Each week the iFanStaff passes along a tasty drink recipe and an even tastier comic book recommendation. The cocktail (or beer, or wine, or booze) and the comic can both be enjoyed independently, but they have a common theme and when served together they can make for the perfect reading experience.

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I’ve been reading a lot of different comics and drinking a lot of different beers this summer. But for the life of me I haven’t really found great pairing for Comic Shots. So I’m going to borrow an idea from iFanboy Senior Staff Writer and Director of Enthusiasm Mike Romo and do this Grab Bag style. To keep with Comic Shots tradition, I’m going to try to stick with a bit of theme for my comics and brews

The Beers

Ommegang, a great brewer out of Cooperstown, NY, has become a recent favorite of mine. Their name is a recent regular at most of the bars I go to–at least one of their beers will be on tap and there are usually a couple more in bottles. And they always, without fail, hit the proverbial spot.

Ommegang Witte

Witte was my beer of the summer. It’s on tap almost everywhere I go and beer’s citrusy and spicy flavor is perfectly refreshing on a hot summer day. The brew even has a hazy, clouded look to it, which is a bit too on the nose for New York City’s infamous hazy, hot and humid summers.

Talking about this beer always ends up sounding like the “Who’s on First” sketch. Ommegang brews their Witte in the traditional Belgian-style for wheat ales (witbier), which in addition to a large proportion of wheat includes orange peel and coriander. But the name Witte comes for the Flemmish word for “white” not wheat. It’s called a white beer for that cloudy look the brew has; the Wheat, White, Witte thing is just bonus alliteration. Similar in taste and name to Ommegang Witte, is the incredibly delicious Allagash White.

Ommegang Abbey Ale

After a particularly rough day at the office, I was looking for something strong when I got home. Waiting patiently in my fridge was Ommegang’s Abbey Ale, a Belgian-style Dubbel. I like Dubbels because of their dark, malty flavors. They’re carmelly and rich and very comforting after a long day.

I asked Josh Christie, iFanboy Resident Beer Expert and Under-Secretary of Shenanigans, a little about the history of Dubbels (because I’m lazy and don’t like Wikipedia). They get their name, which unsurprisingly means “double”, from the extra amount of malt used. Further up the scale are Tripels, which have even more malt. The sugars in malts are what the yeast turns into alcohol during the brewing process. Therefore, more malt means a higher alcohol content, so be careful. Abbey Ale clocks in at a 8.5% ABV (alcohol by volume)–it’s not super high, but you should pace yourself. The last time I had a beer with that high an ABV — a tasty elixir called Delirium — I wasn’t paying attention and drank four of them. It was a regrettable evening. But that’s a story for another day.

The Comics

I few months ago I started watching the CW hit show Supernatural. If you’re not familiar with it, the series follows two brothers, Dean and Sam, as they drive across the country in their 1967 Chevy Impala solving weird mysteries and fighting demons. I fell in love with Dean Winchester the show pretty much instantly. And since then, I’ve been finding myself pick up comics with a supernatural twist to them. Here are a few of my recent favorites.

Mysterius: The Unfathomable

Written by Jeff Parker; Art by Tom Fowler
Published by DC Comics / Wildstorm

I picked this up at Emerald City Comic Con at Jeff Parker’s table. I mean, look at that cover. The beat-up pulpyness of it just screams at you to pick it up and flip through it. Like the cover promises, the book is a weird and wonderful adventure–from seances with millionaire socialites to satanic cult orgies to the demon-infested world of a not-quite Doctor Seuss. The surly and drunk Mysterius is supernatural “problem solver” for hire. After a seance takes a turn for the worse, he picks up scrappy reporter Ella to be his new “Delphi” (think the Watson to his Holmes). Creepy hilarity ensues. It’s a good fun read if you can find it.

 

Sparrow and Crowe: The Demoniac of Los Angeles

Written by Dave Accampo and Jeremy Rogers; Art by Jared Souza
Published by Hermes Press

Dr. Xander Crowe is a more likable character than Mysterius, and Sparrow is more seasoned (and exasperated) side-kick than Ella. But Sparrow and Crowe has a similar vibe Mysterius. A down-on-his-luck occult private detective, Crowe gets dragged (and punched) into doing an exorcism on a mob boss’ daughter. And the demon causing all the trouble is also responsible for some nasty stuff in Crowe’s past. So far there’s only one issue of this mini-series out, but I’m really looking forward to the rest of the story.

 

Rachel Rising

Written and drawn by Terry Moore
Published by Abstract Studios

Rachel Rising is one of those comics I look forward to every time it comes out. Terry Moore is a comics master. His storytelling, art, and pacing in this series has been pitch perfect. I’m always on the edge of my seat waiting for what comes next. Rachel, and now her best friend Jet, are both back from the dead. They’re both looking for answers in their small, quiet hometown. So far their only clues are a mysterious, trouble-making blonde and a creepy little girl (seriously, what is it about little girl ghosts/demons that make them so damn creepy?!). The pace is a bit slow, as is the shipping schedule, so this may be something that reads in trade, but it’s a fantastic horror/suspense comic.

 

What about you, iFanbase? What’ve you been reading and drinking this summer?

 

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Ali Colluccio is the iFanboy Demolitions Expert with a knack for finding ghosts. She enjoys comics, cocktails, and curling.

Please obey the law and only drink if you are of age. Drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Buy the comics that make you happy and spread the love.