Origin: USA
Type: Red Ale
Color: Reddish copper
Alcohol content: 6,8%
Recommended serving temperature: 12ºC/54ºF
Aside from a beer lover I am also a pretty big Game of Thrones fan, so naturally I get pretty excited when I get my hands on one of the official beers from the series. Mainly because they tend to be gifts (great gifts at that) and because they're brewed by Ommegang, but also because of the pretty pictures and the mythomaniac it awakes in me.
The last of these beers I have managed to try was the Fire and Blood Red Ale, dedicated to Daenerys and her dragons, a beer that was so tasty I just had to blog about it.
This beer came out with three different labels, each one depicting one of Daenerys' dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. It is reddish copper in color and develops a slightly higher than average amount of foam.
Upon opening and pouring, the first smell that hits you is that of the ancho chiles it is brewed with, which give it a sort of woody scent, as if the beer had been oak aged, but denser and fuller, almost savory. This is presumably caused by the closed environment, as it soon dies down a little bit and lets the rest of its aroma pull through. You then find a bit of a citrusy smell and some acidity to it, very reminiscent of the sort of strong Belgian ales Ommegang and its owner, Duvel Moortgat, are famous for.
The first swig is nevertheless filled with malty sweetness, a bit of a surprise after the smell, but one which, if you think about it, fits right in with the traditional character of a red ale. In this first swig you get a bit of a dark fruit taste, making you wonder if Ommegang has reduced the always feisty Danaerys to a chile smelling fruity lambic, as if to say she's all bark and no bite... something which might not sit well with us, her admirers.
The fear is short lived. Soon after the sweet fruity flavors the chiles strike again, enveloping your mouth with their dense smokey flavor. Their isn't really any spiciness to it, just a deep peppery flavor which also contributes a thick and velvety body and a mouthfeel nothing like the one you would come to expect from the somewhat light red ales.
As a result, the mix of flavors and the consistency of this beer gives it an almost wine-like character, which begs to be drunk slower than its deliciousness will allow you. If I had to, I would probably pair it with something on the spicy or at least well seasoned side, such as cajun style pasta. However, I would favor just enjoying it by itself, to appreciate this beer's very particular goodness.
Upon opening and pouring, the first smell that hits you is that of the ancho chiles it is brewed with, which give it a sort of woody scent, as if the beer had been oak aged, but denser and fuller, almost savory. This is presumably caused by the closed environment, as it soon dies down a little bit and lets the rest of its aroma pull through. You then find a bit of a citrusy smell and some acidity to it, very reminiscent of the sort of strong Belgian ales Ommegang and its owner, Duvel Moortgat, are famous for.
The first swig is nevertheless filled with malty sweetness, a bit of a surprise after the smell, but one which, if you think about it, fits right in with the traditional character of a red ale. In this first swig you get a bit of a dark fruit taste, making you wonder if Ommegang has reduced the always feisty Danaerys to a chile smelling fruity lambic, as if to say she's all bark and no bite... something which might not sit well with us, her admirers.
The fear is short lived. Soon after the sweet fruity flavors the chiles strike again, enveloping your mouth with their dense smokey flavor. Their isn't really any spiciness to it, just a deep peppery flavor which also contributes a thick and velvety body and a mouthfeel nothing like the one you would come to expect from the somewhat light red ales.
As a result, the mix of flavors and the consistency of this beer gives it an almost wine-like character, which begs to be drunk slower than its deliciousness will allow you. If I had to, I would probably pair it with something on the spicy or at least well seasoned side, such as cajun style pasta. However, I would favor just enjoying it by itself, to appreciate this beer's very particular goodness.
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