The kraken slithers in its watery realm and the dire wolf scents the air...yes, indeedy, HBOs new season of Game of Thrones is amassing its vast marketing army for full scale invasion in Spring. Of course I started it with my garden picks for the characters (ok, that's a lie. HBO probably came up with merchandising ideas on their own...) and now HBO has (reportedly) tapped Ommegang to produce Iron Throne Blond Ale to coincide with the start of season 3.

GoT Geek digression...while various reporters seem to think the beer is a clear reference to Joffrey, I think it could just as easily be Cercei, or even Tommen.

But let's discuss what HBO hasn't yet considered...what to pair with that Iron Throne Blond Ale. The obvious choice for a blond ale is a gentle cheese, perhaps Bellwether's Carmody, or VBC's Cremont. But does that do justice to a throne made of swords? A family of sadists, murderers, and incestuous adulters? Perhaps we should also consider a shocking pairing. Something that goes against nature. Something like Beemster X-O or Epoisses. Yeah. Let the bite and stink sit next to the gentle and smooth on your cheeseplate. You might find, like so many of the GoT characters, that you're a little bit of both.