Sly Fox Fuggle IPA

Formerly brewed at Sly Fox Brewhouse
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Royersford and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA

Another fine IPA from Brian O’Reilly. Pours copper with subdued creamy head. Firm aroma of hops, citrus, pine, and slight fruit. Tastes complex, with hopcit, subdued fruit, and some piney essence at its culmination. I think this is the first of the varietal IPAs I’ve rated less than 4, but a 3.8 is damn good. I can’t wait to sample all 9 in the same night.

Two drafts at the Abbaye. Great deep copper-carmel colored brew, no head, and no lace (disappointing for an IPA). Lots of bitter hops, not much for aromatic or flavor (fuggle or boil); barbell maltiness to "balance" the hop. Not well blended, bitter finish, almost metallic.

Tap @ Sly Fox. Crystal clear copper/amber, mod large bubble carb. OK rather large bubble straw/beige head that fell quick. Aroma was weak (it was rather cold). Flavor was moderately sweet medium roasted malt well into the med bodied range. The hop burn and bitterness were definately there big time as expected in a good IPA but hop flavor and aroma were rather weak. Perhaps a fuggle characteristic. I tried warming up the glass with my hands as it got down toward empty but couldn’t get much more flavor out of it.

Great session IPA, copper in color, small off-white head, very little lacing around the glass, nose full of hops & spices, maybe a slight hint of nutmeg, very smooth & drinkable, medium in body, very dry & bitter, hoppy of course, lots of fruit undertones, hints of lemon, grapefruit & orange, slightly sweet & malty finish along with more notes of dryness & bitterness

Poured a copper color, with a thin off white head, that left little to no spots of lacing on the glass. Lightly spiced, soft floral, and citrus hop aroma. A sweetness was also detected in the aroma, however that aroma was weak. Taste was initially bitter grapefruit, and then sweet and citrusy oranges, lemongrass, and finishing sweet malt. Prickly (carbonated, bitter hops) mouthfeel.

On tap at The Sly Fox. Poured a medium to deep amber color with a smaller off white head. Citris aroma (light oranges and lemons). Stronger lemon tastes. Nice bitter, dry finish. Overall, a very good IPA.