Written By Breweries In PA Contributor Shane Fisher  (@Sfish521 & @GoofyFootedBrewingCO). See all of Shane’s work here.

ABV: 5.5%
Flavor profile: Citrus, tropical fruit, and balanced
Paired with: Hot Honey Wings

Beer and wings are a classic no-brainer when it comes to watching football on Sunday.  There’s nothing like washing down some spicy wings with a refreshing beer; surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Traditionally, many of us pick a domestic American Adjunct Lager to wash wings down, but I suggest Unity IPA to pair with my Hot Honey Wings.  I chose this beer because at 5.5%, this beer is well balanced with just enough bitterness to complement the wings, and is one that can be enjoyed from 1pm, through the 4:00 games and the 8:00 matchup, should you moderate with a bit of water and take the time to eat some delicious wings and other Sunday classics.

Check out our series of beer and food pairings for inspiration for this week’s matchups!

For the wings:

• 4lbs chicken wings
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (add more if desired)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp thyme
• 3 tbl olive oil
• 1 tbl soy sauce
• 1 tbl red wine vinegar

For the sauce:

• 1 cup honey
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup Crystal Hot Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all the dried herbs and spices in a bowl.  Apply the rub to the chicken wings, place the wings into a ziploc bag then pour over olive oil, soy sauce and red wine vinegar.  Seal the bag and massage the wings inside the bag to spread out the marinade.  Marinate the chicken wings for 30 minutes, preferably overnight for optimal results.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, meanwhile laying the wings out on a baking sheet and allowing to rest until the oven comes up to temperature.  Be sure to remove any meat from its marinade 30 minutes prior to cooking for optimal browning results.

Bake the wings for 30 minutes at 425 degrees.  While baking, melt the butter in a medium saucepan.  Once the butter is melted, whisk in the honey, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce to combine.  After this baking cycle, remove the wings from the oven and flip them.  Place the wings back in the oven and bake them for 10 minutes.  Again, remove the wings from the oven, toss them in a bowl along with the honey hot sauce and return them to the baking sheet and bake them for an additional 5-7 minutes until the sugars caramelize on the wings and they are nicely glazed. Alternately, if you prefer a wet sauce wing, after the 30 minute baking cycle, flip the wings and bake them for an additional 15 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.  Toss the wings in a bowl with the sauce and serve immediately alongside your Unity IPA by Love City Brewing.

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