Drinks

In the literature, there are references to ale and fermented fruit 

drinks including cider and wine.

Mead is served at the end of the meal, often by the feast-giver's 

daughter or other attractive member of the household. As the horn of 

mead is taken round the table, the first person to drink is the 

feast-giver and the last is the most honoured guest (perhaps because, by 

then, if anything is wrong with the contents, it will be noticed and the 

honoured guest will be saved!). A toast is made by each guest before 

they drink.

This is known as the 'passing of the mead cup' and the end of its 

journey round the table is the signal that the official part of the 

feast is over.