Game of Thrones - You Drink or You Die

Game of Thrones - You Drink or You Die

Let's face reality here - After last week's episode of Game of Thrones, you probably still need a stiff drink to get through what exactly happened in the events of the Red Wedding. It was brutal. Very brutal. Even for book readers it was something hardcore. Regardless of how much we smirk at the whole potential reaction of those who are just show followers and what not.

In any event, you may also need a drink because tonight is the season finale and it won't be back till next year. That alone is worth chugging a couple back for. But hey, it's a good thing that you have one clear choice for what to consume that is not only something that fits the theme, but is also pretty tasty.

The Iron Throne! A beer made by Ommegang, which you probably heard about a while ago.

Fans of the HBO series “Game of Thrones” will have an opportunity to raise a flagon of ale in its honor next spring, when a new line of beers inspired by that series is introduced. HBO is set to announce that it will team up with Brewery Ommegang, a Belgian-style brewery in Cooperstown N.Y., to create beers based on themes and characters in the fantasy series adapted from the novels by George R. R. Martin.
The first beer, Iron Throne Blonde Ale, will be inaugurated nationwide in late March, to coincide with the Season 3 premiere of “Game of Thrones,” which is scheduled for March 31. Three more beers are planned, with the second to be released next fall. The others will follow in subsequent seasons.

So thanks to the partnership between Ommegang and HBO, we got the Game of Thrones beer, which for any reader of the book knows fairly well, is great since those books have a slew of description to the food and drink of Westeros. It's also not that complicated of a beer. It's a Blonde, which means that, much like stereotypes, they're pretty easy for anyone to enjoy. Not to mention it's only 6.5% ABV. So it wont fuck you up and dull your senses on those wild boar hunting outings.


This isn't uncommon, after all, for season 2 HBO did a promotion with a food truck and offered authentic Westero style food. Such as rabbit, fish stews and pigeon cooked in sweet wine. Oh man, talk about yummy.


It really begs the question as to what you won't even make from the food list of the Ice and Fire series.

So I guess the question now is; How does it taste? It's pretty light on the malts and has some Noble hops. Though if you're just drinking it now, expect those hop notes to be pretty muted. Then come Fall, around September time, we'll see the second beer in this partnership. Which I have heard rumors from Ommegang reps that it was going to be a Belgian Stout. Clearly they needed something for the North. Oh that poor poor king of the north..


It does make you wonder about other possible Game of Thrones inspired beers they could make. How about a list of them;

Baratheon Braggot...
The Red God Red Ale...
IMP-erial Stout for tyrion
Stormlands Stout
White walker Wittbier
Red Wedding Ale!

Even better, a beer that allows you to take one drink that's amazing, but before the next one the beer falls flat and then there's a ton of back story that you don't need as the character dies a chapter letter in the background anyway..
 
While you're here, I just have to say that the final scene of the Song of Ice and Fire series should be Dany sitting on the Iron Throne as King's Landing explodes in riots over her rule, and the youngest member of her Queens guard turns to her and asks "What should we do, your grace?" and then she furrows her brow and thinks, then decides, 'Burn them. Burn them all."  It'll be pretty poetic and in every possible way awesome.