Posted in: Game Of Thrones, HBO, Nerd Food, Review, TV | Tagged: beer, game of thrones, got, HBO, Ommegang, Review

Review: Ommegang's Game Of Thrones "For The Throne" Golden Ale

Published Sat, 30 Mar 2019 10:35:58 -0500

Before we bolted for PAX East this week, we got a lovely surprise to review as Ommegang have a new Game Of Thrones themed beer called "For The Throne". We've had a few of these pass through our lips over the past couple of years, all of them having their own distinct tastes that make them very intriguing when it comes to the craft beer market. So how does this new brew stack up compared to the others we received? We popped that cork and poured a couple glasses, because that's what we do. We drink and we review things.

Getting to the heart of the matter, this particular brew is a Belgium strong pale ale, single brew with an ABV of 9.50% as it was fermented with pinot grigio and Viognier grape juice. This brew what a bit heartier than we were expecting as the previous drinks we've had were usually a slow build. You'd drink it, enjoy it, and then it would hit you. But not For The Throne, as it hits your system immediately and lets you know you have a strong brew. It's not overpowering or the kind of drink where you need to take it in strides, but there's definitely an early buzz effect that I got a kick out of.

For The Throne pours well with a light amber color that doesn't really foam immediately. You've got a copper, almost golden tone to the appearance which looks inviting here in our Game Of Thrones glasses. The taste that hits you immediately was a mixture of pear, apricot, and honey, but with a slightly sour flavoring. It goes down sweet but the sour lingers for a moment as the alcohol takes you. The malt itself doesn't feel heavy when it hits the gut, but you definitely know it's paying you a visit. Or as my friend Mark put it as we were taste testing, "That's a hangover beer!" Surprisingly, it finishes dry and doesn't have any kind of long-lasting aftertaste, which is a bonus.

Overall, Ommegang's Game Of Thrones "For The Throne" Golden Ale is a mighty fine brew, especially if you're the kind of drinker who prefers the sensation to hit you earlier rather than later. I will admit, it's probably not for every beer drinker as ales tend to sway in taste enough that people will either fall in love with it or can't stand the taste of it. I do recommend at least trying it out while they have a supply, especially with softer cheeses and either chicken or turkey. Didn't really enjoy it with red meats or any kind of salted snack, however, so keep that in mind. But it did pair well with the cheesecake we had at the end.