Pikeland Pils - Sly Fox Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Dr.Jay for bringing up.Good small head on lighter yellow. A nice bitterness and drinkability at 44 IBU. Clean and fresh and refreshing. Unfiltered gives it a cloudiness and a tad complexity to the aroma more than the flavour.Carbonation about right.

Serving type: can

12-24-2006 23:33:39 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a light pale yellow with a huge fizzy white head. I had to actually wait to pour the rest in the glass. Cans give awesome head retention I must say. The head had a nice slow fade and left behind lots of lace. This color was very very bright and had lots of sediment in the bottom. Smell was very light and crisp. Smelled very lively. Nice light lemon and grass flavors, with a hint of yeast and grain. The taste was just great, smooth, big carbonation made it very refreshing. Very very hoppy for a pilsner with a nice pine resin flavor and hints of grapefruit, and pineapple and lemon. Big dry finish that was nice and bitter. This was awesome and really awoke a rekindling of the pilsner. I normally find them a bit bland, but this has renewed my intrest and I look forward to trying some again in the warmer months to come.

Serving type: can

04-04-2008 11:31:07 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Kevin for sending me this one as an extra in a recent trade.

A: The pour is a nice golden color with a fluffy white head.

S: The nose is intensely fruity and citrusy (quite surprisingly). Lots of bright lemon notes along with the more traditional earthy hop notes. Biscuity malts and are present as well.

T: A bit of lemon on the palate as well, but much more in terms of earthy and slightly grassy hops. A solid malt and grain background.

M: The body is light to medium with a lively carbonation.

D: Seems like this one has been getting some hate lately, but I really quite enjoyed it. A nice flavorful and easy to drink pils.

Serving type: can

08-22-2010 02:17:25 | More by womencantsail

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A beer I had a few times when I used to haunt the Phoenixville location a few years back,this poured into a pilsner a clear dull lighter yellow with a big blooming white head head leaving rings of lace behind as it settled slowly.Nice hop presence in the nose fresh cut grass and some herbal notes along with some fresh baked bread and mineral.Somewhat dry on the palate quite crisp and bready with a noticable spicey herbal hop finish really gives this beer a smack.A pretty sharp pilsner beer here with a real hop profile,very solid.


And LETS GO REDWINGS!

Serving type: can

05-16-2007 01:17:10 | More by oberon

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sly Fox Pikeland Pils

"North German Style Pilsner, light in body and refreshingly dry on the palate, this multiple award-winning Pilsner is the ideal beer for any season or occasion. Brewed in classic fashion with German Pils malt and German and Czech hops. OG 11.7 Plato, 44 IBUs, 4.9% abv. "

I'm putting this into a Samuel Adams glass, because I can't find any real German pilsner glasses in my collection. Plenty of pints and strangely shaped Belgians, but none of those, alas and alack.

Cloudy, and pale dirty yellow appearance, nice white head, lace-leaving, starts big and drifts down.

Aroma: noble hops and yeast predominant. Light, airy, floral, perfumey. And a little off...

Taste: Crisp hop bite up front, grabs the palate, and wakes the sleeping senses. Malt is almost thick in this. Unfiltered. Judging by appearance, and now taste, yeah, there's plenty of yeast flavor in this. But, though I normally like yeast in my beer, this one feels like it shouldn't belong. I want to use the word dirty again. And I almost never want that. Too murky to be a classic German pils, if that's really what it wants to be...but, wait, Al, aren't you the one who likes lagers better with yeast in them? Yeah, that is me, undeniably...

In this one, though, the yeast isn't integrated enough with the rest of the flavors and competes and drowns out what should be clean, crisp and refreshing. I drank it, and I didn't dislike it, but it just didn't work out.

Serving type: can

01-23-2011 06:54:00 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a good pale and pilsner malt scent along with a mild German hop aroma. It's light and refreshing, but a little sweeter than most. It's not as crisp as a traditional pils. The taste is decent as well. It's got a wonderful hop bitterness along with a solid malt bill. My problem is that it's too hoppy and malty. I like a lighter pils. The hops are a bit too aggressive, IMO. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low/medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good drinker, but it's just an above average pils; nothing special.

