Brewing is actually quite complicated.
Things like saccharification, filtration, boiling, cooling, then putting it into oak barrels to start fermentation.
Generally, the entire fermentation process takes about 15 days, but it’s said that if you store it in oak barrels for longer, the matured beer will have a more unique flavor.
Oak barrels also impart a unique woody aroma to the beer, enhancing its taste.
Besides beer, fruit wines like grape wine can also be brewed using this method.
But the ranch doesn’t have a vineyard yet, so Naoki has no way to make grape wine; he can only use Berries for brewing.
So, after putting the beer into barrels, Naoki went to Porto Marinada Town and bought a pile of Berries.
Like Cheri Berry, Pecha Berry, Starf Berry...
Each type of Berry has a different taste, some are sweet, some spicy, and some quite astringent.
Different Pokemon have different taste preferences, so Naoki tried a bit of everything.
The brewing process lasted for a full five days.
Because brewing in real life is too complex, and the specification of oak barrels is too large, you can’t just throw hops into it and wait for a harvest like in Stardew Valley.
During this time, Naoki was busy in the cellar and didn’t go out much.
By the time he and Koraidon filled the last oak barrel with liquor, it was July 4th of League Year 198.
Autumn has arrived, and the air temperature is gradually becoming cool.
Naoki stepped out of the house, feeling the refreshing coolness of autumn, and stretched lazily.
He turned his head to look at his arm, then curiously asked Koraidon beside him, "Did you notice I’ve gotten a bit paler?"
"Aga-siii?" Koraidon glanced over, tilted its head, not really noticing.
Last summer, he was busy working in the fields, running around under the blaring sun, which made him darker and more rugged.
Now, seeing himself suddenly getting paler, Naoki felt quite happy inside.
He muttered to himself, "Looks like I should spend more time in the cellar in the future."
Last time, when he finished farm work and went to Porto Marinada Market for groceries, a teenage girl called him an uncle because of his messy hair and rough appearance, leaving Naoki almost depressed to death.
He’s only in his twenties, how could he be like an uncle!
The weather today is nice, the breeze is gentle, and the sunshine perfect, even though the fields haven’t been plowed yet, it can wait.
So, Naoki directed Dragonite and Cyclizar to move a rocking chair onto the lawn, lay on it while petting Pawmo, and basked in the sun.
Pawmo was already used to this kind of thing.
It lay flat readily for the petting.
However, as Naoki was petting it, he suddenly uttered with a trace of confusion in his tone, "Huh? Pawmo, do you have fleas on you?"
"Bamo?!" At these words, Pawmo got a huge fright.
Naoki fiddled with its fur and finally found a tiny grain of sand inside: "Oh, it’s sand; I mistook it."
"Bamo!" Pawmo looked at Naoki with great unease.
Naoki giggled while patting its head, "It’s just me overthinking. How could you have fleas? Even if you did, you could just zap them all dead with Thunderbolt."
Pawmo pondered carefully and realizing it was true, relaxed again and lay back down to continue sunbathing with Naoki.
As they were basking, a shadow suddenly floated overhead.
Naoki felt the sunshine being blocked. As he opened his eyes and looked, he saw a Wingull had come from who knows where.
Its beak was slightly open, and a photo slowly drifted down, landing right on Naoki’s face.