thick, strong (beverage)
釅 centers on a concentrated, intense quality in a liquid: a beverage that is thick, strong, or potent.
釅 combines 酉 (a container related to alcohol or fermentation) with 嚴, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of intensity or severity. The exact historical development is uncertain.
The left side 酉 is a jar for brewing, and the right side 嚴 looks stern and intense. Imagine a jar filled with a brew so strong and thick that it demands respect.
For ゲン, picture a stern general (general -> ゲン) inspecting a thick, potent brew in the jar: the general's sternness matches the intensity of the drink.