Highland ale
Highland Ale is a traditional style brown ale beer that is exported exclusively by Ioanna and is considered the country's national drink. It was first brewed by the monks of Abbey Chinon as a form of sustenance during fasting. Its origin may be as a local variation on Moorlander Ale, though there are no records to verify this. Other theories suggest it represents a fusion of Bosworthian and Nova English brewing styles. It is now understood to be a fairly strong (6–8% alcohol by volume) brown ale, with understated bitterness, fairly heavy body, and a pronounced fruitiness and cereal character. The Lords of Ioanna were traditionally given casks of the beer as a form of payment for services rendered to the abbey, such as hiring stonemasons. It then became popularized across the island before spreading to the mainland. By the early 1500s the beer was being exported to the mainland and by 1600 the lordship had taken over production. The recipe is kept secret and the state-owned brewery produces Highland Ale in conjunction with the monks of the Abbey Chinon. It has since become popular across the globe and is a major export of the country, providing a significant source of revenue for an island otherwise poor in resources.
