Staff photo / Allie Vugrincic Youngstown Rotarian and Director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County Aimee Fifarek, of Canfield, pours a sample beer for Youngstown-based Noble Creature Cask House on Saturday afternoon during the Rotary Club of Youngstown’s fifth Groundhog Beerfest at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — You never knew who you might find pouring a beer at Rotary Club of Youngstown’s Groundhog Beerfest Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Pouring samples of Youngstown-based Noble Creature Cask House’s “Fickle Mistress” and “Basement Drafts” was Aimee Fifarek, who in addition to being a Youngstown Rotarian, is the director of the Public Library of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

“We have a great crowd,” Fifarek said. “We’re so lucky that we have a great crop of local breweries we can showcase.”

At Penguin City Brewing Company’s table, it was a Boardman Rotarian, Howard Mettee, who was dishing out drinks.

Behind Warren-based Modern Methods Brewing Company’s table was its owner, Adam Keck — along with Nick Greco with Garrett’s Mill & Brewing Company, who was pouring Modern Methods samples all the same, and Ryan Adams from Noble Creature.

“It’s nice to see friends that we don’t always get to hang out with,” Keck said. It was also nice to help the Youngstown Rotary with its main fundraiser, he added.

“It would be great to write a $10,000 check to the Youngstown Rotary — we can’t do that, but we can help in our own way,” Keck said.

Adams, of Berlin Center, said that for the breweries, Groundhog Beerfest was an opportunity to get their names out there, and more importantly, be a part of the community. He noted that Noble Creature’s owners live on the North Side of Youngstown, not far from Stambaugh.

“It’s just part of our heart,” Adams said of the North Side.

In its fifth year, Groundhog Beerfest was just as popular as ever. A throng of people gathered to taste beers from about two dozen breweries, mostly from the Mahoning Valley or Northeast Ohio.

Sharon Stringer of Youngstown attended the event for the first time Saturday afternoon. As a new member of Rotary, she wanted to come and be supportive, she said. While she hadn’t had too many samples yet — it was still early, after all — she said she had enjoyed a nice Irish Ale.

Mary Swartz of Canfield was enjoying the beer, too, but she was also excited about the event’s namesake — the groundhog. Having just been in Punxsutawney for the big holiday Thursday, Swartz came wearing her groundhog hat and t-shirt to keep the celebration going.

Youngstown Rotarian and co-chair of the event, Kevin Chiu, said the idea for Groundhog Beerfest started several years ago with a young Rotarian who had just been to another beerfest.

Around the same time, the brewery scene in the region was blowing up, said event co-chair Samantha Turner, a Youngstown councilwoman.

“It kind of just started coming together,” Turner said.

In its first four years, Groundhog Beerfest raised a combined $80,000, all of which went back to the community through the Rotary’s charitable work, Chiu said. Saturday’s event was expected to garner at least another $20,000, putting the total amount raised over $100,000.

The event had two sessions, from noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., and attendees got drink tickets with 25 slots to sample beers. Those at the event also could cast a vote for “people’s choice” best brewery, Truner said — inspiring some friendly competition between participating breweries.

Breweries included Youngstown’s Noble Creatures, Penguin City and DOPE Ciderhouse and Winery; Austintown’s Biker Brewhouse; Columbiana’s Birdfish and Sundog Cellars; Woodland Cellars of Hubbard; Modern Methods of Warren; Aeonian Brewing of Alliance and Numbers Brewing of Lisbon.

Also at the event were Garrett’s Mill & Brewing from Garrettsville; Masthead from Cleveland; R Shea Brewing, Missing Falls Brewery and Akronym Brewing from Akron; Erie Brewing from Erie, Pa.; Unplugged Brewing from Elyria; Troegs Brewing from Hershey, Pa.; OuterBelt, North High, and Heart State from Columbus; Liquid Intrusion from Maryland, and a few others.

Food was also available at the event, including sweet treats and pretzel necklaces from One Hot Cookie, caramel corn from Karma Korn Poppery and candy from Buckeyes and More.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com