Serving type: can

02-28-2008 21:10:45 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this can.

The beer pours a clear, light yellow color with a white head. The aroma is very nice. I get some bready malt, along with some grassy hops. The flavor is pilsener malt, grassy hops and a medium amount of bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice German pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 23:15:27 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can at Idle Hands, New York, NY

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of bready malts in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of bready and grainy malts along with a slight amount of bitterness from the hops.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight amount of dryness in the finish.
O: The beer has some crisp refreshing properties and would be a good aperitif or accompaniment with food.

Serving type: can

10-30-2011 13:35:32 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to BrewerDan23 for this extra. Served in a pilsener glass. Best before December 19th, 2010.

A - Pours with a finger of soapy off-white foam that settles to a thin cap and leaves behind splotchy lacing. Body is a transparent pale straw with a plethora of bubbles racing upwards.

S - Leafy, herbal, noble hops, with a honeyed grain and light stone fruit backdrop.

T - Taste is a little less defined. Starts with lightly toasted grain and some honey sweetness, then finishes with slight lemon and moderate hop bitterness.

M - Moderate-to-high carbonation that zings the upper lip. This stuff makes you burp. Otherwise the body is a nice soft medium-light. Finishes somewhat dry.

D - It's a pretty average German pilsener, with some ups and downs. I'll probably forget all about tomorrow.

Serving type: can

09-21-2010 03:27:51 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.93/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Acquired via trade from lionking so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz can into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light yellow color, with a short white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light malts, lager yeast, grain and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is bready up front with strong lager yeast flavor. There are also flavors of grain and light malts that bring in a little bit of sweetness. There's a mild hops presence that comes in but there doesn't seem to be much balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, even taking into account that this is a rather basic and understated beer style, this beer just didn't do anything for me.

Serving type: can

05-31-2009 02:08:49 | More by TheManiacalOne

emerge077

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Can glugs into an 0,3L Zywiec flute glass. 2/8/11 printed on can.

Pale straw gold color, dense and fluffy cap of white foam that has a creamy texture to it's surface. Head remains for the first few sips, coating the sides with lacing. A few trails of languid bubbles rise up from the base of the glass.

Aroma is a little light, sweet but dry honeyed grains, wet hay, grassy noble hops. Clean and inoffensive.

Ample dry hop bitterness, floral and very grassy in the finish. Dry lingering grass notes really hang on, noticeable a minute or two after taking a sip. Some cracker and white bread in the middle balance things out. Moderate carbonation, low enough to suggest German/Euro style origins. Body is light and quenching, seems like a good warm weather session beer. Thanks Mike!

Serving type: can

03-10-2011 01:27:54 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Originally reviewed 08-17-06 - moved from Phoenixville to here, as the packaging is done at Royersford - on advise from jcwattsrugger:

Poured into a pilsener glass:

Poured straw yellow with fast carbonation that soon slowed. A fluffy white head that slowly descended was well-retained as a thin head. It left some lacing.

The smell was clean. A grass-like aroma was present.

The taste was grassy, but not overly so. Clean and crisp, the bitterness was well-balanced, for the style, by a sweetness.

Refreshing and light. Simple, but flavorful.

A solid, refreshing pilsener. Overall - what a good pilsener should be and a very good example of the style.

Serving type: can

01-30-2008 00:15:44 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a 12 oz can of Pikeland Pils served in a Troegenator seidel, because everything tastes better in a seidel.

A: The pils is a ale yellow color vigourous head that laces. Surprisingly, I also see a little pool of sediment in the glass, not something that I've seen in a pilsener.

S: The beer has a biscuity malt aroma with light hop notes.

T: The hops are crisp and earthy, finishing long. The malty biscuit taste is strong and at times overpowers the hops, but always recedes into the background.

