Why Comics and Beer?
Part 1: An Overview on Beer Drinking and Comic Book Reading
"Why do comic books and beer go together, and why did you make an entire website about it?"
This is a valid question and one that's fun to answer. For starters, I genuinely like comic books and beer. Comics and beers are two great things that go well together; however, when I mention that I'm going to a brewery to read a stack of comics and get a beer, people often look at me like I'm a little bit weird (I am a lot bit weird). Nobody thinks it's odd to grab a beer before a concert, or pour a beer and watch a movie, but comics and beer, for whatever reason, don't resonate with mainstream culture... presumably because most people are morons who can't grasp the greatness of Aquilonia enhanced by ale.
There is more to this concept than meets the eye, and once you know how awesome it is, then you'll know the other half of the battle, because the first half is combining comic books and beer. Try it. Roll up to the bar and, instead of scrolling through bullshit on your phone, pull out a stack of comic books. Comics are real things with real art. They aren't clickbait engineered to waste your time and collapse civilization. Read a real book on real paper and see how much better it is (if you aren't in the mood for comics, novels work just as well.)
Real books and physical things are infinitely better than your stupid phone filled with garbage apps and social media. When you read a comic book on paper, there are no pop-ups, bings, boings, or NEWS ALERTS. It's just you and a comic book (and hopefully, a beer too.)
"Do I need to enjoy beer to read comics and go to the bar?" No! Beer, and drinking in general, isn't for everybody. It's not particularly good for you, but neither is being alive. Something is going to kill you eventually, so you may as well read some rad comics and drink some tasty beers before it does. Seriously, though, most craft beer bars have a non-alcoholic beer on tap or in the can, and root beer is a totally legit substitution.
Part 2: How do I Drink Beer and Read Comic Books?
How to drink beer and read comics... if you have to ask, then maybe it's not for you. But, for the comics X beer curious who have no idea, let me help you out. The first thing that you'll need is a comic book (because honestly, the beer is optional.) You won't get very far in this process without a comic book and a good place to read that comic book. I'll break it down for you:
- Go to your local comic book store and buy a comic book.
- Find a relaxed brewery, craft beer bar, or reasonably quiet place somewhere that isn't your home dwelling.
- Find a spot in the bar with good lighting. If you can't find a spot with good lighting, find a seat at the bar or by the window, or wherever that is cozy.
- Order a beer or beverage of your choice.
- Lift the glass so that the beer comes up to your mouth and take a sip.
- Savor the flavor.
- Put the glass down on the bar, taking care to avoid placing it on your comic book (also, be wary of leaving wet ring marks that can damage your books. I suggest reading your issue on top of the plastic comic sleeve while keeping the beer within arm's reach.)
- Open your comic book.
- Read your comic book.
- Take another sip of beer.
- Enjoy the experience!
- Repeat as needed.
Oh no! But what if other people in the bar think it's weird that I'm a grown adult reading comic books written for children 40 years ago?
Nobody cares, and if they do, f-ck them. You have refined taste and a vast knowledge of robots who transform into jet fighters. You are a better person for it.
Part 3: What Kind of Bar is Good for Reading Comics?
The location of your imbibing and reading journey is one of the most important parts of this process. I'll list some important things to look for when selecting a good spot to hang out and read while enjoying a cold brew:
- Friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
- Good lighting.
- Fresh and refreshing beers on tap.
- A place with no 20-somethings.
- Not a singles bar.
I'm surrounded by good craft breweries, and found many within an easy bike ride or commute that make great reading locations. First and foremost, I like a place that is cozy and comfortable. Somewhere that is preferably not super busy, but maybe busy enough so that they can stay in business.
I like breweries with a good beer selection, but also a good place to enjoy the beer. Shoving a brewery into a cinder block shoe box or an industrial warehouse with folding chairs isn't really an awesome spot to hang out. But, also, being surrounded by a bunch of sports fans yelling and screaming isn't great either. Somewhere in between is ideal. Breweries tend to have larger spaces than pubs or local watering holes, and with those larger spaces comes more light. It's a subjective choice.
There are a few bars nearby that I'll walk to and read, also, but the lighting in bars isn't usually as good as breweries because dark bars are a different kind of cozy (not one conducive to a good comic book reading experience).
