The drinking culture of the Vikings was one of few subjects that the literature and the archeology agreed with each other. Sagas of the Medieval Norse-Icelandic were full of ale-brewing, mead-drinking, or beautiful Valkyries Choosers of the Fallen serving the fallen warriors in Valhalla with refreshments. Similarly, the archeological findings were filled with many drinking vessels, brewing types of equipment, and depictions of happy drinkers.
Norse mythology which deeply ingrained in the mind of the Vikings confirmed the idea that the Vikings viewed their drinking culture with sacredness and respect. The most famous Norse tale about drinking was Odin’s theft of Mead of Poetry.
As the Vanir and Aesir, two main god tribes, decided to end their war by creating a special peace treaty. They assembled, chewing berries and spitting the result out in a vessel. The berries then fermented and became Kvasir the wisest creature. However, when Kvasir traveled the Nine worlds to spread his knowledge, two dwarves killed him and brewed the Mead of Poetry from his blood and honey. The Mead then was taken away from the dwarves by the giants who then guarded the Mead within the cave in a mountain. As Odin knew the presence of the Mead, his well-known burning desire for knowledge motivated him to steal the Mead which obviously he thought belonged to the gods.
Odin managed to enter the mountain where Gunlod the giantess was guarding the Mead. With his wit and handsome appearance, Odin successfully seduced Gunlod and got permitted to try the Mead in the drinking horns. Of course, he then brought the whole Mead of Poetry to his home, Asgard.
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