2012 Christmas Ale - Sly Fox Brewing Company

Number3red

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%

12-16-2012 18:48:27 | More by Number3red

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

05-15-2013 18:37:59 | More by twenty5

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

05-11-2013 15:18:43 | More by mikeburd1128

pearljam118

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%

05-04-2013 17:09:50 | More by pearljam118

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - pours a crystal clear deep ruby red. The beer is practically christmas red. Two fingers worth of tightly packed off-white foam quickly dissolve. A touch of lacing left on the glass.

S - the nose is especially festive. The spices do dominate mostly cinnamon and clove. Toasty and bready malt character add a cake like element.

T - bready, toasty and caramel malts up front. Dusty cinnamon and spicy clove enter mid palate and only intensify as it warms on the tongue. Finish is quick dry and spicy.

M - medium bodied with a fairly smooth texture. High, bubbly carbonation.

O - a nice christmas ale. On the easy drinking side with plenty of spice character. Good stuff.

Serving type: can

02-21-2013 03:19:12 | More by Teleweizen2

atr2605

New York

3.41/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A-pours a caramel amber color with an off white head with decent retention
S-cinnamon, clove, ginger, brown sugar. basically smells like a big gingerbread cookie
T-The medley of spices continue in the taste followed with some suppressed sweetness, finishing with hop bitterness and lingering spices
M-medium bodied
O-definitely a spice driven winter warmer, and I think a good one if you dig that in the style. Not overly unique but a pleasant beer to enjoy on a wintery day.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:55:05 | More by atr2605

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -38.5%

02-10-2013 23:04:02 | More by IPAchris

MonicaC

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%

02-10-2013 05:21:16 | More by MonicaC

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

02-05-2013 20:51:51 | More by bacher468

tfkirk1

4/5  rDev +9.3%

02-03-2013 20:54:50 | More by tfkirk1

mess41

4/5  rDev +9.3%

01-31-2013 21:57:02 | More by mess41

TheNakedStiletto

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

01-31-2013 15:32:17 | More by TheNakedStiletto

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%

01-24-2013 14:35:32 | More by xnicknj

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Winter warmers are not usually my favorite beer. This is my first one for this winter season and I have no plans on trying another. That being said this is a pretty decent beer. I would say the only problem is that the flavor profile is so thick it's almost too chewy and there are too many spices in the mix. Nose is really nice, but overall, a bit too heavy. Could be thinned out.

Serving type: can

01-23-2013 20:46:36 | More by RblWthACoz

barneysdad

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -18%

01-19-2013 19:38:05 | More by barneysdad

dgherm

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%

01-18-2013 03:28:20 | More by dgherm

Chugs13

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

01-16-2013 22:23:25 | More by Chugs13

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a caramel color with a 1 inch head. Smell is full of spices, mainly cinnamon. Taste is also a lot of spice, some malt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Good job of capturing holiday flavors. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

Serving type: can

01-12-2013 22:38:58 | More by tone77

brwnchrstpher

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

01-10-2013 03:24:01 | More by brwnchrstpher

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a sam adams glass, color is amber, with very nice clarity and transparency; head is light tan/off white, presenting 1/2" thick then dissipating to a ring, but some nice lacing.

Smell is subdued at first, mild cinnamon, clove and other spices; some lighter toast and caramel malts.

Taste is a crisp and not cloying winter warmer mixture, not heavy on the malt sweetness which helps accentuate the spices, most cinnamon, solid ginger with lighter clove and allspice; flavors mix well and hint at the flavor of ginger snap.

Mouthfeel is very crisp, a little sharp with spices on the tongue but not overly sweet - a good balance for a winter warmer.

Overall, a very solid winter warmer, I like this take with less emphasis on the strength and more focus on light malt flavors to backup a heavy spice profile.

Serving type: can

01-06-2013 23:29:20 | More by mvanaskie13

Mcooly

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

12-31-2012 04:23:10 | More by Mcooly

Gehrig13

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%

12-30-2012 22:31:26 | More by Gehrig13

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -18%

12-30-2012 04:18:51 | More by grannaniwa

Chas58

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a growler filled at Joe Canal's Iselin into my Firestone Walker Nonic Pint Glass

Appearance - pours a coppery orange with a moderately active head that dissipates slowly and leaves a beautiful lacing on the edge of the glass, and some moderate head throughout. 

Smell - the initial aroma screams cinammon, but is quickly backed up by other "wintery" spices, including a hint of clove and nutmeg. The aroma is very rich and mixed with a maltiness that makes it very appealing. The balance makes this very inviting.

Taste - a very pleasant treat awaits. This has a very spiced taste, with all of the tastes described in the smell, but without the aftertaste that tends to make winter ales, beers that you can not drink more than one. The maltiness of this ale helps to provide a nice balance for the spices and allows a very spiced ale to not be over powering.

Mouthfeel  - a moderate level of carbonation with a tight carbonation and a nice maltiness and spiciness. There is a moderate film left on the palette of clove, but for the most part it is not an overwhelming or problematic residue

Overall  -  This is a very enjoyable winter ale, balanced, thick and spicy. The spiciness does not kill the enjoyment and the low ABV and matiness allow for several glasses before the spiciness wears you out. Well done Sly Fox.

Serving type: growler

12-30-2012 00:48:52 | More by Chas58

HamGlade10

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%

12-27-2012 23:16:35 | More by HamGlade10