Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Evergreens

Fight Thirst with these Powerful Superhero Beers

By

With recent release of Justice League, and the preceding hits of Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 2, the flood of superhero movies has shown no sign of slowing. From their humble origins in 10-cent comic books to their new multi-million dollar cinematic adventures, these costumed crusaders have made a huge impact on our popular culture. The iconic themes of capes and masks have spilled over into the world of craft beer as well. So whether you’re a fan of the Avengers or the Dark Knight, there’s a superhero beer out there to quench your super-sized thirst.

Buzz Man and Propeller-Head by Unsung Brewing Co.

unsung brewing company
Unsung Brewing Company/Instagram Unsung Brewing Company/Instagram

Unsung is an Orange County, California brewery that has baked its love for superheroes right into its identity. All of its beers feature “backstories,” and these the branding elements evoke the Golden Age of comics while also honoring real-life heroes through philanthropic efforts. With beer names like Buzz Man and Propeller-Head, you know they are true fans. Unsung’s founder, Mike Crea, is a self-professed Spider-man guy, in case you were wondering.

Recommended Videos

Pow! Triple IPA by Highland Brewing Company

Pow Triple IPA Highland Brewing Company
Highland Brewing Company/Facebook Highland Brewing Company/Facebook

Pow! from Highland in Asheville, North Carolina, is a rollicking adventure for hop lovers. Coming in at a huge 10.5 percent ABV and 90 international bitterness units (IBU), this hulking Triple IPA has a sweet, sticky bite that is accompanied by a dry, floral sidekick. The label art is all about the sound effect bubble with a retro-inspired Benday dot feel.

Brooklyn Defender IPA by The Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Defender IPA Brooklyn Brewery
The Brooklyn Brewery/Facebook The Brooklyn Brewery/Facebook

The official beer of New York Comic Con, Defender is “heroically hopped” and features the combined superpowers of Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade, and Centennial hops. The domino-masked vigilante on the label is reminiscent of the classic crime-fighter, The Spirit.

Intergalactic Warrior IPA by Toppling Goliath

Intergalactic Warrior IPA Toppling Goliath
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you max out a beer on Galactic and Warrior hops, calling it Intergalactic Warrior makes perfect sense. However, creating your own G-Force style character for the label art is taking it to the next level. Nice work, Toppling Goliath (you can find this brewery in Iowa).

Supa Hero IPA by Clown Shoes

Supa Hero IPA Clown Shoes
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Massachusetts-based Clown Shoes is the home of irreverently illustrated beer labels that often feature luchadores, unicorn-dragon hybrids, and, of course, superheroes. While the retired Supa Hero IPA is hard to come by, there are several other Clown Shoes beers for comics, sci-fi, and fantasy fans to try, including Galactica, Space Cake, and Aurora Orangealis.

Feature image courtesy of The Brooklyn Brewery/Facebook.

Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…
Topics
The smoothest bourbons for fans new to the whiskey style
Let's take a deep dive into "smooth" bourbons
Buffalo Trace

In some whiskey circles, the word “smooth” is considered to be a bad term to describe bourbon. That’s because it’s thought to be a little too vague and doesn’t really describe the spirit at all. Obviously, its simplicity doesn’t do the whiskey style justice.

But if you ask me, there’s no better, simpler way to describe America’s “native spirit” if you’re a beginner. There are a variety of reasons why bourbon is referred to as “smooth,” and I’m not here to shame drinkers if they want to use the phrase. Especially novice drinkers who are just learning the terminology. That said, if you’re new to whiskey, there are countless smooth, gateway bourbons perfectly crafted to get you started on your corn-based journey.

Read more
These new Maker’s Mark city bottles are worth a layover
Maker's Mark's new limited-edition bottles celebrate eleven cities around the world — but they're sold only in airports.
Alcohol, Beverage, Liquor

Pretty much everyone can spot a Maker's Mark bottle across the bar. The squat shape, the red wax bleeding down the neck — you don't need to read the label.

That's why it's actually worth checking out their Artist Series, where the City Edition puts artist Alexandra Pacula's work on eleven bottles for a slew of cities: New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, and Melbourne. Seem cool? There's a catch — it's airports only.

Read more
Nikka brings back a beloved 10-year single malt for the first time in a decade
Miyagikyo Single Malt 10 Years Old is the first age-statement release from the distillery since Japanese whisky's aged-stock crunch hit in 2015.
Whisky, bottle, label

Nikka Whisky is one of the most exciting names in Japanese whisky, so when they make a big announcement, it's almost always worth taking an interest. That's especially the case with the release of Miyagikyo Single Malt 10 Years Old, the flagship expression from its Miyagikyo Distillery — the fruit-forward, mountain-set second distillery Nikka built near Sendai, Japan, in 1969.

This release is the first age-statement Miyagikyo since 2015, and it follows the 2022 return of Yoichi Single Malt 10 Years Old, its coastal sibling. Bottled at 45% ABV, the 700ml release has a $174.99 price tag, so it's not exactly an impulse purchase — and with just 1,572 bottles available nationwide, tracking down a pour may be tough in the first place.

Read more