Saison VOS - Sly Fox Brewing Company

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a sightly golden color with a big cap of white foam that left plenty of lacing down the tulip glass. Nice aroma of yeast, pear, pepper, spice and lemon--a very appetizing combination.

On the palate, the beer is light to medium bodied but with nice carbonization. Club cracker-like malt along with with fruitiness from the yeast. Refreshing through the center with a pleasant sourness. Spice finishes it off.

A drinkable and tasty brew. I enjoyed it very much.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 20:41:04 | More by BeardedBoffin

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice bright golden orange color. Provides a thick white foam head with sufficient lacing.

S: Plenty of spice and yeast up front. There is some suble fruityness that comes through in the way of peaches or necterines.

T: A yeasty and spicy beer, with some nice citrus fruit undertones. There is a slight hop bitterness present as well.

M: A very dry and sweet taste on the palate, if that is possible.

D: This is a very nice Saison that should be tried. Not overly complex but quite tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 20:53:44 | More by IronCitySteve

walleye

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

thanks to weeare138 for this big bottle tat was corked and caged. poured a golden color with a big fluffy white head that took forever to go down and left a lot of lacing. aroma big citrus nose with pepper and yeast, orange, musty. flavor a nice orange and lemon yeast and a nice bite of hops. I think this my 5th saison and it is the best I have had. I not a big fan of this style but I think this one is changing the taste buds

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2006 02:06:54 | More by walleye

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pretty decent beer. Doesn't jump out at you as "saison". Belgian pale similarities... Really, the closest thing this resembles is a saison, I guess.

Served in a 10oz chalice. Has the color of peach nectar - yellow-orange and slightly hazy. No head.

The aroma is fruity and only vaguely spicy. Has a juicy, medium-light bodied, mellow feel despite some noticeable carbonation in the appearance. The essence of peach or blush remains potent in the aftertaste and my mouth gradually became puckery and bordering on dry with successive each sip. The "special strain" of yeast felt pushed to the back. It's presence was just enough to notice and far from strong enough to frighten away someone hesitant about or uninitiated to the style.

Paired wonderfully with their amazing Jamaican Jerk wings. The fruit factor dropped out quite a bit and the beer became more crisp and clean.

It's a solid beer, lacking much of the zippy yeast and farmhouse nuances that characterize the style. But it's quite Refreshing and enjoyable, nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2010 01:18:31 | More by Bouleboubier

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours with a huge thick white head on a pretty clear yellow body.
S- Citrus, lemons, bread, yeast, spices, light malts behind it all.
T- Follows the aroma just a little less on the citrus side and you get more of the yeast flavors. Spices build up on tongue and hops leave a nice lingering bitterness on the tongue.
M-Thin body with high carbonation.
D- It is a really good Saison. I could have a few of these just I wish it was a little cheaper. Still good and if I ever saw this when I went out of town I would pick one up.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2007 21:01:52 | More by BlindPig

zoso1967

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Holy carbonation batman! A gentle pour yields a glass that was 75% foam and seems a bit over carbonated. That being said, the foam was bright white, rocky and lovely, leaving nice sloppy lace as it recedes. The beer itself is pale golden and dancing with bubbles. The aroma is typical saison with a nice floral and grassy sweet aroma, with a slight pepperyness and sweet malt. Flavor is very nice. Gently sweet and very light and clean. Grassy, floral, biscuity and light, with a nice dryness in the finish. Great pepper spice notes and a refreshing slight tartness. Very well balanced, and a bit more restrained than some of the classic examples. The mouthfeel is light with a nice lingering sweet/sour note on the tongue. Very drinkable, and a great American brewed saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 01:57:59 | More by zoso1967

