Of all the pieces of Game of Thrones merchandise out there, Brewery Ommegang’s line of Thrones-themed beers may be my favorite, just because it dovetails so neatly with the show itself. Characters on Thrones drink a lot, particular if they’re in the Lannister family. Knowing this, Brewery Ommegang is dedicating a drink Tyrion Lannister: the Hand of the Queen.
A barleywine ale, the Hand of the Queen is the first of four beers to be released in the Royal Reserve Collection, a series of limited release drinks designed to pay homage to four different figures on Game of Thrones. “While technically not royalty at all, Tyrion certainly qualifies as a nobleman in our esteem,” said Doug Campbell, President of Brewery Ommegang. “We’ve wanted to brew for Tyrion for six seasons, and we believe his time has come. Knowing his preferences, our beer for Tyrion could only be a barleywine.”
Sidenote: Tyrion is a member of the nobility, but not a royal. But that’s beside the point. Per Ommegang, Hand of the Queen is “a rich, full-bodied version of a classic barleywine and comes in at 11% ABV. Malt forward and multifaceted, the beer balances the intense flavors of brandy-soaked raisins and dark fruit with the lighter notes of apricot.”
Hints of molasses and toffee are evident before a finish characterized by the classic yet distinctive barleywine alcoholic heat. Hand of the Queen, an old-world example of the style, attempts to balance these strong yet unruly opposing forces, much like the way Tyrion maintains the balance of power among his influential contemporaries in Westeros.
We’re sure Tyrion would appreciate all of that. Although he’d probably want to bump the ABV up a bit.
All of the beers in the Royal Reserve Collection will be available on draft and in 750ml bottles. The Hand of the Queen will hit store shelves in April of 2018, with the other three following in July, October and December.
One of the other beers has to be dedicated to Cersei, right? Between the two of them, Cersei and Tyrion are responsible for half the alcohol sales in Westeros. Beyond that, the Hound’s known to enjoy a drink, and let’s forget King Drunkard himself: Robert Baratheon. We’ll bring you news about who else will be honored as it breaks.
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