Phoenix Pale Ale - Sly Fox Brewing Company

dashirey

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This has become my "on-hand" beer for the summer. I have taken it to the beach, phils game for tail-gating, or drink a couple in the evening. Thought I better review it before I drink all the ones I have.

A - Clear copper with some amber showing through too. Lots of lacing left behind from the 1+ finger of pillowy off-white head.

S - Floral hop and some sweetness at the very start then the smell seems to fade away to nearly nothing but a little metallic smell.

T - I am never dissappointed by this one. Overall mostly balanced a little leaning to the hops side. First hops, then the malt comes through a little, but ends on a nice bitter hop flavor. Don't get me wrong, by no means overpowering hops, but just right for the style.

M - Light-bodied. Carbonation makes it smooth and it ends clean.

D - This has become my goto beer. The low ABV but great taste keeps you coming back for more. You can swill a handful of these and enjoy an evening of whatever you want. If you have a chance to try go for it.

Serving type: can

06-19-2008 17:52:19 | More by dashirey

fropones

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a trade with woodychandler. Thanks!

A - Pours a nice pumpkin orange with a finger and a half of creme head.

S - Fruity, citrus hops, a bit floral

T - Nice bitterness, some citrus, but some is lost. Pears and green apples, a bit of caramel malt, as well.

M - Nice lively effervescence, good body

D - Drinks great, I wish I could get this around here.

Serving type: can

05-03-2010 03:38:52 | More by fropones

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper-orange in color with excellent clarity. Not much head after the pour, but a nice thin cap was left behind. Light citrus orange hop aroma along with a hint of biscuit. Carbonation slowly awakens and finishes with a buttery smoothness. Well balanced citrus hop and malty bread flavors that finish with a piney hop character and a bit of a pine aftertaste. Nice balance and easy to drink.

Serving type: can

09-17-2010 02:36:35 | More by IronLover

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

There is a slight haze, but the cask was not cellared properly! Deep amber in color with a bright white head that holds extremely well and leaves a very good lace. There's a nice, slightly citrusy, hoppy aroma that's subtly backed by a lightly sweet maltiness. The body is medium-light with a very soft, fine and bright carbonation. The mouthfeel is quite smooth. The flavor is very well balanced between the light crystal malt and a gentle hop flavor. It's solidly bitter but extremely well-balanced! A gentle hoppiness also follows into the finish. An excellent session beer even at 5.25%. Quite enjoyable! Well worth trying.

Serving type: cask

09-13-2002 20:33:30 | More by NeroFiddled

simmons

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Apperance- A deep copper bew, fairley clear lots of small bubbles rising. Has a very nice thick, foamy white head that lasts for a good bit

Aroma- Has some bitter hop aroma to it, not much dry hopping at all. Malts are present here nothing that sticks out

Taste- Has a great malt use, sticks out very well very pleasent. There is a nice bitter hop (with high aau's, phoenix would make sence) at first then you taste the maltiness with not much to any flavor hops or aroma.

Mouthfeel- Medium to low carbonation, not a heavy beer at all. The balance between hops and malt was done very well.

Overall- This is a very well done pale ale, very tasty. This beer has a great body to it, perfectly carbonated with a great head. I would use differant hops but then again I didnt brew this beer. Im looking foward to trying this on tap

Serving type: can

10-12-2006 15:29:30 | More by simmons

Imstillthegman

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This canned offering poured a slightly cloudy orange-amber color with a thin off-white head. Some light lacing was left behind. Looks great in a glass, but just as good in the can.

The aroma is citrus hops, bready malts, caramel, and florals.

Nice flavor...in or out of the can. Blending of the sweet, doughy caramel malts and the citrus and floral hops is well done. This beer proves that canned beer isn't bad beer.

Nice medium body with good carbonation. Long, semi-bitter aftertaste. I would absolutely pick this up when heading somewhere that bottles aren't allowed. Bring on more cans!

