Beer and Beowulf: The Conquest of Cnut

Beer and poetry often went together in Anglo-Saxon England and the hall was celebrated as the place of community and creativity. Come and join us in the beor-sele or beer-hall of the Duke of York pub, for our annual evening of Anglo-Saxon beer and poetry.

A retinue of reciters from the University of York, led by Matthew Townend, will perform a selection of Anglo-Saxon and Norse poetry, both in translation and in the original, while refreshment will be available in the form of Eoforwic Ale, a beer brewed specially for the Festival of Ideas by the Leeds Brewery. This year is a commemoration of the millennium of the conquest of England in 1016 by the Danish king Cnut, with poems and accounts from both the English and Norse sides.

About the speaker

Dr Matthew Townend is a Reader in the Department of English and Related Literature, and Centre for Medieval Studies, at the University of York.

Eoforwic Ale

Using an authentic Anglo-Saxon recipe, Leeds Brewery is brewing some beer – Eoforwic Ale – for York Festival of Ideas. It will be on sale throughout the Festival at the Duke of York pub on King’s Square, York including at the Beer and Beowulf: The Conquest of Cnut poetry evening.