Ichor - Sly Fox Brewing Company

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite Sly Fox beers.

Pours a clear rich ruby red with very little head or lacing.

Smells strongly of dark fruits and brown sugar with a hint of vanilla and just a bit of alcohol.

Tastes of raisins, plums, brown sugar and caramel sweetness. A bit of alcohol warming at the very end of the finish. Excellent.

Mouthfeel is good if a little light. A little lingering sweetness.

Very drinkable especially for the ABV. Very smooth and delicious with light carbonation.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2008 14:54:26 | More by sholland119

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A snifter-sized glass poured at Iron Hill West Chester's Belgium Comes to West Chester.

A: The ale is a muddy creek brown color, brownish with a lot of haze. As I drank the ale, the haze became more concentrated in the bottom of the snifter.

S: The aroma is malty sweetness with a fruity aroma that highlights darker fruits.

T: The flavor is full-bodied malts, thick and chewy and not shy on the alcohol. As the ale sits on the tongue, some prunes and raisins stick out, providing a nice malty fruit base. Some bittering hops shine on top of the malts, but the malts are the star here. The flavors finish long and climax in a nice yeasty thickness.

M: The alefruits are delicious, providing a darker depth to the strong malts.

D: I wrote this beer off after an earlier tasting but clearly that was premature. This is a strong quad, full of malty strength and a very nice product. Thank God for second chances!

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2007 01:43:35 | More by akorsak

WesWes

New York

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a brown color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has a very fruity yeast aroma along with a solid crystal and roasted malt scent. The alcohol does sneak through as well. The taste is good. It has a very drinkable crystal malt flavor as well as a fruity yeast finish. It's warming in the swallow, but it's not too powerful. This is a tastey beer. The yeast really brings the flavor together. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a silky smooth drinker. It's a slow drink, but an enjoyable one.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2008 23:00:14 | More by WesWes

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A rich and sweetish combonation of fruit and mild spices that was a delight to sip with supper.The promise is that this could age, I think it was 1.3 years in my basement. It was very little carbonated, and may be better on tap.
German Pils and Roast malts and Belgian Candi Sugar, German Tradition hops. The alcohol was present. Very much like an American take on the quad, still very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2007 02:32:00 | More by northyorksammy

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one I've been waiting for. Poured in front of me straight from a quarter keg, a deep brown, nearly black with only a thin, darker than white head that did not hang around. Strong aroma of alcohol and dark fruits. I figured the alcohol would be prevalent in the flavor since it was in the nose, but it was quite well hidden. I thought the ABV was somewhere near 10 (which it is), but was so well hidden that I went and double-checked right then. I was at the Kennett Brewfest, by the way.

Smooth and delightful in the mouth...as it warms there the flavors come out. Plums, spices and a rich malt character make this one a winner.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2003 21:29:01 | More by IrishRedRock

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to DarkerTheBetter for this one...
Dark brown in color...mahogany highlights with some natural light.
Less than a half a finger of light tan head...thin lacing forms as it quickly disappears.
Nice aroma...figs and cherries in the aroma with no alcohol detected.
The taste is fantastic...quite sweet with a huge grape/fig flavor. The alcohol is very well masked and finishes sweet, yet also dry...not overly bitter.
Mouthfeel is maybe thin for the style, and the carbonation is low...goes down too easy, but you know to take your time with this one after you start to warm up.
Very impressed with this bottle conditioned beauty from the folks at Sly Fox.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2006 00:56:11 | More by warriorsoul

Golden2wenty1

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Brought back from PA by expatsteve. Thanks for the opportunity.

Pour: deep, dark garnet/mahogany, mostly clear, no real head to speak of...alcohol?

Nose: vinuous blast of fermented grapes, raisins, molasses, cherries, light yeast

Taste: molasses and caramel sweetness, musty yeast, dark fruits, grape juice, dry, clean booze in the finish.

Feel: where this one falls short, a little thin, a little flat. I like a little more crispness in a Belgian like this.

Drinkability/Overall: Another completely solid beer from Sly Fox. Ridiculously drinkable for a quad of 10%. Not a mind-blower, but well-made on most fronts and hart to fault in too many places.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2006 21:59:53 | More by Golden2wenty1

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark brown with a thin white head that quickly dissipates. Laces very nicely.

