Brown-Steelers Game Brings Opportunity to Sample Craft Brews

By Jim Cyphert, Mahoning Valley Flight Crew

The Mahoning Valley Flight Crew gathered Sunday at Jason Jugenheimer’s home in Canfield for our annual Browns-Steelers Wing Party. We all love football, but this annual affair is basically another excuse for the Flight Crew to sample fine craft beer.

We don’t all agree on which team we want to win the game, but we all root for quality craft beer, and tasty wings, too.

From sweet to spicy, each Flight Crew member made a homemade wing sauce to put on Jason’s freshly fried wings. David Anderson, Joe Sanfilippo, Dave Shively, Jason and I each also brought a craft beer to wash down the wings. Roger Gillespie was sunning himself in Florida.

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Sunday’s starting lineup:

Dave Shively: Alaskan Brewing Kicker (45 IBU, 4.5% ABV) Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe hops give this anytime brew a burst of bright citrus flavor.

Jason Jugenheimer: DuClaw 865cc Coffee Stout (45 IBU, 6.9% ABV) This medium-bodied stout with intense coffee flavor is brewed with Baltimore’s Café Racer XXX 865cc coffee.

Jim Cyphert: Rhinegeist Dad (45 IBU, 6% ABV) This hoppy red ale balances crisp hops with juicy malts, with notes of citrus and cherry Lifesaver.

David Anderson: New Belgian Accumulation (55 IBU, 6.2% ABV) Mosaic and Amarillo hops bring soft fruit and citrus flavors followed by a layer of bitterness.

Joe Sanfilippo: Uinta Hop Nosh Tangerine IPA (82 IBU, 7.3% ABV) This alternate version of Uinta’s flagship beer offers tropical hops and tangerine zest paired with a hoppy finish.

Only half of the Flight Crew members were happy with the outcome of the game. But every one of us was pleased with our selection of craft beers.

Notes: 1) The Browns were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yesterday.

2) Check out the Nov. 30 edition of for The Vindicator for the Flight Crew’s review of winter seasonals at R.L. Lipton Distributing. FYI, a wall of craft beer is involved.