Beer # 185 Game of Thrones Valar MorghulisBrewery Ommegang
Cooperstown, New York, United States of America
Owned in Part by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Belgium
Belgian Dubbel 8.0 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 750 ml.
$9.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO
Twitter: @BreweryOmmegang
Okay, I admit it. I'm a nerd... and I should be watching Game of Thrones... but sadly I have not caught the bug... yet. Perhaps this beer will change my mind. If you have been living under a rock... on Mars... with your eyes closed... and fingers in your ears... going "Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala." You may have missed the phenomenon that is George R. R. (I'm jealous of J.R.R. Tolkien) Martin's Game of Thrones. The sexy book series that has taken HBO by storm (No... not True Blood... That's the OTHER sexy book series that has taken HBO by storm). From what I have gathered it is about a fictional quasi-medieval kingdom in Britain that is ruled by sex fiends and murderers... I'm just paraphrasing here. So I WAS very interested when I discovered this bottle in the LCBO of a limited Game of Thrones series from Brewery Ommegang. Now I had heard of Ommegang before and I have followed them on Twitter. But I had not delved deep into the mysteries of the brewery yet. The brewery was opened in the States by a family that shares in ownership of the great Duvel Moortgagat Brewery. Now Duvel is widely recognised as one of the finer commercial Belgian producers, and I was interested in seeing if that experience had transferred to their American brothers.
So, as I sit on my Iron Throne... I declare... That the Tasting is coming...
Pours a cloudy chestnut brown with a light tan head made of small bubbles. Nose is wheaty, nutty, licorice and sweet molasses. First sip is molasses and cloves. Toasted wheat, caramelised bananas and allspice. Finish is very earthy and mushroomy. Aeration gives us caramel and baking spices.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6 PASS
Re-Order: 4/6 PASS
Experience: 4/6 PASS
Christmas Spirit 4/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
Very simple, and straightforward. This IS a Belgian dubbel. The flavour profile is right on, and it is an excellent drink. Is it the best dubbel?... no. Is it a great dubbel?... possibly. But for a Belgian styled dubbel brewed in America... this is bang on. If you can get your hands on this bottle (it was the VERY last one in the store I bought it from) or any of the other Game of Thrones series... please do try them.
Cheers And Beery Christmas
CJT
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