Dragons, a mystical creature that has been in many Metal albums (artwork, lyrics), Metal tattoos and of course, all the LARP'ing (Live Action Role Playing) Metal fans are known for.
With an emphasis Metal has with the mystical creature, you figure it's about time it branched out to other realms beyond the lyric sheets, musical instruments and plastic swords?
Today, we look at a beverage that reached the plateau in question.
Introducing Gulden Draak Ale.
Gulden Drak, the name of this beverage screams POWER METAL, with wails and all. Hell, Rhapsody (or Rhapsody of Fire, or Luca Turilli's Rhapsody) has nothing on the name Gulden Draak.
In case your wondering where such a HEAVY name came from, here's what the brewers website ( http://guldendraak.be/en/gulden-draak-0 ) had to say about the matter:
"Did you know the Gulden Draak (Golden Dragon) owes its name to the gilded statue on top of the Belfry in Ghent?
The legend says the gilded dragon first featured on the prow of the ship with which the Norwegian king Sigrid Magnusson left on a crusade in 1111. He offered the statue to the emperor of Constantinople (the current Istanbul) to put it on the cupola of the Aya Sophia. Some hundred years later, the Flemish count Baldwin IX had the showpiece transported to our regions. Here, the Norwegian dragon ended up in the hands of Bruges. After the battle on the field of Beverhout in 1382, the inhabitants of Ghent took the dragon as war booty and put it on top of their Belfry. In the Belfry all communal charters were kept. The dragon had to protect these documents and it was also the symbol of the freedom and might of the city.
Such an imposing symbol that has lasted for over 6 centuries needs an equally imposing beer. Like the dragon shines at the top of the city, the Gulden Draak is part of the international top of beers. It is a dark triple, which in itself makes it an exceptional beer. But it is the complex taste with hints of caramel, roasted malt and coffee in combination with the creamy hazel head that makes it unique. It is a beer that is worthy of its name."
As you just read, this beverage has all the making of being one of the most Metal beers in the world, and it's credentials are very extensive:
- It comes from the beer capital of the world, Belgium (with due respect to the other fine nations that make beer).
- It has a Viking Ship as its logo. A Golden Viking Ship.
- The statue was a war booty, belonged to a Norwegian King and is a symbol of freedom.
If you want to see a picture of the place where this beer comes from, here it is (courtesy of http://globalbeer.com/body_pages/pages-beer/GuldenDraak/GuldenDraak.html ).
In case your wondering where such a HEAVY name came from, here's what the brewers website ( http://guldendraak.be/en/gulden-draak-0 ) had to say about the matter:
"Did you know the Gulden Draak (Golden Dragon) owes its name to the gilded statue on top of the Belfry in Ghent?
The legend says the gilded dragon first featured on the prow of the ship with which the Norwegian king Sigrid Magnusson left on a crusade in 1111. He offered the statue to the emperor of Constantinople (the current Istanbul) to put it on the cupola of the Aya Sophia. Some hundred years later, the Flemish count Baldwin IX had the showpiece transported to our regions. Here, the Norwegian dragon ended up in the hands of Bruges. After the battle on the field of Beverhout in 1382, the inhabitants of Ghent took the dragon as war booty and put it on top of their Belfry. In the Belfry all communal charters were kept. The dragon had to protect these documents and it was also the symbol of the freedom and might of the city.
Such an imposing symbol that has lasted for over 6 centuries needs an equally imposing beer. Like the dragon shines at the top of the city, the Gulden Draak is part of the international top of beers. It is a dark triple, which in itself makes it an exceptional beer. But it is the complex taste with hints of caramel, roasted malt and coffee in combination with the creamy hazel head that makes it unique. It is a beer that is worthy of its name."
As you just read, this beverage has all the making of being one of the most Metal beers in the world, and it's credentials are very extensive:
- It comes from the beer capital of the world, Belgium (with due respect to the other fine nations that make beer).
- It has a Viking Ship as its logo. A Golden Viking Ship.
- The statue was a war booty, belonged to a Norwegian King and is a symbol of freedom.
If you want to see a picture of the place where this beer comes from, here it is (courtesy of http://globalbeer.com/body_pages/pages-beer/GuldenDraak/GuldenDraak.html ).
Now begins the long voyage of this beverage that equals its logo history.
With this beverage, I travel through all of Europe and conquer whatever I lay my footsteps on (or the trains that will take me through this expedition).
The "Iron Fist" of the deliverer of the Nectar of the Metal Gods delivers another fine installment of liquid purified for the Legions of Heavy Metal \m/
Like blood flooding through the halls of the damned, golden blood to be exact.
With the chalice now filled, I command thee to consume the beverage inspired by Metal even before Metal existed.
The beer is beyond amazing. It's taste is thick, almost like drinking caramel, and sticks to your tongue and the aroma has a tendency to raid your nostrils like the vikings that inspired the statues creation. At 10.5% ABV, it is a heavyweight that will knock you down like a sword to the head.
If you ever find yourself at a bar and they have this beverage on tap, the tap handle is as majestic as the beverage. Any other handle would not be worthy of handling an important beverage (courtesy of http://globalbeer.com/body_pages/pages-beer/GuldenDraak/GuldenDraak.html ).
Interesting
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