Serving type: can

03-12-2007 00:35:35 | More by Imstillthegman

LunaChick

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright shade of copper with a soft yellow head that holds up well and leave nice lacing. Aroma of hops comes thru nicely but not overpowering. Slight hints of malt, lemon rinds and maybe a little grapefruit peel. Flavor starts with a bright hop presence gives way to malt balance and ends slightly bitter. True to the style and very well done. Carbonation makes this clean in the mouth. Overall a very drinkable beer. Low abv makes it great for having more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2008 04:45:59 | More by LunaChick

dogfishandi

New York

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

poured into a pint glass out of a can. pours a reddish copper amber color, with the tinyest bit of sediment. nice fluffy slightly off white head. pretty good head retention with just a little bit of lace.

in the aroma you get some grassy citrus hop with some slight biscuity, slight caramel malts. kind of a subdued aroma.

very well balanced flavor. biscuity bready and caramel malts combines with grassy, citrus, and pine hops. a nice level of bitterness. finishs piney grassy bitter.

light to almost medium body. such a smooth and refreshing mouthfeel. crisp and clean.

superior drinkability, i could pound these all night long. definatly one of the better pale ales out there, i would highly recommend this for a session beer. i had a couple of these the other day while working on a friends car. but they can go well in pretty much any situation. so much better out of the glass than the can though. i will be visiting this one again for sure.

Serving type: can

04-17-2010 01:50:27 | More by dogfishandi

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear and caramel-tinged amber/orange hued, with a vibrant white sheet of froth above, slowly but surely dissapating into the thinnest of thin.

Aroma: nice and hoppy, apricot and pear, with plenty of orange and lemon zest, hints of spice, rather lively...

Taste: Neat hoppy tango on the tongue, fruity flavors continue, brief bitterness buzzes the palate...soft and sweet malt backbone, sturdy enough, but not assertive, lets the hops paly the predominant part.
Caramel hints ring in now and then from the malts, then green apple, sparkling crystal malts, some citrus...it's a nice American/English amalgam, really, and very drinkable, very tasty. Medium bodied, with a long, bitter, sweet, tasty finish.

Nice. I like it, my tongue likes it, and so does my belly.

Much thanks to Ed, the DarkOne, for bringing it over from Philly. My first SlyFox, at last!

Serving type: can

12-17-2006 11:00:52 | More by feloniousmonk

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a clear orange gold (with an amber sheen to it) with at least 2 fingers of foamy off-white head. A thin layer of creamy retention skims the surface, leaving behind some big, sturdy lacing behind. The aroma is a fresh, nose tickling bouquet of light floral hops, citrus notes, and a touch of underlying sweetness.

The taste is a moderate mix of tingling hop bitterness and a splash of citrus character that is balanced out with some sweet, and slightly bready, caramel malts. Finishes with a nice, crisp, bitter dryness. The mouthfeel is light bodied (but seems a bit fuller from the flavors) with a snappy carbonation and crisp feel.

A really solid APA that packs good flavor and even better drinkibility. Even with about 6 months on this, it still seemed incredibly fresh and tasty, probably a tribute to the canned packaging. Good stuff.

Serving type: can

09-03-2008 16:42:05 | More by Kegatron

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - A clear amber body...a nice white head...leaves nice lacing

S - Great balanced smell between the malts and hops

T - The malts are present in the foreground...but are overtaken by the hop bitterness at the end...which I like

M - Medium body...crisp and refreshing

D - This is a nice beer...yet again...from Sly Fox...had it during the winter but I'll be picking up a case of cans for the summer heat

Serving type: can

03-02-2009 19:41:53 | More by thain709

Gyle41386

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz can into a pint glass. Thanks, Kadonny!

Pours a reddish amber color. Relatively small head dissipates quickly. Some nice rings of lacing.

Nice citric bitterness in the nose. The PNW hops outweigh the backbone of British pale and crystal malts. Nice mix of styles.

Flavor follows the nose, although the malts provide more balance than the aroma would lead you to believe. Hops strike first. Really nice tropical fruit flavor. The initial sweetness gives way to a drying, bitter finish.

Fairly light body, appropriate carbonation. Very smooth feel. Crisp and clean. Pretty refreshing. Very easy drinker.

Serving type: can

05-13-2009 05:19:54 | More by Gyle41386

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. can into shaker pint glass on 8/23/08. Thanks to Deuane for sharing.

A - Clear amber/orange body with one-finger off white bubbly head and moderate amount of carbonation.

S - Grassy and citrus hops paired with a caramel malt sweetness and a mild sweet fruity character.

T - Bready malt and mild grassy hops with a splash of citrus create the base of this pale ale's flavor profile. Finishes with a well-balanced blend of sweet malts and mild hop bitterness.

M - Light to medium body with a mild syrupy texture that's just a tad watery. Minimal hop bitterness on the palate.

D - Solid pale ale from Sly Fox that's easy to drink and flavorful with a nicely balanced hop and malt profile. Very representative the style.

Serving type: can

08-24-2008 19:01:17 | More by ffejherb

asabreed

New York

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. can into a pint glass.

Appearance: Copper / amber hybrid with good carbonation and a creamy-looking off-white-copper-colored head, leaving sparse rings of foam.

