump" other stones.; 🕈 If a player, places three of their stones in a row (called a mill), they may remove one of their opponents stones that is not part of "a mill". If there are no other options, they can remove a stone from an opponent's mill. This stone is permentantly removed from the game.; 🕈 When a player has been reduced to 3 stones, Phase III begins.
🕈 Phase III: Flying: 🕈 A player with 3 stones on the board is no longer restricted in their movement. They may move their peice to any open position on the board they choose.; 🕈 The game is over when any player is reduced to 2 stones.

Ringing the Bull

Objective: (A game for the while tavern) The player with the most rings on the hook after 11 attempts, wins.: 🕈 Players who wish to play, ante in 1 coin.; 🕈 Players alternate taking 11 attempts.; 🕈 The player swings a ring suspented from a string at a hook on the wall; 🕈 If the player hooks the ring, the player scores 1 point.; 🕈 After 11 attempts, the next player goes.; 🕈 The player with the most points after everyone has gone, wins the pot of coins.