Lighting is important, but not essential. I love a dimly lit bar, but I also want to be able to see every detail of Conan cutting the heads off snake people and bedding harlots in taverns. My ideal spot has good lighting, somewhere! Even if it's near a window or under a lamp. If you have no other choice, or love a certain bar with crappy lighting, your phone light will suffice. I've even broken out a magnifying glass from time to time. I'm a super dork. If I know in advance that the lighting in a bar is going to be terrible, or if the bar is going to be cramped, I'll plan and bring a Conan novel or something instead of a straight-up comic book.
In my experience, most people think that reading comics in the bar is cool when they see it. I've had a lot of "Oh, G.I. Joe is awesome! I haven't read that in years!" and "I remember Conan comics, those were great!". Please spread the word, people, beer, and comics are where it's at.
Part 4: What Kind of Beer Pairs Well with Comics?
Your choice in beer is personal and entirely subjective, but this is also a big part of what this site is about. The short answer is that you want good beer to pair with your comic book.
"But, aren't you just trying to get drunk and read comics?" No! There are far cheaper and more efficient ways to get wasted if that's what you're trying to do, and wasted ruins the comic book reading experience. Craft beers are roughly $8 a glass, and best enjoyed slowly. That's one of the main reasons I like reading comics with a beer: I can take a break now and then, enjoy a sip, savor it, and then return to reading about robots squashing humans in their conquest of Earth. Also, it's hard to read when everything gets blurry, and don't even get me started on post-45 hangovers. You don't want to go there. Drink beer responsibly and with respect for the words and pictures on the pages in front of you, as well as the craft of the beer.
My top 5 beers for comic book reading:
- Hoffbrau Lager
- Miller Lite
- Craft Beer West Coast IPA
- Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
- Troegs' Perpetual IPA
I'm a West Coast IPA guy, and really enjoy the big hop flavor, a forward alcohol taste, and the crisp, clear, smooth, easy-drinking feel of the beer. While IPAs in general are kind of "yesterday's style", most breweries make at least one good West Coast IPA (the clear one.) The East Coast Hazy IPAs are, in my opinion, hard to digest and frequently murky and muddled with conflicting flavors. There are some hazys I like, but I usually stick to clear beers.
That being said, I also like a good lager, and there's no better lager in the world than Hoffbrau. Conan the Barbarian would approve of anyone drinking Hoffbrau out of a one-liter ceramic beer stein. "By Crom, that's a proper flagon of ale!" (Lager isn't ale, but you get the idea...)
Miller Lite is my go-to choice if I have other things to do or want to watch the calories. At 96 cals and 4.6%, it's not going to do much harm, and it tastes good in proper glassware (never drink your beer out of the can!) You can also pick up a 30-pack of cans for a bargain. You might be surprised how good a cold Miller Lite is when poured into a fancy IPA glass with Godzilla printed on it.
Bell's Two Hearted and Perpetual IPA are both in the "West Coast" vibe, relatively affordable, nationally available, and consistently delicious. Also, one or two of them pack a punch and enhance the comic book reading experience.
Part 5: What Kind of Comics Pair Well with Beer?
This is also subjective, but I like to bring old comics to the brewery with me. Older comics, like classic Conans and G.I. Joes, have more text and therefore provide a longer reading experience. A Conan the Barbarian usually lasts me at least two beers, or one stein. That's about the best thing in life, second to crushing your enemies, of course.
I don't collect comic books for value, so I'm really not too worried about getting a drop on them or bending them by accident. A classic 1970s comic book, that isn't rare, should set you back $1-$5, and that's a better value than any stupid streaming video service or junky gem-smashing game app. Comics > Your Phone all day.
Depending on where I'm going, sometimes I'll take one of my bigger Omnibus hardcovers like a Savage Sword of Conan or Micronauts, but only if I know I'm getting a table or high-top because they're too big for the bar.
And that's all for now! Basically, if you're reading this, just grab a few issues of whatever you want to read, find a good brewery, and enjoy. I'll be writing some more specific beer and comic book pairings soon, but in the meantime, happy reading and beer-ing!
Mark