Author: Jason

This is the ninth in a new series by shop regular, Chris Haas, The Book & Brew Review.

>> Book: She Hulk #4

Faithful readers (or reader…), I have grown lazy. It has been quite some time since my last post. Originally, I intended to do one of these every other week but it seems I have slipped up a bit. Here’s to remedying that situation.

Kevin Wada has been supplying the covers for this new series involving the green hulking lady who happens to practice law on the side. And I truly hope it stays that way. The colors are so bright; they explode off the page, especially with using a slightly darker green as the background. The clever way he draws Matt Murdock’s shadow with the horns makes me smile.

Another aspect I enjoy is how sharp he draws the characters. Look at how everything comes to that point, whether it is her jacket or her hair. Matt Murdock’s shoulder is practically a right angle. It can come off as very cartoony but I do love this approach.

Speaking earlier of how She-Hulk is a lawyer on the side, it is quite refreshing that this comic actually focuses more attention on her legal issues rather than the usual fighting and action a superhero tends to get involved in. Kudos to Marvel for another series that is female driven and quite well written.

>> Brew: Susquehanna Brewing Company’s Southern Rye IPA

Here’s the plan. The next time I visit a beer store, if they sell custom six packs, I will try my best to find every Rye beer they have. It’s become a little obsession at the moment. Up until recently, I had not had the privilege, but now, I will do my best to make up for lost time.

It’s such a new flavor to me. I love that the rye smell is so strong. I would almost think that I had rye bread sitting in front of me, ready to consume. But alas, just beer. I’m just kidding about that “just beer” line. Blasphemy.

As an IPA, I recommend to anyone. It is not overly hoppy. There’s a tropical fruitiness that works well with the rye flavor. As I said earlier, this type of brew is a new favorite and I look forward to having it again. Honorable mention goes to Susquehanna Brewing Company, another new brewery for yours truly. I found it surprising that the beer ABV was 8.6%. Sneaky in its alcohol content, the smell and flavor are well worth the low price I paid at CJ’s Doghouse in Lansdale, PA (random plug).

Before checking out, I would also like to recommend Triumph Brewery and the rye beer they produce.  They’ve developed a much stronger flavor if you happen to be looking for that. Rye beer geeking has commenced.

This is the eighth in a new series by shop regular, Chris Haas, The Book & Brew Review.

>>> Book:  Daredevil #1.5

I am a diehard Daredevil fan. I started collecting these comics roughly around late 2009. Since then, I’ve purchased and read every issue from 1982 on, with a few issues beforehand. Sure, every series has some low points, but Daredevil proved to be an incredible exception.

We celebrate issue 1.50 of the fourth volume of Daredevil. They refer to it with the.50 because the comic celebrates 50 years of publication. And as you can see, the cover truly honors that history. So many images of Matt Murdock. So many different artists over the years. Each artist brought a truly unique perspective to the vigilante (my favorites being Alex Maleev and Frank Miller.)

I love the graffiti style artwork covering the walls of the comic. And the best part is all the names covering said walls. Nothing pays better tribute to the history of such a great character than listing the many people responsible for shaping and creating the great Man Without Fear.

Paolo Rivera should be proud of this cover. His work stands for itself. Daredevil will forever be flying through the air, ready to attack those that would threaten his city.

>>> Brew: Sly Fox’s Nihilist Russian Imperial Stout

“We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.”
-Leo Tolstoy

Today we once again return to the wonderful world of stouts. I couldn’t pass it up as the name really jumped out at me. I’m a sucker for something catchy and this limited seasonal screamed catchy.

The 22 oz. bottle comes corked, which was a bit difficult to pop if I must be honest. I couldn’t find a definite answer, so I will say that the beer’s alcohol level is either between 9 & 10%. The brewery is a local company out of Phoenixville, PA which is known for its 113 IPA. With Nihilist, they take on a style of beer started in the 18th century as an export from England to the Russian court of Catherine II.

Overall, I wouldn’t call this the best Russian imperial stout I’ve ever had. It was decent but nothing to write home about. There was a slight chocolate flavor which is always welcome with this style of beer. The head was ridiculous. It took a bit just for the foam to finally settle. Once it did, the taste was smooth but it almost made me question whether or not I thought of it as a stout. It reminded me of a black IPA.

This may not be a rave review, but I’m always happy to try a new brew. Consider this one checked off my vast list.