Christmas Ale - Sly Fox Brewing Company

Stunner97

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 edition seems they change every year

Appearance- amber red with thick tan foamy head,

Smell- really getting alot of all those holiday spices, cinnamon ginger and nutmeg, certainly smells like xmas

Taste- this beer is very true to what it claims to be which is a christmas ale, you just taste all those afformentioned spices so much, tons and tons of cinnamin and ginger all day, one could argue maybe its slightly overspiced but i think for the style its where it should be your not blindly searching for the flavors,

Mouthfeel- medium bodied yet very smooth and creamy, nice feel with low carbonation

Drinkability/overall- this beer is not really one i probably would say is extremely drinkable only in that the spice is so strong but i would say its very enjoyable and I did like it, its one i think I would visit again ocassionally

Serving type: can

11-16-2012 21:12:20 | More by Stunner97

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-20-2013 12:31:17 | More by InspectorBob

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

05-16-2013 16:47:52 | More by Slatetank

Twig2848

New York

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%

03-09-2013 22:57:27 | More by Twig2848

RobertColianni

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

02-20-2013 01:55:28 | More by RobertColianni

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I had this as part of a beer incentive program at my local bar.

The coloring on this one was a darker brown with a pretty healthy amount of foam on top. The lacing was minimal in my pilsner glass.

Aroma was kind of minimal off of this beer. You get some decent spicing from the beer. The flavor has more spice, but the flavor is lighter than you would expect.

Overall this makes for an easy-drinking winter warmer. Not bad as an introductory version to the style.

Serving type: can

02-12-2013 21:29:42 | More by ummswimmin

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

12-30-2012 20:22:20 | More by skaboom420

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep brown color from a cork finish 750ml bottle. Large sized white foamy head. Aroma is ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. A medium bodied ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Lots of brown sugar and molasses flavors, as well as all spice. Malty and fairly sweet, but kind of balanced by the spices. Lively carbonation. Nice Christmas beer. Mouthfeel is full and the finish is clean and smooth with a slightly sweet aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 22:33:24 | More by SeamusDoyle

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had at Pizzaria unos last night and came out kinda of bland and flat. A clear copper color but a small head and no carbs.
Aroma was bold spices that was pretty assertive. Lots of cinimmon nutmeg ginger brown sugar and that sort of thing.
Taste is similar with a bold assertive spice over a malty rich base. To me it's abit over spiced.
Feels thin on the palette and a bit dry.
Good and easy drinking but all those spices would limit me to a few probably.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 17:48:52 | More by micromaniac129

rydev24

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-22-2012 15:05:14 | More by rydev24

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at the fox and hound in KOP - served in pint

Pours a mostly clear chestnut color with bright reddish hues. Fluffy beige head slowly fades away into a coating of film, leaving some patchy lacing on the glass.

Roasted malts with burnt sugar and dark fruit. Hints of raisin and cherry with cinnamon and a mild spiciness. Fits the genre, but thankfully doesn't go overboard on the potpourri of Christmasy spices.

Soft snap of wintery spice up front with cinnamon and brown sugar. Lightly sweet, mixed with apple and cherry with a dash of raisin. Malted backbone with caramel and bread crust. Finishes a little spicy and sweet with little warmth.

Lighter medium body, decent carbonation, a little chewy and crisp on the tongue. Slyfox is definitely hit or miss for me, but this was a pretty solid winter warmer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 02:41:59 | More by xnicknj

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – The beer is served a reddish brown color with a two finger off white head. The head has a good level of retention, eventually fading to leave a spotty amount of lacing.

Smell- The aroma is sweet and of Christmas cookies. It has smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Mixed with these are some lighter notes of vanilla and a moderately strong sugary smell.

Taste – The taste starts out with a somewhat bready and doughy sweet taste. There is a strong brown sugar and caramel presence up front that are mixed with some flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. These flavors are soon joined by more spice flavors of ginger and clove with the sweetness seeming to increase ever so slightly. In the end a pastry like spiced cookie flavor are left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is slightly light in creaminess and chewiness with the carbonation level being just a bit above average. Something a bit more chewy may have been appropriate for the taste profile, but overall it wasn't too bad.

Overall- A good easy drinking brew with a nice flavor. It is worth a try if you have the chance to give it a go.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2012 01:16:01 | More by Darkmagus82

chrishensley

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-03-2012 20:55:16 | More by chrishensley

mdillon86

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-02-2012 17:26:23 | More by mdillon86

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-29-2012 03:25:50 | More by rolltide8425

doc17325

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%

11-27-2012 23:47:32 | More by doc17325

JeffTheJuice

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-21-2012 17:20:27 | More by JeffTheJuice

jjd315

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

11-19-2012 17:14:27 | More by jjd315

tbeer40

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-11-2012 20:53:24 | More by tbeer40

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -35.2%

10-26-2012 13:17:02 | More by Knapp85

DSlim71

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

03-12-2012 22:00:36 | More by DSlim71

PatDreadful

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into my Sam Adams Snowflake Pint.

Appearance: A very nice copper color with an ENORMOUS head that rises up to almost four fingers. Very nice job.

Smell: Strong yeast aroma with overwhelming spice notes. Ginger, plums, nutmeg and cloves dominate the nose as one is instantly transported to a Christmas kitchen filled with cookies and and fig pudding. Very welcoming!

Taste: Follows the nose with the addition some black licorice notes lingering in the background. There is a very strong maltiness that serves as a wonderful canvas for all of these flavors. The spice is a tad bit harsh and would benefit from some age.

Mouthfeel: This is where the this beer really shines. A milky body that is very enjoyable. Perfect for sipping by the tree.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 00:01:30 | More by PatDreadful

ithinkimasofa

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

02-13-2012 07:44:27 | More by ithinkimasofa

fester71

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-19-2011 00:53:21 | More by fester71

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-05-2011 15:57:28 | More by THECPJ