Dr. Karin Chakwas is one of the few Normandy crew members who is with Shepard from the beginning of the Mass Effect trilogy to the end, and Shepard can drink with her. After the harrowing events of the Prologue in Mass Effect 2, Shepard is reunited with Dr. Chakwas in the Medical Bay of the Normandy SR-2. They can ask if she needs anything, and she will express regret at never opening and subsequently losing a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy, a favorite drink she had been saving for a special occasion.
This conversation unlocks a side mission Shepard can complete on nearly every major hub planet in Mass Effect 2. They will need to find and purchase a bottle of the Brandy from one of the bars. If they bring it back and agree to share a drink and reminisce with Dr. Chakwas, they can learn more about her, earn experience points, and unlock a useful Medi-Gel Capacity upgrade. Here's where to find Serrice Ice Brandy for Dr. Chakwas in Mass Effect 2, and how to unlock the Medi-Gel Capacity upgrade.
Where to Find Serrice Ice Brandy for Dr. Chakwas in Mass Effect 2
The Normandy: Serrice Ice Brandy side mission in Mass Effect 2 is one of three Normandy side missions Shepard can unlock by conversing with the new crew aboard the SR-2. Players can complete this side mission any time, though there are benefits to doing so early. In addition to Dr. Chakwas in Medical on the Crew Deck, they should also speak with Sergeant Gardener, the janitor and cook, and Ken and Gabby, two engineers, making sure to ask if they need anything.
Once Shepard speaks to Dr. Chakwas and asks what she needs, there are four possible locations to find the drink:
- Omega: Near the bartender on the upper level of Afterlife Club
- Citadel: At Dark Star Lounge
- Tuchanka: At the kiosk for Ratch's Wares in the Urdnot Encampment
- Illium: At the Eternity bar after speaking to the asari bartender
The bottle usually costs about 1,000 credits.
Shepard can bring the bottle to Dr. Chakwas, which will complete the mission in their journal. However, they will not receive their rewards for completing the mission until they agree to drink with Dr. Chakwas.
If Shepard agrees, a cutscene will play, during which Shepard and Dr. Chakwas reminisce about the old Normandy crew, especially the squadmate chosen to die on Virmire. Shepard can also choose to ask why she agreed to join Cerberus, to which she will respond she needed to be near Joker and help treat his Vrolik Syndrome. Shepard can select a toast from several options to end the scene.
After the cutscene, Dr. Chakwas can be briefly found passed out on an unoccupied bed in Medical, and Shepard will briefly stagger as they walk, complete with chromatic aberration, from the strength of the drink. Completing this scene will allow Shepard to research increased Medi-Gel Capacity at the Tech Lab, adding an additional dose to their Unity ability. It will cost anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 Platinum, depending on how many times players have already researched this upgrade. Shepard will also receive 40 Experience. If Shepard completes this mission in Mass Effect 2, they will have the option to drink with Dr. Chakwas again during some downtime in Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14, 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with forward compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.