By Jim Cyphert, Mahoning Valley Flight Crew

One of the Mahoning Valley Flight Crew’s close friends reached out recently with something for us to try.

R.L. Lipton Distributing Vice President and General Manager Ed Carissimi wanted the Flight Crew to taste some of the offerings from Voodoo Brewing Co. As Flight Crew members can attest, there’s something magical about this brewery’s beers.

http://www.vindy.com/users/photos/2017/apr/13/108940/

Voodoo Brewing opened its doors in Meadville, Pa. in 2005. Since then, Voodoo has opened a production brewery in Meadville, as well as satellite locations in Erie and Homestead. Thanks to R.L. Lipton, Voodoo beers are available throughout the Mahoning Valley.

The Flight Crew recently sampled five Voodoo beers available in the Youngstown vicinity. Here’s what we had to say:

David Anderson

Voodoo – Wynona’s Big Brown Ale (ABV 7.3%)

“As the resident Primus fan of the Mahoning Valley Flight Crew, I jumped at the chance to review this beer that takes its name from the Primus song from 1995. This beer would make Les Claypool and friends proud. It’s a fun beer that’s brewed with Warrior hops “to enhance the aroma of Wynona for your enjoyment.” This beer also paired well with the song that we, of course, had to listen to as we were sampling. Flight Crew members all like a good brown ale. Hopefully, Voodoo Brewery has inspired the others in the group, and people all over, to pick one up and enjoy it while listening to Primus!”

Roger Gillespie

Voodoo Love Child (ABV 9.3%)

“Voodoo Love Child is a Belgian-style tripel ale aged on passion fruit, Michigan sour cherries, and Oregon raspberries. Talk about interstate commerce! While it’s similar to a Lambic, it still maintains the unique flavor you will find in any good Belgian ale. Give it a try!”

Joe Sanfilippo

Gran Met (ABV 9.5%)

“This Belgian-style beer has great flavor, but be careful as it has a bit of a kick checking in at 9.5% ABV. A cloudy, dark golden pour with an aroma of orange and grapefruit. Voodoo brews this one with its proprietary yeast from a small brewery in Belgium. And they use cane and beet sugar, along with German Pilsner Malt to create the unique flavor of this age-old style. While this one’s available year-round, it’s a perfect beer to enjoy while you’re sitting out on the deck!”

Dave Shively

Killapilz (ABV 7.5%)

“If Voodoo Brewing Co.’s Killapilz was psychoanalyzed, it just might be clinically diagnosed with a personality disorder. This beer combines the attributes of an IPA, with the profile of a pilsner. The beer is brewed in the Kellerbier-style tradition of German and Polish pilsners, meaning it’s unfiltered, with recipes dating back to the Middle Ages. It pours out yellowish orange in its presentation, giving it the appearance of a hazy pilsner. The split personality comes from the use of eight different varieties of European hops, which gives this beer the finish of a substantial IPA. The beer comes in at 7.5% ABV, with an IBU of 85, making it very drinkable.”

Jim Cyphert

Big Black Voodoo Daddy (ABV 12%)

“Yeah, I know, spring is in the air. I should be drinking wheat beers and IPAs and, gasp, a shandy or two, right? But, lately, I’ve been inspired to drink darker, robust beers. Voodoo’s Big Black Voodoo Daddy did not disappoint. Described by the brewery as “A big, viscous Russian Imperial stout…,” this robust brew has delicious notes of chocolate, vanilla, roasted coffee and dark fruits. A subtle bitterness is added through Chinook, Northern Brewer and Cascade hops. This one’s seasonal, so I don’t know how available it’s going to be heading into summer. But mark this one on our list as one to try if you love your stouts.”

The Mahoning Valley Flight Crew’s counsel? Go ahead and let Voodoo Brewing’s beers work their magic on you.