Mead has survived as a drink to the modern day with only minimal changes to its composition. However, the concept of the mead hall is somewhat foreign to the modern world, and differs in many ways from a tavern or bar. The best representation of a mead hall today is most likely in the epic poem Beowulf, composed by an unknown poet sometime between the 8^th and 11^th centuries.The poem’s events are actually set in the mid-6^th century. Some mead halls in Denmark have been found with gold items dated to between 200 and 550 CE. Mead halls evolved from traditional European longhouses. The halls were considered the safest place in the kingdom, since they were the residence of the lord or king of the community.This helps to explain why Grendel’s terrorizing of the great hall Heorot is such a notable occurrence, and was highly relatable to audiences at the time, despite its fantastic content. The story does not separate history from fictional events, and thus is best described as a legend. King Hygelac’s raid into Frisia actually occurred in 1516. Scholars have also found accounts of characters like Healfdene, Halga, Eadgils, and Ohthere, along with clans like the Scyldings and Wulfings.Did the mead hall featured in the story actually exist, though? The answer is: maybe. At the site of Lejre in Denmark (where the Scyldings, Beowulf’s clan, were said to have been based), the remains of a hall have been discovered. The hall dates back to the mid-6^th century, when Beowulf is thought to have been set. This makes separating fact and fiction even more difficult, and these questions may never be fully answered. But perhaps it’s better that way. The next time you brew up some mead, simply remember that you are part of a tradition that has been touched by legend at every point.