They drink from horns, mead, beer, blood! What is the truth? Was Viking beer good?
The Vikings are people accompanied by the image of bloodthirsty warriors who dominated Europe and beyond in the Middle Ages. However, although the Vikings did not hesitate to shed the blood of their enemies in countless wars, this was not the only thing these fearless warriors desired.
To the question of whether the Vikings knew alcohol, the answer is probably known to all. Yes, the Vikings liked to drink alcoholic beverages. If you think about it a little more, to survive in the cold and darkness of the North, the Vikings absolutely had to consume something sweet and alcoholic that lifted their spirits and warmed their blood during the cold months.
So, what did the Vikings actually drink?
DID THE VIKINGS DRINK WINE AND BEER?
Alcoholic drinks are an indispensable element of the image that most of us have of the history of the Vikings nowadays.
According to archaeological findings, the Nordic men had various drinks at their disposal. Although beer was the most popular drink of these ancient peoples, many objects have been discovered during archaeological excavations, indicating that the Scandinavians also produced wine.
It is even possible that some countries paid the Vikings in the form of wine to prevent their attacks. However, the discovery of charred grape seeds in Denmark led archaeologists to conclude that the Danes cultivated vines and practiced viticulture themselves.
However, wine production was more expensive, and it is assumed that wine was reserved for the wealthier members of society.
Most Vikings mainly drank a low-alcohol beer called "ale". Drinking ale every day was a Viking way of life and was an integral part of Viking culture. This drink was especially important during sea voyages, as the Vikings sometimes spent several months at sea.
Due to the overpopulation of Europe at the beginning of the Middle Ages, sanitary conditions were extremely poor (Like us today with Covid, haha) and the water was not drinkable. By purifying the water, turning it into ale, the Vikings obtained a safer drink that they could drink indefinitely and without fear of poisoning. Another advantage of ale over water was that it was a more caloric drink. And we know that calories were necessary for the Vikings to accomplish their heavy daily activities.
Besides beers, the Vikings also drank mead made from honey. However, since honey was expensive, this sweet drink was only consumed on special occasions. It can therefore be concluded that beer remained the main drink of the Viking people.
However, if you are looking for an answer to the question: "What type of beer did the Vikings drink?", you will be surprised by some of the answers you get.
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WHAT PERCENTAGE OF ALCOHOL DID THE BEER CONTAIN?
Many ingredients used at the time for brewing were wild, such as wild sweet berries, lichens and various aromatic herbs. Furthermore, research conducted in ancient Viking settlements has revealed that brewing beer was entrusted to women in Viking society.
Since women in Scandinavia had great power at the time, it is not surprising that they were also involved in brewing.
As for the types of beer the Vikings once produced, there were probably many different types. The type of Viking beer depended on the region where the beer was made and the plants used in the brewing process.
What we know from archaeological research is that the Vikings used yeast to brew beer, just as breweries do today. Yeast converts sugar into alcohol, carbon dioxide, and water during fermentation. It is important to understand that, depending on the amount of ingredients added, the Vikings produced two main types of beer.
One was bitter and alcoholic, and the other was a beer called ale. These drinks were distinguished by their strength. Although the exact alcohol percentage remains unknown, it is believed that the strength of the beer brewed by the Vikings ranged between 2 and 13% alcohol. It is thought that the strength of the beer depended on the amount of water added during the brewing process.
For this reason, it is believed that the stronger alcoholic beer was intended for certain occasions, such as weddings, funerals. As for the ale, it was meant for daily consumption and, due to its low alcohol content (about 2% alcohol), even children could drink it.
WHAT DID VIKING ALE TASTE LIKE?
Just as the exact strength of the beer produced by the Vikings is unknown, it cannot be said with certainty what the flavor of the ale was.
The Vikings did not keep notes on how they made this popular beer (unfortunately).
That is why, although there are many ideas about how beer was brewed in Scandinavia at that time, the exact recipe and equipment for beer making in the early Middle Ages have not yet been discovered.
We know that beer was produced by kneading and fermenting grains in containers, so the brewing of beer at that time undoubtedly differed from the process by which today's brewery, in 2021, produces beer.
It is also known that the Vikings used cereals, water, yeast, and aromatic plants for beer production. Hops were most often added for aroma, although other herbs could also be used as a substitute for hops. The taste of the beer depended on many factors that the Vikings could not influence.
Thus, for example, different cereals have different sugar content. The conditions in which cereals and herbs grow vary from one harvest to another, which greatly influenced the taste of the beer produced.
In the Viking era, beer was most often brewed from barley grains. However, in addition to barley, oats or rye grains could also be used, depending on the presence of these cereals in the region where the beer was brewed.
It is also worth mentioning the bere grain that the Vikings brought to England in the 8th century. Bere is believed to be the oldest type of grain (over 1,300 years old) and was one of the most important agricultural crops in northern Scotland. Bere grain was also used for brewing and is considered a Viking grain.
WHAT IS THE OLDEST KNOWN BEER?
It is thought that beer was one of the first beverages made and that people produced it much earlier than we can imagine.
In recent research conducted by archaeologists, traces were found indicating that beer was produced 13,000 years ago already. They discovered traces considered the oldest evidence of alcoholic beverages created by humans.
Scientists also believe that the making of beer preceded the development of agriculture and that beer might be the reason why ancient peoples began cultivating cereals.
The mentioned traces, which archaeologists say are proof of the oldest brewing operation, were found in the Rakefet cave (Israel).
WHAT DID THE VIKINGS DRINK BEER FROM?
Although craft beer mugs existed in the Viking era, we much prefer the image of a Viking drinking his beverage from an animal horn. If you agree, let's see how to turn a horn into a beer mug or cup.
Instructions for making drinking horns:
- Dip the cleaned horn in boiling water and leave it in the water for half an hour. This way, you will get rid of the horn's foul smell and eliminate bacteria.
- Dissolve 100% pure beeswax. To do this, put the wax in a bowl of hot water.
- Pour the wax into the horn until you cover the inside of the horn with a thick layer.
- You can polish and touch up the outside of the horn as you wish.
- Let the horn dry for at least 24 hours.
- Make a stand on which you can place the horn while drinking your beverage.
- Pour the beer into the horn and enjoy it like a true Viking.
Before concluding, we leave you to discover this group!
CONCLUSION
Drinking beer in Viking culture was more than just relaxing after a hard day of work or a fierce battle. The Vikings believed that their spiritual state due to intoxication put them in contact with their ancestors.
Therefore, it would be absolutely wrong to consider the Vikings only as drunken and cruel savages. On the contrary, brewing beer under the conditions in which the Vikings lived is proof of the sophistication of the Viking people. At the very least, the cultivation of domesticated cereals for brewing beer was truly evidence of the ingenuity and advanced social structure of the Vikings.
Thank you for reading me, it is a pleasure to write for Odin's Hall, the reference brand in accessories derived from nordic mythology.
Eastward, my friend, heading towards the origin of the word viking! Let's go
Skoll!