S - Nose is full of rich, fruity smells - grapes for sure, and there is a certain breadiness as well.

T&M - Very malty yet refreshing on the pallet. The carbonation is evident on the tongue, and the fruity smells carry through into the taste. Bitterness is present but very low key; perfect for the style. The malt flavor sticks around for a while, and the alcohol warmth is present but one would not guess 10% on tasting.

D - Very yummy brew, and a fine Quad. Alcohol content is high but true to the style. I would certainly purchase this again. A good brew by SlyFox.

Not for nothing, but the cork in this bottle was incredibly hard to remove, even with a wine opener!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 02:21:05 | More by ZeroSignal

Phillyphilms

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bomber from Sly Fox Phoenixville.

Poured into chalice at home.

Poured a dark brown with an almost eggplant hue to it. A thin white head disappears before you can say ROYERSFORD PENNSYLVANIA. Lacing was good for the style.

Smells dark, rich and fruity. Some candisugar and dark fruits as well as grapes and bananas.

Big malt upfront and a blast of carbonation hits the tongue. A spicey front leads to the sweetness which builds toward the finish which was very nice. The booziness you'd expect from a double digit abv is not there as it hides behind a sweet fruit finish that lingers quite long yet cleanly.

Great quad and yet another fine brew from Brian O'Riley and the Sly Fox gang. Sweeter than most I have had in the style which was interesting and will bring me back to this big bodies sipper once again.

RESPECT

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 21:29:11 | More by Phillyphilms

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an aged version of the original bottling that was released in early 2003. It has been cellared since the day I bought it.
Appears a deep, rich mahogany with a dark red hue. A small, off white head slowly fades out into a film and collar.
Smell is of tons of candi-sugar, vinuous, port wine, roasted nuts, tobacco, cocoa, hints of cola, slight oxidation with mild cardboard notes, caramel, light cherries, wood notes, figs, & sawdust.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a light bubblegum, cherry, and caramel flavor rising to the top of the palate.
Mouthfeel is of low CO2, full bodied with light cardboard, nuts, semi-dryness and a slightly rough ending.

I had this side by side with a fresh growler from 2007 and a bottled version from last year. I rated this version almost identically to the fresh version. Next to each other they looked the same. Nose wise and flavor wise, this has matured a bit and would be appealing to those who appreciate a more dense aroma and flavor as opposed to the fresh, more estery version.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2007 20:58:45 | More by weeare138

pezoids

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The first thing that comes to mind in describing this beer is overwhelming. It has a smack in the face sweetness to it –
I’m sure it comes from the Belgium candy sugar. Intensely
Flavorful, complex and very interesting. Some of this beer was spilled and in 2 minutes my fingers felt as sticky as a movie theater floor. Beautiful dark ruby red color – with a short lived small head. This is a definite sipping beer for me, unless you’re insane and decide to gulp it down. The hops in this beer were pretty subdued and taken over by all heavy malt sweetness and sugars. A nice treat that I would even consider warming up on a cold rainy night, rather than drinking it chilled.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2003 11:55:58 | More by pezoids

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown that looks like molasses when light shines through it. A fluffy light tan head sits on top and does not go away, great retention. Very active carbonation.

S: Smells of dark fruits like plums and prunes, some figs too. Some slight spicy scent is there from the yeast.

T: Lots of dark fruit and sweet candi syrup hit you right up front. The middle has more of the candi sweetness, and the end finishes out with hints of dark fruits and a bit of alcohol.

M: Smooth, full bodied, sweet, sticky.

D: I like this beer a lot, too bad Sly Fox doesn't make it to Boston.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2009 23:31:18 | More by Patrick

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

dark brown, almost a cola like color with a very hazy and cloudy appearance pretty much obscuring everything inside and making it look a very thick consistency. A very nice three finger high head of tan colored lace came flying up to the top. Very active on the pour would be an understatement, this thing was all over the place.

