Sly Fox Christmas Ale

Brewed by Sly Fox Brewhouse
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Royersford and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA

Awesome seasonal ale, lots of different spices in the aroma, hints of nutmeg, amber in color, nice lacy head, don’t under-estimate this beer, very excellent Christmas seasonal

Sampled from a 750ml brown bottle this beer poured a slightly hazy ruby-caramel color with a huge tan head that lingered. The aroma was a lovely and richly complex mix of strong sweet and nutty malts, caramel, ripened fruit, ginger and spices. The flavor was a nicely complex mis of nutty malts, caramel, brown sugar, cocoa, ginger and allspice. Drier than I had been led to believe. The ginger, fruit and cocoa continue long on the finish. A remarkable beer, and one I will be looking forward to again next year.

"Pour a dark amber color, with a nice foamy head. Aroma was just like christmas, nutmeg and cinnamon. Flavor was good slight hoppyness with spices. Good beer."

Looks like I’m the 1st to rate the 2005 version. Had a growler from the 6-Pack Store in Phila. It was better than expected. Nice balance of clove, ginger, cinammon, etc. - and not too sweet. I’d like to try it again before the season is over. Recommended.

2006 vintage. Courtesy of foureyedgeek. Has a rich, warming Christmas cookie aroma, with notes of nutmeg and cinammon, ginger and allspice. Tart acidity with plum and raisin fruitiness. Rich and creamy with a touch of soy sauce. Nice aroma. Dark brown cloudy with tan lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation. Great taste, like a Christmas cookie with spicy notes of nutmeg and cinammon and allspice. Light bitterness at the end but mainly and sweet nutty with a bit of chalky dryness. Sweet after. Mild alcohol notes - a nice Xmas beer.

2005 courtesy of egajdzis. Bright ruddy-amber body with a silky beige head. Aroma of medium sweet, warm caramel, cherry, light toffee, and fruitcake plus a nice blend of subtle, well-melded spices including apparent cinnamon and ginger. Flavorful, pleasant, and not too sweet, actually finishing semi-dry. A very good Christmas beer and a nice surprise. In my book, this eclipses most holiday beers that come to mind.

Sly Fox has brewed an excellent Christmas beer. Everything you expect, dark bronze, color, long lasting head, strong aroma, complex spice taste. Easy draft to pour with a perfect head everytime, and a hearty beer to drink as a winter session beer. There will be a cask version of this beer at the next Friday the Firkenteenth (12.13.02) at the Grey Lodge Pub in Northeast Philadelphia.

Notes from Christmas 2003. Pours coppery, with aroma of malt, caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon. Tastes spicy, slightly caramelly and nutty, with a sweet, spicy finish. A well made holiday offering.