Game of Thrones Beer is Coming

You win, or you die.

I make a lot of references to pop culture on this blog, or perhaps more accurately, nerd culture. Then again, many alleged experts of such things claim that nerd culture is the new pop culture. Beer culture and nerd culture go hand in hand, mostly because of the passion that underlies both subsets of our society. As a result of that passion, people become obsessed, and obsession leads to social pursuits such as this blog (shameless promotion alert), or really cool collaboration projects such as the one I’m about to reference.

Wait for it…

Pride of Cooperstown

HBO and Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY) have teamed-up to create beers that are inspired by the COMPLETELY AWESOME television-based nerd drama Game of Thrones. For those of you who watch GOT, I’m sure that the sheer overwhelmingness of what I just wrote has knocked you to the floor, so I’ll give you a moment to compose yourself and try to explain the show to non-watchers.

For those of you who aren't watching this show, Game of Thrones is based on the series of books by George R. R. Martins called A Song of Ice and Fire. It’s basically a medieval-like fantasy genre show that interweaves several plot lines: the first follows the members of several noble houses in a civil war for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms; the second covers the rising threat of the impending winter and the mythical creatures of the North; the third chronicles the attempts of the exiled last scion of the realm's deposed dynasty to reclaim the throne. In other words, it’s really cool.

And since season three debuts this Sunday night, what better time to tell all of you that aren't already aware that this new craft brew is coming… to a store near you. Here are a few words from the brewers:

Brewery Ommegang and HBO are partnering on a series of beers in support of the critically-acclaimed drama Game of Thrones. Launching in tandem with the season three debut, Iron Throne is the inaugural beer in the series.

Delicious looking; cool label art too

Iron Throne is a blonde ale at 6.5% ABV and brewed with a robust amount of pils, honey malt, aroma malts and red wheat. Gentle hopping includes Styrian Golding and Hallertau Spalter Select, appropriately noble hops. Spiced with grains of paradise and lemon peel. Hue is a slightly hazy golden amber. Head is full and fluffy. Finish is crisp, backed by a touch of spice and hops. Aroma is a bit grassy with a hint of lemon fruitiness from the lemon peel. Taste is lightly malty, rounded out by honey malt sweetness.

Available in limited quantities in 750ml bottles and 1/6 BBL kegs starting in late March 2013.

This is pretty cool stuff. Generally speaking, when like-passioned people get together to collaborate on a project that transcends the divide between their crafts, greatness happens. Ommegang has been brewing Belgian-inspired beer in the American craft beer scene for years, and their track record is flawless. From their Hennepin Saison to their Three Philosophers Belgian Quadruple, their attention to detail and passion for their craft is evident in every pint, and I expect that same attitude to be manifested in Iron Throne.

The Ommegang Brewery

As an aside, if you’re looking for a weekend getaway idea, Ommegang offers an excursion where you arrive on Friday night, stay at a bed and breakfast in Cooperstown, spend the day Saturday taking in the sites (Baseball Hall of Fame?), and then attend a beer dinner at the brewery Saturday night, complete with brewery tour. Of course, you’ll retire to the B&B afterwards and leave Sunday after breakfast. Sounds like a pretty cool deal to me.

And no, I do not receive any kind of compensation from Ommegang (or HBO for that matter) for shamelessly pushing their products… though I am willing to listen if they are reading this blog…

Now, if you wanted to achieve ultimate rock star status, you would've attended the Ommegang beer weekend this weekend, drank some Iron Throne at the brewery itself, brought a growler of it home with you and enjoyed said beer from said growler while tuning into the debut episode of season three, Sunday night at 9:00 eastern on HBO. Of course, by now, you've already missed the boat on this (as have I for that matter… blast!) but it would've been pretty cool.

Again, watch Game of Thrones, drink Ommegang Iron Throne Blonde Ale, and HBO/Ommegang/George R.R. Martins, if you’re reading this, I am willing to accept comps. Just saying.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!