Aroma was very varied, deep and complex with different hints and small nuances of smell coming through at various different times during the course of the session. The first thing I was able to pick up with a very nice dark fruity aroma. Lots of raisins, figs, plums, and even a touch of grape showing up in here. Very well mixed and balanced between them but leading more toward the sugary notes as it started to warm up. Lots of spice was evident as well right from the start. A sort of odd nutmeg like spice along with a touch of cinnamon, and sugar. Some aromas of oak or other wood like characteristics starting to come through now as well. The profile is really starting to thicken up now and get a bit complex on me. Some light grassy like smells along with touches of earthy grains all floating around in there as well.

Notes of raisins, which were just a wonderful way to start off the whole thing. Deep dark fruity flavors were the norm on this was with prunes and figs lining up behind it, quickly delving it deeper and deeper. A very strong presence of sugar was next up, really pushing through and drying to lighten it up. A touch of something sour playing around in the back, and just briefly showing up in the flavor before diving back down and out of site again. Rolling on some nice earthy, oak like notes starting to come now with spices becoming more and more dominant. Cinnamon and nutmeg, even some all spice and a hint of banana keeping developing it further. The finish brought everything back together again and just kept evolving it and drying you out, making you come back and get another sip so that you could bring it back to where it was before.

Overall, I was quite pleased with the overall flavor and thought that it really developed quite well.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 01:40:32 | More by mikesgroove

TastyTaste

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

750 milliliters received from BeerBeing (thanks again Alex) in Bif 25**.

Appearance: Dark forboding body, maroon/scarlet when held to light, beautiful, but no head on the pour whatsoever.

Smell: Dark fruits, roasted malts, belgian yeast, very nice.

Taste: Wow, a very nice collaboration of flavors, rich and sippable. Alcohol burns and warms, the taste is savorable and sippable. Toffee and more dark fruit throughout, not a rough edge in site, this is a very smooth brew.

Drinkability: Smooth, rich, fruity, and a joy to sip. Something so strong is so smooth is amazing.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2006 15:27:20 | More by TastyTaste

Billolick

New York

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Caged and corked Belgian bomber. $7.50 from New Beer in NYC. No vintage/bottling info. Opened with no pop, hmm, poured with little head being generated, low carbonation noted. Darkest of brown shades, no head, no lacing. Nose is strongly of raisiny bourbon. Strong, heady brew, notes of more raisins, cola, vanilla,brandy, dark grains and ripe fruits, on the sweet side, could use some more thickness on the palate. Fine brew that could use some more complexity and depth to earn world class scores. I'd like to try this one with a year or two in the bottle. Still well worth a try. Nice cold weather night caper.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2006 01:41:19 | More by Billolick

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer is really something different,whats up with the sticky bottle cap?Pours a deep chesnut brown with some ruby hues with no head to speak of.The aroma is of Xmas fruit cake and some alcohol notes.The taste starts out very sweet with some dried fruit thrown in there,its a sweet beer but not overdone.Iam sure I couldnt drink more than this bottle but still a very good,well made beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2003 23:33:08 | More by oberon

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A bottle shared with Mac300 and his wife Jess, and DarkerTheBetter at the 5th Annual Philly/BA gathering. What a treat that we ended up at Sly Fox. I enjoyed this beer though my deer friend Jess did not. The beer has about as much carbonation as a smooth bottle of wine. AKA, none. That was a turnoff for her. I felt the beer is tasty nightcap type of beer but cetainaly minimal on drinkability.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown color with a touch of ruby to the hue and very very little colar around the edge even after a hard pour there was little head that dissipates right away.

Smell: Dark fruits and warm alcohol. Plum prune raisin cherry and brown sugar in the nose.

Taste: Like the nose it is dominantly sweet and warm. It seems reminiscent of the wheat wine I had the other night the warm green grape and sweet wheat attribute but the cherry and fig attribute are there as well with some sherry.

Mouthfeel: Very viscous and yet slick smooth edges due to the fact that there is no carbonation.

