Tag Archives: Brooklyn Brewery

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Brooklyn Defender 2015 Launch Party

Like the Silver Surfer heralding the approach of Galactus, the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party heralds the return of New York Comic Con to New York City. Arriving a month before New York Comic Con, the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party is a celebration at Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. For the past four years, NYCC and Brooklyn Brewery have teamed up to create the Brooklyn Defender, a limited edition beer whose recipe changes every year. They also enlist a comic book artist to create logo for the beer. In 2013, it was Tony Millionaire. In 2014, it was Cliff Chiang. In 2015, it was Amy Reeder. And this year, it’s Khary Randolph. Khary did an absolutely awesome job on this design, evoking the Super Powers action figure card backs of the 1980s.

nycc-beer-defender 2015

I’ve gone to the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party every year, and the only bad one was the first one, when a Batman had too much to drink and puked near me and my friends. Bat-splatter is gross! But the past years there have been awesome, and I expect this year to be too. Attendees get a pint glass with the Brooklyn Defender logo, and everyone gets a chance to win NYCC tickets in a raffle. Plus, free cake from Rock Candy Cakes!

A change to this year’s event is that the event listing says that every attendee will get a ticket for one free beer. In the three previous years, it was free beer all night. It would be disappointing if they are going to restrict the free drink to only one. I’m hoping that’s a typo. Don’t be cheapskates, Brooklyn Brewery! The Brooklyn Defender wants you to provide free beer to the people!

If you’d like to attend the party, it’s 100% FREE to sign up. You just have to RSVP, which I recommend doing quickly, as an event that has free beer, free swag and a chance to win NYCC passes tends to sell out quickly. RSVP here: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/Events/Brooklyn-Defender/Defender-Launch-Party/

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Brooklyn Defender Launch Party!

Photos by Graig Kreindler. Written by David Henehan.

Last night, New York Comic Con had their Brooklyn Defender Launch Party at Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. For the past three years, Brooklyn Brewery has produced a limited edition beer in honor of New York Comic Con, the Brooklyn Defender.

Brooklyn Defender beers

The recipe of the beer changes each year. Every year so far it’s been a different variation on an IPA, but Brooklyn Brewery founder and brewmaster Garrett Oliver said during his speech last night that it’s not guaranteed to always be an IPA.

Brooklyn Defender Garrett Oliver

Besides the recipe changing every year, so does the design of the Brook Defender’s superhero persona the artist who designs it. The first Brooklyn Defender was designed by Tony Millionaire. Last year’s was designed by current Wonder Woman artist Cliff Chiang. This year’s Brooklyn Defender was designed by Rocketgirl’s Amy Reeder.

Brooklyn Defender party Amy Reeder

Amy Reeder was at the event last night. She gave out free copies of Rocket Girl #1 and signed them as well. Besides the comic, everyone in attendance received a Brooklyn Defender pint glass, sticker and t-shirt, all designed by Reeder. And the NYCC crew raffled off a bunch of NYCC passes.

Brooklyn Defender Amy Reeder cake

Oh, and did I mention that the event was totally free to get into and was open bar all night! That’s right, free Brooklyn Brewery beer all night, and not just the Defender. Anything on tap was yours for the asking, including the delicious and deadly Brooklyn Blast!

The one thing that did surprise me about last night’s event was the lack of cosplayers. There was one very awesome Rocketeer, and that was it. I was shocked.

brooklyn defender rocketeer

If you missed out on Brookyn Defender Launch Party in the past three years, make sure you attend next year! Last night was a lot of fun, especially considering that no one dressed as Batman puked on anyone (It’s happened there before…)