Honkai: Star Rail 3.5 – Old Brews & New Friends Event Guide - Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail 3.5 – Old Brews & New Friends Event: Every Recipe, Special Mix, and Reward Explained

Honkai: Star Rail’s 3.5 update brings back a fan-favorite mini-game—mixing drinks for the galaxy’s most eccentric personalities. The Old Brews & New Friends event, a direct sequel to Vignettes in a Cup, challenges players to craft unique beverages matching character requests and emotions. With fresh recipes, expanded rewards, and deeper character interactions, this event stands out as a highlight of the current patch.

Critically, mastering this mini-game is not just about event enjoyment—completing drink orders unlocks exclusive rewards, extra interactions, and limited points, providing an edge for both F2P and competitive players.

At a Glance: Old Brews & New Friends (HSR 3.5)

Patch: 3.5
Event Duration: Not stated in official materials
Eligibility: Must complete prior event “Vignettes in a Cup” and initial Siobhan challenge
Core Mechanics: Mix drinks per character hints/emotions; unlock more interactions by inviting characters back
Major Rewards: Event currency, materials, and potential exclusive items
Notable Characters Featured: Siobhan, Madam Herta, Dr. Ratio, Miss Topaz, Miss Sparkle, Kafka

Event Context: Why Old Brews & New Friends Matters

Mini-games and character-driven events increasingly define the player experience in Honkai: Star Rail. Since the original Vignettes in a Cup was met with notable community enthusiasm, its 3.5 reboot heightens expectations for narrative depth, lighter progression gating, and more meaningful character bonds. Events like this one also serve as soft content pauses before major banners or story chapters—ideal for resource optimization and lore exploration.

All Drink & Special Mix Requests

Each character visit forms a mini-chapter, culminating in a drink order and (later) a unique special mix. Completing all requests, and inviting guests back for more, is required for 100% event completion.

Drink & Special Mix Request Table

Note: Some characters have multiple special mix requests. Kafka accepts any Trailblaze Mix recipe.

Complete Recipe List: How to Craft Every Drink

The following compact table summarizes every recipe needed to satisfy the event’s demands. For all drinks except Siobhan’s Approval, follow the customer’s emotional cues—Siobhan’s order is fixed and more intricate.

| Drink Name | Key Ingredients (Bold = Required) |
|————————-|————————————————————–|
| Approval | Mini Wine Glass, More Ice, Practitioner Pepper x1, Puffergoat Milk x2, Sliced Lemon |
| Growth | Large Glass, Any Ice, Ultimate Syrup x1, Red Sunset Sauce x1, Soothing Soda x2, Any Garnish |
| Inversion | Large Glass, Any Ice, Red Sunset Sauce x3, Blossom Dew x1, Any Garnish |
| Loving | Small Glass, Any Ice, Puffergoat Milk x1, Odd Concoction x1, Soothing Soda x1, Any Garnish |
| Generosity | Small Glass, Any Ice, Ice SoulGlad x1, Dream Jam x2, Any Garnish |
| Surprised | Large Glass, Any Ice, Blossom Dew x1, Dream Jam x1, Red Sunset Sauce x2, Any Garnish |
| Startled | Large Glass, Any Ice, Stellar Champagne x2, Rejuvenating Soda x1, Dream Jam x1, Any Garnish |
| Slumber | Large Glass, Any Ice, Red Sunset Sauce x2, Ultimate Syrup x1, Stellar Champagne x1, Garnish |
| Sweet Dreams | Large Glass, Any Ice, Practitioner Pepper x2, Red Sunset Sauce x1, Practitioner Pepper x1, Garnish |
| Trailblaze Mix (Kafka) | Any Glass, Any Ice, Any Mix, Any Garnish |

"Any Ice/Any Garnish" refers to player choice; satisfying the core ingredient quantities is mandatory for order accuracy.

Character Interaction Bonuses & Progression

After unlocking all required drinks, Trailblazers can re-invite characters to sample alternative recipes. This not only yields event points (increasing your reward haul), but also triggers additional lore, alternate dialogue, and, in some cases, unique in-game mementos. For completionists, replaying these branches is essential.

Preparation Checklist: Optimizing for Rewards

Complete prerequisite story and unlock Siobhan’s challenge first.
Stockpile key mixing ingredients (especially Pepper, Red Sunset Sauce, Dream Jam) in advance; shortages can slow down progress.
Engage with each guest’s emotional cues, not just stated requests—some drink variations require careful hint interpretation.
Invite all groups back after the first round to maximize points and character dialogue diversity.

Event Rewards & Resource Value

Full event completion nets the following (exact numbers/expiration dates are not stated in official materials but follow typical event structure):

Event-limited currency/items
Materials for character/Light Cone upgrades
Potential new profile customization or memorabilia
Minor Stellar Jade (per early event precedent)

Players aiming for resource efficiency should prioritize unique event rewards over standard upgrade materials, as most can be farmed elsewhere.

Should F2P / Low-Spend Players Focus This Event?

Absolutely. Mixing mini-games in Honkai: Star Rail rarely require heavy stamina investment, and are excellent for earning free materials. Moreover, skipping these events can result in permanent loss of exclusive items or lore, which cannot be reclaimed via reruns. There are no conflicting stamina drains during 3.5 (as of latest schedules), so even low-budget players should fully participate.

Future Implications & Community Trends

HoYoverse’s ongoing commitment to rewarding, narrative-rich side events is reshaping expectations for gacha engagement loops. With character relationships, personal episode unlocks, and F2P-friendly participation, Old Brews & New Friends demonstrates where Honkai: Star Rail is pushing both live-service storytelling and event design.

Player reactions remain enthusiastic, with positive comparisons to prior versions and increased demand for deeper, more frequent social events. It is likely, given community response, that similar mini-games will continue to headline patch cycles.

Conclusion: Participation Is Essential—Event Won’t Last Forever

Old Brews & New Friends serves as both a narrative treat and a tactical resource event in Honkai: Star Rail 3.5. Whether chasing every recipe or simply enjoying the character moments, full engagement is strongly recommended—especially for F2P and low-spend players seeking to maximize free progress.

Event details, including end date and full reward list, may evolve; monitor EarlyGG’s Honkai: Star Rail event hub for real-time updates and in-depth guide coverage.

Not stated in official materials: Event duration, total rewards, exact cooldowns for repeat invitations.