"In medieval England the normal monastic allowance was one gallon of good ale per day, often supplemented by a second gallon of weak ale. The daily ration for the Black Monks of Battle Abbey in Sussex was one gallon of wine a day, more if the monk was sick.
English peasants were regular consumers of ale. For example, the maintenance agreement for Margaretatte Green of Girton in 1291 included in her pension enough barley to provide her with 2.6 pints of ale a day."
The above passage explains the "magical slumbers", wicked stepmothers and ogres found in medieval fairy tales. Squint a bit and it probably reveals the goblins, imps, pixies, nixies, sprites and fairies too. And don't even get me started on Joan...
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