In a case of two awesome things coming together to make something twice as awesome, HBO has announced that they are partnering with a craft brewery in the US to create beers inspired by Game of Thrones. The first beer, Iron Throne Blonde Ale, will launch the day of the season three premiere and three more beers will follow sometime after. Check out the press release below.

HBO Global Licensing is constantly raising the bar on brand extensions for their hit shows, and they’re showing their creativity once again through a new partnership with Brewery Ommegang to release a series of themed beers based on the critically-acclaimed drama, Game of Thrones. Unlike previous efforts by brewers, which were typically executed as ‘brewed under license’ arrangements or straightforward product placement pushes, the collaboration between Ommegang and HBO is focused on developing truly unique beers that directly tie into themes, characters and nuances of the series of the medieval-like fantasy realm of Westeros and surrounding kingdoms. The inaugural beer, Iron Throne Blonde Ale, will launch nationally timed to the season 3 premiere of the show on March 31st. It will be available on draft and in 750ml bottles for the suggested retail price of $8.50 per bottle beginning mid to late March. This will be followed by the launch of another Game of Thrones-inspired beer in the Fall and two additional beers in subsequent seasons. Ommegang beers, which are created by Brewmaster Phil Leinhart, have gained a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 45 states and internationally. The Belgian-style brewery is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York.

Winter Is Coming: As noted by WiCnet commenter the goat on Twitter, it is somewhat surprising it took HBO this long to do this. True Blood has had an official drink for three years now and beer and Thrones just go together so well. Perhaps they were looking for just the right brewery. In any case (no pun intended), I look forward to sipping my Iron Throne Blonde Ale as I sit down to watch the season three premiere!