Smell: A lot of good leafy and bitter citrus hops aromas that get stronger and more powerful as it warms.

Taste: Nice balance of the hoppiness, and there's a lot going on, with some quality malt and fruit esters, a bit of strawberry and apple. Finishes very dry and almost IPA-like in its bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and lighter-to-medium-bodied. Better than good.

Drinkability: All around sessionable and quality brew. I like the hoppiness of it, and it has more flavor than many domestics. I'll buy this again.

Serving type: can

09-06-2009 20:17:23 | More by asabreed

dgherm

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ran out to the local beverage store when I learned they got this in cans. Since I fairly new to BA I wanted see what a craft brew tasted like from a can. Unfortunately I can't compare it to tap version. Maybe later.
Anyway it poured a medium ruby red color with a big slightlly off-white chunky head. Left tons of lacing on the glass. It had an earthy dirty aroma. A fresh raw hop scent. The taste also had that earthiness to it. Doesn't have much of a hop kick to it. Finishes with some bitterness.The mouth feel had nice carbonation to it. Could easily have session with this beer.
The case of cans cost $24.19+tax. Curious if this is significantly cheaper than bottles. Also the can states that the ABV is 5.1%.

Serving type: can

03-05-2006 12:22:07 | More by dgherm

pwoods

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks NJpadreFan for this extra

12oz. can poured into a pint. No dating.

A: Big 2 finger white head that's exploding with carbonation. Decent retention, eventually laying down to a nice fluff. Pours a perfectly clear amber. Little to no lacing.

S: Citrus hop notes on top of a crisp lager style malt base.

T/M: Nice hop twang right as you sip, full of grassy and lemon-y hops. Slightly sweet malt background evens it out. Bitterness is controlled at the beginning but pulls through for a dry, lingering finish. Body is nice and light with higher carbonation.

D: Tasty and easy to drink. If this was available in my area, I could definitely see myself picking up a 12pack of these for poker night.

Serving type: can

11-14-2007 23:15:35 | More by pwoods

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was thrilled when I saw this can sitting in as an extra on my Growling at the Moon package this month. I have loved really anything I have received from Sly fox, so I figured their pale ale was going to be top notch so I could not wait. Threw this one in the fridge and got a chance to sit down and enjoy it for the first time last night. Took the twelve-ounce can right out of the fridge and poured it into a Prima Pils footed glass.

Appearance - This one poured a very bright and very crystal clear, deep reddish amber. A really nice shade of orange amber with an awesome amount of clarity to it. Really nice carbonation could be seen in the chains of bubbles rippling up toward the surface. A very nice two finger high head of off white colored lace then gathered at the top of this one and proceeded to settle down after just a few minutes to a thin pillow like layer across the top for the rest of the session. Very nice side glass presentation then followed and really gave this a solid look for a pale ale.

Smell - The aroma was a full on replica of the classic west coast hoppy pale ale. A deep resin filled and very thick aroma of pine and citrus hops greeted you right up front. Very nice notes of orange and even some tangerines were easily found. There was a nice stick fresh pine quality to it as well, that was really quite nice. Some underlying maltiness could be found in there, way in the back as well, serving as a nice base to build it one.

Taste - The flavor picked up right where the smell had left off. This was a really tight and nicely balanced little pale ale. Rich fresh sticky pine hops dominated the opening flavors of this one, really setting you up for what was going to be coming down the pike next. SA nice floral bath of tangerines and pineapple flavored hops that opened the door to the sweeter and sugary side of this. Really quite nice. A good base of malted grain underneath providing a nice touch of balance as well and letting you know this was a rather nice little beer. The finish was long and drawn out, very dry with the hops dominating it. Long lasting bitter pine flavor made you reach for another sip time and again.

Mouthfeel - The feel was splendid and exactly what I would have expected out of this one. A very nice light bodied ale with more then adequate carbonation, even down to the very last drop. A nice deep-rooted smooth feel, with a crisp clean finish, very nice and refreshing.

Drinkability - Very high marks here, as I would have loved to have had another one when it was done. It was just tremendously easy to drink all around, and with low abv and great carbonation, you really could not do wrong.

Overall, this was very good. A very nice and tight pale ale that I would love to try on tap, or have a case of to enjoy at home .I would definitely look for this one if you are out looking for a solid pale ale offering. This was very good.

Serving type: can

02-23-2008 01:20:55 | More by mikesgroove

StJamesGate

New York

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear amber with a eggshell white head that rims and leaves cathedral lace. Nose is toast, a bit of citrus and spice, with an odd soapiness. Cinnamon bun malts up front going caramel as they warm, bark in the middle and a grapefruit hit at the end. Tart linger, big round feel and some stick.

