"Dracarys!"
Moments later, something (or someone) is extra crispy.
Game of Thrones on
HBO is huge at the moment. Big events and character deaths have Twitter
lighting up like a red comet. The complex mythology and vast array of
characters, coupled with an ultra-gritty flavor, blend the best of both the
fantasy and political thriller genres.
While I'm a gigantic fan of all things sword and sorcery,
truth be told, I've only seen maybe five or six episodes of the show. Not
because I don't enjoy it. I think the actors are top-notch and settings grand.
I'm just in the middle of the books, reading furiously to keep pace ahead of the TV
show, and trying to avoid spoilers like the bloody flux. Whenever something
dramatic happens on the show, it's nearly impossible not to overhear someone
talking about it the next day.
So while I didn't watch the episode that aired Sunday night,
I am quite familiar with the scene in the book. I can imagine the news would
put the Mother of Dragons in quite the celebratory mood. She might even want to
break open a barrel of ale. But what brew might best serve a Targaryen queen?
From Ommegang Brewery in New York comes the third entry in
their line of Game of Thrones beers: Fire and Blood Red Ale.
Yes, Game of Thrones
fans, you heard me correctly: the third
GoT beer from Ommegang. Their first entry was Iron Throne Golden Ale. I missed that one, so I've no idea what it tastes
like. I've yet to see it in any store, and from what I hear, it's quite hard to
find any remaining bottles. Trust me, if I dig one up, the review will be up in
no time.
Last year, Ommegang released Take the Black Stout. Thankfully, I caught word of this one prior to its release and was able
to snag a few bottles. I never wrote a formal review, but remember the stout
having a roasted and mildly smoky character. I still see bottles every now and
then, so perhaps I'll pick one up in the near future and review it.
But for now, I'm feeling dragon-fire.
When buying the brew, you
have the wonderfully-geeky option of choosing which dragon you'd like to adorn
your bottle. Drogon, Rheagal, and Viserion each their own piece of
beautiful label art.
Ommegang describes Fire and Blood as a red ale
brewed with ancho chilies for an added kick. Now, about the chilies, two
things: First, I have tried chili pepper beer before. More than once, actually.
Each time, while the flavor was certainly unique, I found the taste to be too
overpowering and in contrast with the hop and malt flavors. The acidic heat
from the pepper made the beer almost acrid in taste. Thus, in the case of Fire and Blood, I was skeptical of the ancho peppers working in the
flavor's favor.
Second, if we're talking about using hot peppers, isn't that
more of a Dornish culinary thing?
You know what's sad? That's probably not even in my Top 10
nerdiest things I've ever said.
When I think of red ales, the first thing that comes to mind
is an Irish-red. The beer pours a bold amber color and features robust malt
character, sweet and nutty. Fire and Blood is far darker than I
imagined, taking on an almost brown hue in the light. Imagine a deep red rust,
almost like an ultra-dark copper. Not what I expected, but alluring and unique.
Upon the first sip, I was surprised how light in the body
the ale was. With an ABV of 6.8%, I wasn't expecting strong alcohol kick in the
first place, but this beer's almost delicate on the tongue. The carbonation is
very fine and silky. This ale goes down very easy, even at room temperature.
As for flavor, I was instantly reminded of a Belgian triple.
The yeast has that subtle tangy flavor that is distinct to Belgian varieties.
If you've ever had Chimay, you know what I'm talking about. The sweet character
of the malts goes well with the yeast upon the initial taste. But the flavor
doesn't stop there. Before the hops kick in, the sweet flavor turns slightly
sour on the middle of the tongue. Not in
a bad way, mind you. More like a tart kick. Think of a toned down version of a
sour ale. I'm not sure of this, but I imagine that flavor is in part due to the
ancho chilies. I was impressed at how nicely the flavor went with the rest of
the beer. Subtle enough just to be noticeable without being overly acrid.
Finally, the hops kick in at the end and cleanse the sweet
and sour from the palate. What surprised me most was how the slight touch of
heat from the peppers actually blended really well with the hops. The chilies
actually added a peppery flavor note to the hop-factor. Some hops like Saaz are
naturally peppery in character, though mildly so. The anchos almost worked to
bring amplify the hop taste, and I found myself really enjoying how
well-implemented they were in the final ale.
Ommegang did a great job with "Fire and Blood" red
ale. It's the first chili pepper beer that I've actually enjoyed. The ancho
character is very subtle, working with the other flavors rather than dominating
the taste of each sip. If you can find a bottle and are feeling adventurous,
give it a try. You may not be born of fire, but you gotta start somewhere.
