The Viking quaffing his ale from his drinking horn is one of those classic Viking stereotypes up there with the horned helmet and the furry boots. This image, however, does have a ring of truth to it.

There is plenty of evidence to show that although many families would have used simple wooden drinking cups, drinking horns were also used, such as depicted in the carving shown here, both seeming to show the presentation of a drinking horn by a valkyrie.

The warrior-poet Egil Skall-grimsson is also credited with the boast "I leave no ale in the horn, though the warrior brings me the horn 'till morning". Ale played a very important part in Viking culture. Ale was an important way to strengthen family and friendship ties, as well as a way of helping to fill those long, dark, cold Scandinavian winter nights, something which, having lived through the joys of a Swedish winter, I can fully appreciate!!! If a thrall (slave) was granted his freedom, he was obliged to brew and serve ale known as "freedom ale" at a banquet in honour of his former master.

References to ale fill Norse mythology. For example Odin is said to have gained the power to compose verse after stealing the mead of the giant Suttung, that when drunk gave the drinker the ability to write poetry. Part of the torment Odin had to undergo to obtain the runes was to hang on a tree pierced by a spear without food "..or drink from the horn". Other myths tell of the great ale-feasts the god Aegir would hold. As well as being a sea god, Aegir was the brewer of the gods, and all the drinking cups in his hall would magically refill themselves when drained.

The hávamál (see links) seems to suggest that ale was taken quite seriously, and had a certain etiquette surrounding it....