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from the 750 ml bottle into a tulip glass. The beer poured a vibrant golden color with a huge foamy white head and very active carbonation. The head took quiet awhile for the foam to subside enough to drink but throughout there was a very strong citrus and hop aroma that is enjoyable. The taste is a nice mix of lemony citrus, hops and a bit of orange. Overall this is a very good representation of the style and with a medium body, easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2006 03:06:02 | More by ggaughan

ski271

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lightly hazy medium yellow with a large, white, pillowy head with good retention. The smell is of moderate wheat over yeast and mild malt aromas. Citrus, flowers, coriander, melon, green apple and some light banana. The fruitiness is light but very nice. Taste-wise, it’s quite similar to the nose, but better. Malts come on a little stronger accompanied by some fruity esters, dry hops, and a little more spiciness. The finish is floral, lightly bitter and slightly astringent. It has a medium-light body and slightly syrupy texture. Pretty good, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2007 19:20:29 | More by ski271

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured this beer slow and I mean real slow. Ended up with a goblet full of foam (only 1/4 was beer). Leaves some lacing as it finally starts to settle. Has a cloudy golden color, tons of carbonation.

Smells of fruits (apples, grapes and oranges), some yeasty mustiness and pale malts.

Tastes of fruits (apples and oranges more than anything IMO), yeast, spices and malts. This is very complex for such a quaffable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2008 01:44:08 | More by irishkyle21

assurbanipaul

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light and pale green-gold with a massive, massive white head (as in 10% liquid, 90% head, takes forever to fill the glass). Aroma is grassy and musty, grainy sour just like it should be with a hint of sugar and lemon.

Taste is light and toasty, faintly malty, a little on the sweet side. Flavor elements of cream (?), yeast, dried grass and hay. Light white pepper, maybe some cardamom, a little fruity. Finish is dry and has just a hint of lemon, with no trace of alcohol flavors.

Mouthfeel is light and fluffy, lots of carbonation, even zippy. I would prefer more farmhouse funk and less ease-of-drinking sweetness, but it's a nice alternative to champaigne.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 02:14:43 | More by assurbanipaul

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer came to me fresh at the brewery.

It was poured a golden yellow color that had a slight misty appeal to it not cloudy because I could see the carbonation bubbles all through it. The head was pure white in color that was thick and foamy, and well lasting. The aromas that came from it were somewhat simple, very straight forward, I nosed malts, ash, earth, some hops, spices (bitey like white and green peppercorns) and a slight yeast. The tastes came from the glass were amazing. I tasted spices (again the bite from the peppercorns), breads, sweet malts, ash, dry earth, some hops, and fruits that seemed to come in and go out all through each swallow. This beer was smooth and all the flavors, from the first sip to the last sip, seemed to blend with each other very well. A very good beer from a very good brewery. I look forward to making another trip.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2003 13:35:27 | More by Jarod

rawfish

California

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to lookrider for the opportunity. Corked and caged 750mL bottle. Pours a glowing summer sun yellow, opaque with yeast but with a dense cap od white that sticks through the entire drink. Terrific.

Yeasty, active carbonation brings up the aroma of orange peel, coriander, powder, ginger and lemon zest. Not much fruit or other complexities here.

Bright lemon zest, orange peel, and powdery yeast and coriander. Very bright. Unobtrusive malt character. Finishes very clean, powdery and palate scrubbing.

Active carbonation, bright and lightens up the yeast considerably. Not detection of alcohol. High carbonation doesn't impede the flavor profile either. Ideal.

Very nice take on a saison, not very complex but a bright beer, perfect refresher. Clean and crisp.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 06:23:55 | More by rawfish

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Huge rocky white head with a storm of bubbles rising to join it. Pours gigantic (be patient), settles reasonably, and leaves fair lace. Quite clear golden dark straw with just a touch of amber.

S: Earthy yeast, tart lemon, bready malts, peppery spice, herbal and grassy hops in the background. Maybe faint coriander? Good, but it leans a tad heavy on the yeast and to a lesser degree the lemon. Still, some decent complexity does come through.

T: Pepper spice and earthy yeast front and center. Some soft mustiness. A good dose of sweet / tart lemon fills in and then fades into bready & softly toasty sweet malts that have a nice juicy pils quality. It gets a bit more fruity as it warms with some tropical fruit notes. But it keeps that rustic (and almost brash) pepper/spice and earthy / yeasty base backing all the way through. Herbal and grassy hops come in at the end but stay fairly unassuming. Wheat notes come out more as it warms and malts lean more toward sweet bread.