M: The hops are clean, but not as crisp as they should be.

D: Very drinkable, even with the restrained hop character. Good for a lazy summer beach day.

Serving type: can

08-29-2006 18:20:59 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For starters, there are two Pikeland Pils's listed on BA, most reviews for this beer are under the Phoenixville Brewery listing, but on my can it says it was brewed and bottled in Royerford, PA.

This beer looks amazing, it has a white head that won't stop and reminds me of Duvel. Smells of sweet, light malts. The flavor is bland at first but then the hops kick in. Overall tastes of long-lasting grassy, earthy hops with added grapefruit and a bit of fruity malt. A little hoppier than the imports I've had, more like Prima Pils. Actually it's a lot like Prima Pils, but I think I like this better. My can was a touch over carbonated, but it was still very drinkable.

I've heard people recommend this to beer noobs, but I dont think I'd do the same. The flavor is really all in the bitterness, so if you're not into that, tough.

Serving type: can

12-01-2006 21:26:42 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clearly labeled on the can that this was produced and canned at the Royersford locale so here it goes after stopping in at Mad Mex looking for some Sly Fox draft products I saw the beer list that said Sly Fox cans "New" and I was like I take one of each for eight bucks...ouch!!! I wanted to taste the can product before diving into a case so here it goes...appears a crystal clear pale golden hue forms a rocky large white head leaves magnificant fine even layers of lacing done my pint glass. Aroma is full of noble Saaz galore...very hoppy aromatic herbally goodness with biscuit mineral malt character very nice mix of tones coming to my senses. Taste is slightly grassy with a mix of citrus peels in there as well mineral water with all of the herbal hops and light toasted malts bring a biscuit crisp mild sweetness but overall this canned product finishes nice and dry. Mouthfeel is light bodied by no means though is this one thin or watery crisp carbonation capable of tickling the back of the throat but not overly bitey very smooth on the palate. Drinkability...what can be said some one has brewed an incredibly tasty and drinkable pils and offered in cans thank the beer gods for those guys out in the philly suburbs. Oh yeah and if your interested and I went along and picked up a case for 25 bucks great investment you'll love the packaging little mini cases each with 12 cans...cute.

Serving type: can

07-24-2006 19:58:47 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear gold with a thicker creme head. Nose is clean and extremely mild. A barely noticed sweetness to it. Flavor is smooth and clean. Nice sweet overtone and an earthy back tone. Doesn't really bring much complexity, but it's smooth and east drinking. Good for a hot day or a starter.

Serving type: can

09-03-2008 03:00:35 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Moderate near-white head that leaves some good ring lace. Straw color and crystal clear.

Raw unmalted grain aroma initially. A touch of metal to the nose. Mild hop.

Less grainy than the smell would indicate. Good peppery hop presence in the swallow and the aftertaste. Creamy finish. A little on the thin side even for a pilsner. Very high carbonation.

A good entry to the pilsner category. It doesn't have the softness that I associate with this style. The hop bitterness, in particular, is more harsh than one would expect.

Serving type: can

09-11-2011 20:39:40 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to jwc215 for this one.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden pale yellow color, nice carbonation, huge two-finger foamy white head, lots of nice sticky lacing follows. The nose is a good blend/balance of malts/hops, some spicyness, with a touch of caramel. The taste is malty/hoppy, slight bitterness/dry, with some spice and caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, a tasty brew.

Serving type: can

05-01-2008 02:13:11 | More by Wasatch

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can obtained via trade with Jetsbeer. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1 3/4" eggshell head over the slightly cloudy light golden (yellow?) brew. Head froths down at a reasonable rate, with ample delicate lacing. Aroma is sweet pale, maybe a bit chalky, with a bit of a hops tinge. Flavor is also sweet to start, but mostly defined by an amorphous bitterness that fills the mouth, and closes chalky. Mouthfeel doesn't do much for me, but there's not much debate that if you like it, you could keep on drinking it. Still a better can option than swill, easily.

