Warnog, official Klingon beer launched by Star Trek, with 'notes of clove, banana and caramel
The craggily foreheaded warrior race from Star Trek now have an alcoholic drink to call their own, following the launch of Vulcan Ale last year.
This means Warnog … the official Klingon beer. Click the magnifying glass for a full-can photo
Star Trek's warrior race the Klingons may be more famed for drinking the alarmingly red bloodwine in outer space, but on Earth at least, they have a new official booze of choice: Warnog, a beer with notes of clove, banana and caramel.
The Federation of Beer, a Canadian company who have an official partnership with the Star Trek franchise, has commissioned the 'Roggen Dunkel' style ale, to be brewed at the Tin Man Brewing Company in Indiana. It's their second themed beer, following their Vulcan Ale last year, an Irish Red chosen to match the red planet of Vulcan where Spock hails from.
Warnog "incorporates rye malt into a modern Dunkelweizen grain bill, creating a flavor profile that is both familiar and unique," the Federation explains in a statement. "Warnog's aroma is predominantly mild banana and clove produced by the German wheat yeast, supported by subtle sweet malt character from the use of Munich malt. The flavor draws heavily from the blending of the rye malt and traditional clove character, creating a very rich and unique flavor. The inclusion of wheat and caramel malts help to round out the mouthfeel of this beer, making this Dunkelweizen hearty enough to be called a Klingon Warnog." Warnog was drunk by Klingons in both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine TV series.
It's perhaps appropriate that a race in thrall to opera and the works of Shakespeare should have such a nuanced flavour profile to their beer, though some aren't convinced that these warriors would care for a sweet taste. "A real Klingon would probably be more into blood and steel flavors, something that tastes like more like victory and less like wheat,"argues Amanda Kooser at CNET.
There are still plenty of potential beverages for the Federation to get through – as well as a Romulan ale that is being planned for brewing next year, 'The Definative [sic] Guide To Star Trek Drinks' has found many more besides. Chech'tluth is a potent and smoking Klingon beverage served in 2365 to the leader of the Bringloidi, while Raktajino is Klingon coffee that becomes a hit amongst various races – the shows' writers would print in-jokes onto the Raktajino packets, such as '100% Colombian' or 'Made from the Green Hills of Earth', a reference to sci-fi author Robert Heinlein. There are also multiple recipes for bloodwine, (including one that begins "heat 18 quarts of blood in a large cauldron") perfect for serving in bloodwine cups that are for sale on Etsy.