Drinkability: It is a *sweet* nightcap beer. I was happy to be sharing one bottle.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2007 05:55:13 | More by Phatz

joepais

Maine

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Kempleton for this one
Bottle poured into a tulip produced a good two fingers worth of off white head. The body of this brew was a wonderful maroon color and the head left a little ring of lace around the glass

Aromas of dark fruits and grapes filled my nose a good quad smell that is for sure. This had one of the best noses on it for an American Quad

Flavors of dark fruits, caramel and a slight alcohol warmth that arose as it warmed in the glass medium to thick mouthfeel light carbonation on the tongue

Drank it today and I must say I enjoyed every drop I was quite impressed by this brew. Dead on Style wise for a Quad, I would have thought it was a Belgian. Great job Sly Fox keep it up. I would by it again for sure

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2008 21:37:23 | More by joepais

thain709

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A dark brown with some light shining through...a big tan head forms and slowly fades...nice lacing

S - Very sweet on the nose...big doses of grapes and other fruits

T - Once again...very sweet here...but it works...malty flavors and sweetness mixing with wine qualities of grapes and a little bit of dryness

M - Medium to full bodied...lack of carbonation makes for a smooth mouthfeel

D - This was my first Quad and I must say it was pretty tasty...you usually can't go wrong with Sly Fox

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 17:39:57 | More by thain709

magine

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a chalice.

Pours a dark brown with some ruby shining through. Has a carbonated lace head that settles to a lace wisp head. Good looking brew.

Brew smells yeasty; dark fruits, peppery and spiced. Good smell.

Brew is creamy and smooth, spiced, yeasty. Some dark sweet fruits. Sweet flavored and warming effects for sure. Finishes dry, the brew goes down very easy. Decent carbonation, very balanced. Very approachable, easy drinking quadrupel.

This is a very enjoyable brew. It is different in the flavor department then most of the other quad's I have had. Very sweet and smooth. Very good but not as big and well flavored as I would want, could be too sweet for some. But you could session this brew, which says alot for a quad. Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 23:46:13 | More by magine

AARomanov

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a lovely deep almost violet color. The head dissipated rather quickly.

Ar - Very full aroma of dark fruits, I get raisins.

T - Good balance of malt, not too sweet. Alcohol well masked. Finish is plum and dry.

O - Nice beer to slowly sip. Opens up more as you let it warm up.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 23:08:03 | More by AARomanov

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very dark brown with muddy bubbly head and plentiful lacing.

Lots of clove in the nose. Mild spiciness with coriander and some pepper. Creamy banana ice cream and some malty sweetness.

Taste follows spice trail but with more booze. Alcohol is assertive with flavors following and preceding. Some nanners and spice, burnt sugar is nice, then warming booze, then warm bread with musty herb.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and warming.

I don't associate Slyfox with Belgian styles....but this was good!

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 03:41:49 | More by TheMultiYeast

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with no head and leaves almost next to nothing as far as lacing goes. Has a dark and murky brown color.

Smells sugary, lots of dark fruits, alcohol and a mix of wood and tobacco.

Tastes of sweet malts (toffee), nice mixture of fruits (wine like) and booze.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2008 05:50:22 | More by irishkyle21

russwbeck

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Z Bar in State College

A: A very dark pour with a small white head. Nice lacing from what head remains.

S: Dry, dark fruits mainly. A bit of candied sugar. Very sweet overall.

T: Big candied sugar and dark fruit taste. Little bit of booziness on the backend. Some roasted malts mixed in as well.

MF: Medium bodied with a nice amount of carbonation.

O: Not a great quad, but you can't beat the price!

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2011 23:30:19 | More by russwbeck

treyrab

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to nittanybeerfan for popping this one tonight. Thus far I have not had anything from Sly Fox that I enjoyed, but this changed my mind!

A: Pours a dark, rusty copper brown with a solid one finger head, but that does not last for more than 30 seconds. This is opaque, but only because it is dark, as it is pretty clear, not hazy.

S: Smell is very sweet and complex with tons of dark candi sugar. The yeast spice makes its presence shown as well, accompanied by incredibly sweet, bananas...like the kind that have been sitting on the counter for a week.

T: So incredibly sweet like a bag of sugar. Dark fruits such as raisins, figs, prunes and red grapes really make their showing here. The candi sugar sweetness comes in as well as the spiciness.

Overall, this was a solid Quad. I prefer my quads to be more on the dry side, and this was way beyond sweet. But good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 16:40:13 | More by treyrab