Serving type: can

11-05-2006 23:19:11 | More by ppoitras

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to DrJay for hooking me up with this via BC2!

Pours a clear yellow/gold, thin white head forms, some nice lacing, decent retention, keeps a nice layer. Smell is sweet, caramel, citrus and floral hops, very fragrant, bit of vanilla, I like. Taste is sweet, some malts, honey, citrus, bit of floral, but very watery, iron and light bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is thin and light bodied, low carbonation. Refreshing but a bit thin. Thanks Jay!

Serving type: can

05-15-2007 02:12:19 | More by Viggo

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A crystal maize pour yields a thin, frumpy dirty white head that was short in retention but left large stratified layers for a lacing. Visible carbonation was light, of spacious nature composed of micro-bubbles rising at a moderate pace.

S: The nose was light, with a blend of lemon peels and semi-dry oranges. The grains were there to be appreciated, some cereal grains and soft wheat are a nice touch with underlying notes of lemony zest appearing on the close.

T: Dry grains, hints of dry wheat with a dry lemony zest zing for a hopping. Clean and very smooth in flavor, aptly suited per style the hopping gets surprising amped up a bit on the finish with a good display of some spicy Czech hops and some bitter lemon peels and oranges.

T: The flavor started out only slightly better then average, but I quickly started to warm up to this and appreciate the cleanly brewed nature that this had to offer. Very well balanced and highlights the fine brewing craftmenship that went into this beer.

M: One of my major complaints is the lazy mouthful due to the lack of crispness and carbonation. Not particularly sharp in delivery but rather lazy with an undervalued effervesce.
A decent dry pilsner grain malting and spicy hop fade comes to the rescue on the swallow.

D: Here is where I think this shines the most. Very clean, dry with the grains being the highlight of the drink with just enough hop indication to be appreciable to those who like an added punch to their pils (maybe not so much as victorys prima) but still a nice compliment. Exceptionally smooth going down, and down and down. Keg worthy.

Serving type: can

08-27-2010 00:15:18 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a light straw hue with a finger and a half pillowy white head. There was good lacing and retention.

The smell featured nice spicy hop and pale malt aromas. Authentic Saaz hop aroma.

The taste featured an authentic German character as well. Excellent light grain bill and a medium strength spicy hop. Classic aftertaste.

The mouthfeel was average, and slightly creamy.

Overall a nice quaffable pils. Authentic to the style.

Serving type: can

10-04-2006 01:42:04 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured with a huge, fluffy, off-white head that threatened to spill over the sides of the glass before settlling back down. The color was a slightly cloudy lemon-yellow and the nose was absolutely fragrant with Saaz hops. The mouthfeel was medium with a pleasant bitterness on the palate. On the finish, I noticed a brief malt sweetness, followed closely by the return of the same bitterness noted before. It was the hops that really lingered. The relatively low ABV makes it a highly drinkable beer, especially as an alternative to hefeweizens on a hot day.

Serving type: can

08-19-2006 18:59:25 | More by woodychandler

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Pony Bar. The beer appears clear and pale golden with a thin white collar. The aroma brings floral hops and grain. The taste follows suit. Nicely balanced with a lovely hop finish. I may need to get another round of this. I love a good pilsner.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 03:21:29 | More by Huhzubendah

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A. Pale murky yellow with a massive foamy head. So massive and foamy, makes me think its infected. I still wanted to try it though..
At least it had a fine lacing show describes every sip/gulp in great detail.

S. Noble hops, bready malts. Some off notes.

T. An apple cider like sweetness from the yeast strain (german) and tempered with some bitter hop resins. The sweetness and the bitterness combine and reminds me kind of like fresh grapefruit. A good pils here!

M. A bit slick and oily. No doubt due to a large amount of hops.

D. A very drinkable Pils, one of my favorites from the style. Glad to try some Sly Fox. Wish I didnt have to pour so much down the drain when it foamed out..

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2008 22:46:00 | More by Stinkypuss