Ommegang
Ommegang is rounding out the Game of Thrones Series this year with a barrel-aged beer just for Jon Snow
You know nothing about brewing Jon Snow. Fighting for the throne? Sure. Drinking? Maybe. The fourth and final release this year in the Royal Reserve subset is coming by year’s end – Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North.
We still don’t have the seventh book in the Fire & Ice Series or a release date for the next season of Game of Thrones. That doesn’t stop Ommegang from keeping the series alive in liquid form.
READ MORE: OMMEGANG GAME OF THRONES SERIES
Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North is set to debut around Christmas, so the brewery has chosen a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout inspired by Jon Snow himself. When we last saw Snow, he was making love to the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. Let’s assume they sipped a boozy beer like this by the fire afterward.
“I don’t think we’re alone in our hopes for Jon Snow. And for those who missed one of the Collection during the year, we’re pleased to offer the opportunity to get all four at once, along with a glass in which to serve them.” – Doug Campbell, Ommegang President
Ommegang describes King in the North’s flavor as ‘rich and full with notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and roasted malt up front followed by smooth bourbon and a hint of oak”. You just add the fur pelts and roaring fire. Try not to behead anyone.
The Royal Reserve Collection started in April with Hand of the Queen, following by Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Next Month is Mother of Dragons, before wrapping up the year with this imperial stout.
Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North will be available in 750-milliliter bottles, as well as a special multi-bottle gift pack with Game of Thrones glassware.
Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Debut: December 2018
?? ABV
Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons up next in series
Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons joins the brewery’s Game of Thrones Series in late September.
As the world continues to wait on George RR Martin’s sixth book (for years now), as well as HBO’s 8th season of the live action show, Brewery Ommegang continues to deliver beers inspired by the series. This September is dedicated to the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen.
This release is a blend of a smoked porter and Belgian Kriek, meant to be a representation of smoke and fire, found in the wake of Daenerys as she fights for her place on the Iron Throne. Ommegang describes this release as having “a rich with tart cherry up front leading to a center palate of semi-sweet chocolate then resolving to subtle smoke and mild sweetness.”
“Mother of Dragons represents in beer one of our favorite characters from Game of Thrones. Daenerys’s ascent from obscurity has been one of the most inspiring storylines of the show, and we’re thrilled to release a blend that embodies the character traits that have underpinned that rise.” – Doug Campbell, Brewery Ommegang president.
Ommegang Game of Thrones Mother of Dragons will be available in 750-milliliter bottles starting on September 28th.
Style: Smoked Porter/Kriek Blend (w/ Cherries)
Availability:750ml Bottles
Debut: 9/28/18
?? ABV
Small batch sour & wild ale blends are coming to new Ommegang Blenderie project
New York State-based Brewery Ommegang is debuting a new small batch project in June known as Ommegang Blenderie.
Famously Belgian brewing influenced Ommegang has been blending beers for years. One of the most well-known beers in the brewery’s lineup (if not across all of craft beer) is Three Philosophers was first released in 2002, a blend of Ommegang’s Quadruple and Belgium based Liefman’s Kriek.
Ommegang Blenderie will take the brewery’s blending efforts a step further, into a whole new series of small batch blended releases. Two releases are planned for June – Faith & Fortitude, and Zen & Zymurgy.
Fath & Fortitude – a blend of aged sours and farmhouse-style saisons. The 6.5% ABV beer is described as having “notes of apricot, citrus, and tropical fruits mix with just a hint of barnyard funk.” Available at SAVOR in Washington D.C. and on sale at the brewery on June 16th.
Zen & Zymurgy – a mixed fermentation sour ale built on a saison base with 4 different yeast cultures, boasting “Aromas of sweet fruit, lemon and oak and tart flavors of fruit, malt, and Brettanomyces.” Available first at the Firestone Walker Invitational, on June 2nd, and on sale in August 2018.
One of Ommegang’s most recent blends is available nationally now – Saison Rose, a blend of two of the brewery’s saisons.
Expect more releases from Ommegang Blenderie in the coming months and years.
Image: Brewery Ommegang
Ommegang Neon Rainbows will be the brewery’s first in-house can
Brewery Ommegang has announced the addition of a canning line to their Cooperstown, New York facility. Their first “in-house” cans will debut this month.
FX Matt Brewing has been assisting Ommegang with canning for the past two years. Witte Wheat Ale and Nirvana IPA, and Short Sleeve Saison have been distributed to New York state only.
Despite the brewery’s diverse portfolio of beers, Ommegang Neon Rainbows has been tapped for their inaugural home aluminum run. Neon Rainbows is just the second release in the brewery’s “Farmstead Series” of beers, following Hopstate NY IPA.
