SC - Has anyone heard of a beverage called "perry?"

[GARNER at admin.hnc.edu]

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of _Medieval People_ by
Eileen Power:

	 Charlemagne ordered his stewards each to have in his
	 district "good workmen, namely, blacksmiths, goldsmiths,
	 silversmiths, shoemakers, turners, carpenters, sword-
	 makers, fishermen, foilers, soapmakers, men who know how
	 to make beer, cider, perry and all other kinds of
	 beverages.....

I would love to know what perry is...the pear version of cider?? some
sort of pear wine??  nothing to do with pears at all??

Juana Teresa de Salamanca