M: Soft, yet plentiful, carbonation that is expansive, mouth-filling, and lusciously creamy. Medium body, but carbonation more than matches it to keep it feeling light. Still, it is sweeter than most saisons. Barest leaning toward a drying finish. Gets dryer as it warms. Refreshing and smooth.

D: The great mouthfeel saves this one (relatively speaking). Otherwise, without the softness of the feel, the palate strays too close to being rough and angular. Although it lacks some of the more forceful character of the style, this is a distinctly rustic brew. Highly drinkable though, and no doubt better with food. It does improve as it warms and the juicy pils and fruitiness comes out more. Some might say it closer to a Belgian Pale.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 20:07:48 | More by SickGnar

jaluria

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Heavy carbonation comes with this particular beer. It poured a yellow-straw color with a frothy, white colored head that left behind rings of lacing. Aromas of honey, sugar, and dried fruit (apricot and honeydew) seemed to come out nicely. The taste followed the nose except that the beer was overly dry with bitter fruit flavors providing too sharp a contrast with the underlying sweetness. A milder version of this sweet & sour combination would work very well. Also, a bit too creamy in my mouth. Overall, this is an enjoyable beer with plenty of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2006 13:51:01 | More by jaluria

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at SF in Phoenixville. Appears clear gold with little head retention. Very spicy and clove-like in aroma. Pepper notes aplenty. Tastes spicy with good hop presence that tinges the tip of your tongue. Light bodied feel that does not feel like a 6.9% ABV brew!

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2010 16:22:38 | More by jwhancher

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a glass that I have no idea how to categorize or name...

A- Pours a hazy yellow straw color with about 2 fingers of perfect white foamy head that takes a little time to subside.

S - Lemony aroma up front with some spices and some yeasty/bready smells to it as well. A nice honey like aroma comes out as well.

T - Very sweet, yeasty and lemony flavors. A good bit of spices comes out as well; coriander and clove I think. Some grassy, earthy notes as well which makes it more like a saison than a strong pale ale to me.

M - Quite carbonated as I would expect from this style. A bubbly mouthfeel with a nice crisp feel as well.

D - Quite drinkable and would be great during the hot summer months. Very easy to drink and is light and airy enough to come back for seconds.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 17:45:56 | More by KAP1356

Brianmerrilyn

New York

4.6/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into mini-heffe glass at 08 Long Island Brew festival. Brian Riley said this farmhouse ale is better in a bottle because it carbonates itself. Regardless, the tap version had my eyes rolling in pleasure. Cloudy golden to my eyes with mammonth head, white head reatined well.. Light and dry taste and fluffy sudsy mouthfeel and more pungent and tangy(lemon peel/white peper, floral something) as you finish it off. Very impessive saison and hope it's more complex next year as I hit Phonexville one mo time!

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2008 01:21:48 | More by Brianmerrilyn

lnashsig

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to ShanePB for the chance to taste this. My first Sly Fox beer. The bottle nearly blew out my eye when the cork flew out after I unscrewed the cage. It gushed for a bit, but then subsided pretty quickly. Poured from bottle into my Boulevard Farmhouse glass. Pours a rich straw yellow and transparent color, thick cloud-like head fills the glass, and recedes very slowly. Excellent retention and lacing. Smell- clove, fruity esters, straw, spicy phenols. A wonderful smelling Saison. Taste- clove, cracked pepper, belgian yeast, some spicy notes and light fruity esters. Very well balanced between the flavors. On second sip, I get some winey flavors, similar to some of the bitterness and fruit flavors found in a sauvignon blanc. A very dry finish a rich carbonation here too. Overall, this is a great example of the style and a highly enjoyable and balanced beer I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 01:24:52 | More by lnashsig

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This beer had a slight haze and the color was golden orange with a thin white head.

S: Citrus, honey, vanilla, jasmine, toasted grains and spicy yeast.

