The Vikings are well known as the fierce warrior norseman whose longships and deeds kept them the dominant power in Europe for three centuries. What is not written in school textbooks is that the Vikings also greatly enjoyed the pleasures of drinking, and not very responsibly. Their drink of choice was mead made out of honey and flowers which those who lived to tell the tale said was highly entoxicating stuff. The word for ale came from the viking word Aul which is what they called this potent pint of pleasure.

A large amount of Viking culture was based in the practice of drinking. Ale was used to celebrate every event from victory in battle to death, even sending the dead away with supplies to drink his way into the great brewpub in the sky, Valhalla. It was believed that once in Valhalla warriors would fight and drink forever being served by Heidrun, a mythical goat whose utters had an endless supply of beer.