You’ve probably noticed it even if you aren’t conscious of it directly.  Iron Man (on DVD as of yesterday) was the biggest movie of the year by far (edit: at the time).  Then The Dark Knight came along (edit:  which then become the biggest movie of the year).  In between Hellboy II and Wanted both came out and this book Watchmen on the best seller’s table at Borders.  Make no doubt about it my friend-comics are coming out of the long boxes in our basements and into the mainstream-so you better get hip and quick.

In your quest for comic book literacy there is only one thing better than going to your local shop and asking for a copy of Sandman or Maus:  Discovering the next great episode of graphic literature of course!  The place to do that just happens to be in our own backyard of Bethesda at the Small Press Expo.  This Saturday and Sunday the best and brightest of the comics newest and/or Indie talents will be on hand to sell you comics and sign your stuff.  I’ve gone to SPX a few times over my six year stay here and it is a great event for fans and non-fans alike.  Very often creators are happy to just talk with you for a while, sign books that you buy and give you deals if you buy a few (hey these guys are out there making a name for themselves!).  Also a great way to disabuse yourself of the notions that “comics are for kids” and “comics are all about super-heroes.”  They aren’t-and nowhere is that better done than in the small press. 

I’ll be there Saturday (super-geek that I am) so be on the lookout…for a bunch of people more famous, creative and important than I am that is!  You’ll almost certainly walk away with something you’ll enjoy reading and might even have a “Oh her? Yeah I met her back at SPX 2008″ story to go with it some day!

Beer-That is all you need to know

If comics are not your speed (or even if they are-Saturday is a long day) The Commonwealth (particularly Shirlington) will play host to “Oktoberfest” hosted by Cap City.  After I’ve loaded up on comic books I plan on heading back across the river to get…well…loaded.  Responsibly of course!  For a mere $25 you’ll have access to over 30 local breweries and their 4 oz beer samples.  That’s 120 oz of beer for $25 (if you only go to each tent once that is!) also known as a deal.  If you don’t drink the event is free and there will be music and food available for all-so it might be worth stopping by anyway. 

I again will be there and will eventually be the guy either sitting down reading comic books trying not to spill beer on them OR the guy getting into a loud angry discussion about which of Earth’s Green Lanterns was actually the coolest. 

Author’s note:  If you do decide to go to both places you might want to do comics first only because impulse shopping goes up when you’ve been drinking and it’s much safer (and far more legal) to drive having bought too many comics then it is to drive having drank too many beers.

Triple ThreatOne of the really nice things about Belgian ales is their simplicity and the degree to which they can be altered by even minor changes to basic recipes such as this one. Triple Threat is one I brew when I’m in the mood for something Belgian yet also can’t settle on exactly what I want to make. Choose Clear Candi syrup for a Strong Golden, or opt for Amber for something akin to Ommegang’s Rare Vos (and maybe even spice it lightly for a Grand Cru). Either of the Dark syrups will brew up a rich Strong Dark Ale.Ingredients8 lb. Alexander’s Pale liquid malt extract1.5 lb. Belgian Candi syrup: Clear, Amber, Dark or Dark 21 lb. Gambrinus Honey malt (crushed)2 oz. German Spalt hop pellets (bittering)1 Wyeast #3522 Belgian Ardennes ale or 2 Safbrew T-58 dry yeast3/4 cup priming sugarAnd don’t forget…Irish Moss/Whirlfloc (recommended), grain bag(s), optional hop bags, bottle caps and sanitizer.Directions1. Place crushed malt(s) loosely in a grain bag and tie it off at the top. Steep grain in 2 gallons of ~170F water for 15 minutes. Remove the spent grain bag & squeeze gently (hot, so use tongs) before discarding.2. Bring the malt “tea” to a boil, add Candi syrup and bittering hops & boil for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the brewpot from heat and dissolve malt extracts thoroughly before returning to boil (watch for a boil-over!)3. Boil for 15 additional minutes, adding Irish Moss or Whirlfloc only once the boil resumes. After 15 minutes turn off the heat and proceed to cool wort to below 100F as quickly as possible (if you don’t have a wort chiller use ice: put the pot in a sink with a bag of ice and water & stir until cool).4. Pour the cooled wort into your fermentor and add sufficient pre-chilled water to make 5 gallons of beer. Tip: Refrigerate 3 gallons of water the night before to help cool the wort to pitching temperature quickly.5. Stir vigorously to mix ingredients and introduce as much air as possible. Add yeast only once wort is below 75F (and stir vigorously again). Ferment as close to 68F as possible for 7 to 10 days or until done.6. Once final gravity (FG) has been reached, bulk prime with sugar & bottle. Beer is ready in about 6 weeks.OG: 1.070 FG: 1.014 ABV: 7.2% IBU: 33