T: Sweet and spicy with a healthy dose of floral and citrus hops. Very fresh tasting hops. Toasted grains and mild honey with some spice and a nice belgian yeast.

M: Smooth light to medium body with small carbonation.

D: Very easy to drink and refreshing with a true to style flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2010 01:00:50 | More by scottbrew4u

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

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

Served in a pint glass. Clear yellow/orange.

Smells like bananas, cloves, some ginger, pears, tea qualities.

Taste is spicy like the nose..more cloves, slight vinegar taste, grapes, pears, slight booze, little bitterness.

Had this with some wood fired pizza, twas tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 01:21:49 | More by TheMultiYeast

jdg204

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this bad man as part of a sampler at the Sly Fox brewery and restaurant, both highly recco'd.

Appearance - Very nice hazy golden color, definetly lived up to Belgian standards.

Smell - Nice spiced citrus odor, would've like it to be a bit more powerful.

Taste - Very nice balance here between the sweet malt and citrus and the slightly bitter spices, extremely well done. The natural graininess really comes through nicely as well.

Mouthfeel - The is a big flavor beer so you definetly need to take your time drinking it, almost a bit much.

Drinkability - This was a high quality Saison, and Sly Fox deserves a lot of credit for having the guts to take a shot at this brew. This doesn't quite live up to Ommegang's Hennepin standards, but then again what does? If you happen to get to Sly Fox, do youself a favor and have this brew, but I'm not sure this is a go out of your way beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2007 05:09:10 | More by jdg204

DaggerEyes

New York

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

the cork really shot out of this bottle, thought I was popping a bottle of champagne not a bottle of beer.

pours a hazy gold with a thick craggy froathy white head with small beads of carbonation rising to the surface...only visible when held to the light.

clean peppery aroma with sweet notes of lemon and some funky earth

Tons of spice on the taste, hits the tip of the tongue like a ton of bricks. Cirtus notes mingle with some bubble gummy flavors

Medium Carbonation/body a clean and somewhat dry finish

Super drinkable beer...I could just drink decent Siason's all night

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 04:06:30 | More by DaggerEyes

Richardberg

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured from a bomber into a pint glass. Cork exploded as soon as the wire was loosened! Guess that happens when you have a yeasty, bottle conditioned beer marked "best by 4/13/09." Once things calmed down: hazy, pale, and golden with a big lacy head.

S: citrus zest, pepper, white grape, yeast, grass, bit of sweetness

T: surprisingly mild given the complex nose. Basic mixture of pale malts, lots of hopping (but still basic; doesn't give the impression of blending too many things together), and some yeasty residue. Finish is crisp, bready, and mostly dry despite the sugar/lemon you might expect from the smell. Overall a very pleasant and unpretentious balance.

M: medium body with tons of fizz (see above!)

D: Spicy & interesting without anything to offend or overwhelm the palate. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 02:25:49 | More by Richardberg

deanhead

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured aggressively into my Tripel Karmeliet glass producing a voracious head. Golden colored with a pure white billowy head that took some time to settle. One settled billows of foam seemed to coagulate in the glass here and there. These pockets stayed with the beer to the bottom of the glass. It was an amazing sight to behold.

The beer itself had a yeasty, spicy, grassy aroma with a hint of coriander and lemon zest and waffles.
Taste was slightly yeasty, with hints of biscuit, and honey.
Light to medium bodied beer that coated my tongue and teeth leaving a slightly sweet residual taste in my mouth.

Fabulous example of the style. I really really enjoyed this beer. Highly quaff-able!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 13:52:53 | More by deanhead

nickhiller

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: crystal clear, straw colored, streams of champagne bubbles and a thick creamy head, great retention, rings of foamy lace

S: sour musty barnyard, florals, honeysuckle

T: sweet and tart, lemon zest, grass, green grapes, chardonnay, white pepper, nice bitter finish

M: light body, champagne-like, sharp, crisp and refreshing

O: this probably the smoothest Saison I've ever had. I suppose some might call it mild in a disparaging way, but I found it quite pleasant. And sessionable. And reasonably priced.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 14:29:22 | More by nickhiller