Transcending the Ommegang’s Belgian inspired traditions, Neon Rainbows is a double dry-hopped New England style IPA. Originally, Rainbows was brewed for ‘Belgium comes to Cooperstown Festival’, only to become a favorite with the brewery local and loyal. The big, juicy IPA features a hefty lineup of hops, including Magnum, Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra, Centennial, and Topaz. The dank dry-hop lineup includes Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra, and Topaz.
Bursting with juicy tropical fruit flavors and aromas and paired with a pillowy mouthfeel and low bitterness, Neon Rainbows is 6.6% ABV and 45 IBUs.
The only downside to this news? Ommegang Neon Rainbows is a brewery only release on May 26th.
Style: Hazy IPA
Hops: Magnum, Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra, Centennial, Topaz
Availability: 16oz Cans. Brewery Only
Debut (Cans): 5/26/18
6.6% ABV, 45 IBUs
Rosé all day? Ommegang Saison Rosé arrives for summer
Ommegang Saison Rose is debuting ahead of summer.
Rosé wine surges in popularity as temperatures rise. Beer is bringing their own version of the pink stuff, thanks to Ommegang and their new Saison Rosé.
Blending beer is nothing new to Brewery Ommegang. Their Three Philosophers is a blended beer that debuted in 2002. Saison Rosé is also blended, that starts as light saison brewed with hibiscus flowers. It is then fermented in stainless steel with chardonnay grape juices.
The grape juice/hibiscus saison is then blended with what the brewery calls a “heartier” oak-aged saison with strong tannic notes.
Aromas of grapefruit and red berries are followed by a hint of oak. Flavors of sweet berries and lightly-tart citrus resolve to subtle oak tannins and spicy Belgian yeast. The beer is light-bodied with a soft mouthfeel, crisp, dry finish…
Ommegang Saison Rosé is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft for a limited time in summer 2018.
Style: Saison (w/ Hibiscus Flowers. Chardonnay Grapes. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Summer Seasonal.
Debut: May 2018
7.7% ABV
Image: Ommegang
You don’t have to be a Game of Thrones fan. Drink Ommegang Winter is Here
While the world continues to wait on the sixth book in the Game of Thrones Series (The Winds of Winter), the brewers in Cooperstown have a new inspired release – Ommegang Winter is Here.
This release marks the 9th Game of Thrones release the brewery has created with HBO. The beer is a double white ale brewed with sea salt and white pepper. The label depicts the Night King, a key piece in the sixth season (and book if we ever get it…)
Let’s be straightforward here. Winter is Here is nothing short of fantastic. Witbiers remind you of warmer days sipping a cold pint on a sun-drenched porch somewhere. However, if you are stuck drinking north of The Wall, with the army of the undead wandering around, you need something a little stronger. Each sip of this beer is better than the first – awash with notes of banana and clove, with just the slightest touch of white pepper and honey malt. Whether drinking Winter is Here on its own or with food, do not pass this beer up.
“In this next season, we celebrate the long-awaited arrival of winter with a beer fit for consumption north of The Wall. Winter is Here is a fortifying and delicious double white, brewed with sea salt and white pepper, sure to keep you warm in winter, no matter how long it lasts.” – Doug Campbell, President – Brewery Ommegang
Ommegang Winter is Here is available in 750-milliliter bottles, first released in October.
Style: Imperial White Ale (White Pepper. Sea Salt.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: October 2017
8.3% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
Ommegang Hand of the Queen will expand the Game of Thrones Series this spring
Ommegang Hand of the Queen will expand the brewery’s Game of Thrones Series again this spring.
The next four Game of Thrones releases will be known as The Royal Reserve, inspired by the royals of Westeros. In this case, the Hand of the Queen Tyrion Lannister, hand to Danaerys Targaryen (rightful queen of Westeros).
Tyrion Lannister might be small in stature, but his personality and character are quite large. Given his love of wine (I drink, and I know things), Ommegang chose a big, bold barleywine to embody this well known Lannister.
“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.” – Doug Campbell, President of Brewery Ommegang
This 11% alcohol by volume barleywine is described as “malt-forward and multifaceted”. Expect hints of brandy soaked raisins, dark fruit, and apricots. Expect 750-milliliter bottles to hit shelves in April 2018.
Very apropos for the coming of the winter solstice this week, Ommegang Winter is Here is currently on shelves, featuring the Night King who leads the freaky army of Nightwalkers.
Style: Barleywine
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: April 2018
11% ABV