HORNS of VALHALLA

HORNS OF VALHALLA

The Viking Mead

Viking's drinks above all of others were beer and mead.
At Vikings times beer was different comparing to this we drink today. It was dense, untransparent, hue from dark brown to yellow-orange colour and was much stronger, contained 11-13% of pure alcohol.
I have had an occasion to drink such beer made by Vikings from Gotland. The look was not encourage but when tasted it turned out to be very delicious. Unfortunately it can't be preserved for long.

Mead is a drink which comes from natural fermentation of bee honey mixed with water.

For Vikings, mead was very important, nearly a mystical drink - a symbol of warriors life in Valhalla.


As Fafner carried away his treasure, a great storm gathered over the mountain crest.
The sky grew black. The thunder rolled. Its echoes bounded on from cloud to cloud, from peak to peak, then rumbled down the valleys to the sea.
Then the clouds drifted away. The setting sun shot its long rays into the deep valley.
There, arching over the river and reaching from the flowery mountain-side to the very door of the gleaming castle, stood a shining rainbow bridge.
“Lo! our castle! Our beautiful Valhalla!” cried the king. “Let us cross over. It shall be our dwelling-place forevermore.”
One by one they stepped upon the bridge.
As Wotan walked slowly and sadly over, he heard the wailing of the Rhine-maidens in the river below:–
“Rhine-gold! Rhine-gold!
We long for your light!”