Feels like an English ale, tastes like American hops. Very sessionable.

Serving type: can

12-12-2009 21:22:43 | More by StJamesGate

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep amber in color, with a decent white head. The color was a bit hazy, as NeroFiddled said the cask was not handled properly, we had this at the Firkinteenth event at the Grey Lodge in Philly. On the nose the aroma was citrusy, hoppy, and very light malt backbone. The body is light-medium. The mouthfeel is fairly smooth, slightly sharp. On the palate the flavor was well balanced between the malt and hops, citrusy, grainy, earthy, overall a very good and enjoyable Pale ale…

Serving type: cask

09-14-2002 16:15:00 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

Jarod

Pennsylvania

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

This beer pours into the glass a dark amber in color. The head is a pure white that lasted a long time. The lace that was left was nice and stretched to the end of the beer. The aroma is of hops, citrus and some hints of a sweet malt. The taste has hints of the sweet malt grains and citrus, and then hops. The hop flavor seems to last to the finish, but not overbearing. This is a smooth nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2002 09:56:07 | More by Jarod

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

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

I'm not one for extremely hoppy beers, but this was a good pale ale. The best way I can describe this is as a toned down Victory HopDevil. Since I'm not into IPA's (but will have them on occasion), I would definitely return to this in the future. Good job by Sly Fox.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2003 01:43:23 | More by GeoffFromSJ

orbitalr0x

Illinois

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

Good to see another micro in a can and with sweet graphic design to boot. I pop the tab and pour into my pint glass producing a clear amber red brew with a creamy off white head that leaves some sticking lacing behind. Aromas are a mix of biscuity caramel malts alongside plenty of piney, citric resinous hop scents. A nice melding going on here.

First sip brings a nice caramel covered biscuity pale maltiness followed quickly by a nice dose of herbal, piney, citric hops. Somewhat earthy with a slight spiciness. Flows down toasty with a hit of well placed bitterness and finishes with a nice lingering hoppiness. Nice pale ale.

Mouthfeel is smooth, medium bodied and a bit creamy. Goes down quite easily. This is a tasty APA that would be great anywhere that bottles are not welcome. I could easily see a six pack disappearing over the course of a nice session. A solid, good brew overall. I look forward to drinking more from Sly Fox. Thanks to Fool Circle for this one.

Serving type: can

05-14-2006 05:43:09 | More by orbitalr0x

plaid75

New York

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

Poured a medium copper hue with a two finger white pillowy head. There was excellent retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured a strong citrusy oily hop aroma, white hints of white pepper. A nice doughy malt was detected as well.

The taste was upfront spicy hop. It mellowed to a nice grapefruit flavor toward the end. Very good grain bill as well.

The mouthfeel was crisp and dry.

Overall a very drinkable and enjoyable APA. An excellent hop profile. Nice can too.

Serving type: can

09-28-2006 01:26:29 | More by plaid75

Foxman

New Jersey

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

It pours a brightly clear orange amber. A finger of off-white head settles to a scooped-out froth meteor crater. A vellum of lacing screens the inside of the glass.

The aroma wafts a filmy malt sweetness, lightly caramel and fruit. Hops flutter an air of dry citrus and a floral note cruises alongside some biscuit.

Upon tasting, toasted malt is mellowly sweet with caramel and berry, and is swiftly mitigated by a subtle hop assertion of crisp citrus, pepper, and a soft florality. A bubble of yeast bread dough flows into a nicely dry and refreshing lingering finish. It's fetchingly basic and quite enjoyable.

Light bodied, the malt coats enough and the hops glow enough to make a fine and lasting impression.

For those times when subtlety and blending are your choice, this is a mighty nice option to have. It's got a genuine APA character, but it's markedly well behaved and un-extreme. The result is a refreshing, drinkable treat. So when you want a fun, fundamental, tasteful ale, let the Phoenix rise to the occasion.

Serving type: can

01-26-2007 18:55:51 | More by Foxman

peacemyth

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from the can into a pint glass. It appeared to be an amber color and left a decent sized head brimming to the top of the glass. I certainly could smell the hops right from the start with faint maltiness as well. This beer i found was more on the bitter side of some APA's I have had, however it was good balance. Very flavorful, went down very easily.
I drank this beer on a warm summer night and it was quite refreshing. Most definitely one of the best beers I have had out of a can.

Serving type: can

06-17-2008 14:36:47 | More by peacemyth