Black-Briar Meadery

The Black-Briar Meadery, owned and operated by the Black-Briar family for generations, produces almost all of Skyrim's mead and employs many of Riften's residents. The honey for the mead comes from Goldenglow Estate, on the small island on Lake Honrich, to the west of Riften. The Meadery can be accessed from Dryside or Plankside.

Interior
Inside, the small shop front has a couple of notes revealing a no-nonsense attitude to working here and some coin under the bed. The counter itself hides a levelled sword (which is quite hard to spot). Head into the back, along the two-floor high balcony above the mead distillery, to Indaryn's bedroom, which has a note from Maven to read. Descend to the next balcony level, where the workers eat. The door at the far end of the lower balcony leads to Plankside. Down on the distillery floor are two large vats and a chest.

Interactions
The underhanded Romlyn Dreth is skimming from the meadery, and will sell you bottles of Black-Briar Mead for 10 gold. As these are worth 25 gold, the Dragonborn may make a little money reselling it elsewhere (depending on your Speech skill). Alternatively, accept his request to deliver a stolen barrel of mead, and then report him to Indaryn. Indaryn gives leveled gems, and friendly status, meaning the Dragonborn can take all the bottles of mead they want. There are around 120 in the meadery, mostly in Barrels.

Trivia

 * Entering Riften for the first time via the Meadery is one way to bypass the "tax" the Riften Guards try to swindle from you.