The vikings had a ceremonious drinking of the Yule ale. The bard Torbjørn Hornklove said in his Song of Harald (Harald Hairfair): "Uti vill jol drekka". The English translation of Hornklove's words is: "Out (on the sea) he (the viking) would drink jol ("give a celebration of jol")"

The Yule ale should be ready to the longest midwinter night. The vikings drank five toasts at the beginning of the feast: a drink to the success, a drink to the crop, a drink to the fertility, a drink to Brage, and a drink to the coming achievements.