Name: Sly Fox 20th Anniversary Ale
Style: Dry Hopped Belgian-Style Ale
IBU: N/A
ABV: 6.6%
“Two decades is but a tick of the cosmic clock, but nonetheless it is an impressive milestone for any family-owned business. Driven by passion amidst obstacles, competition and uncertainty. Sly Fox Brewing Company’s dedication to family perhaps best exemplifies their colorful twenty-year arch. In that time, the brewing company “family” has grown to include a state-of-the-art production facility, two popular pubs, and committed kin that consistently deliver award-winning, authentic beer to an ever-growing audience of dedicated fans. In 2016, as we press on toward the next twenty years, we extend gratitude to everyone who has supposed out mission.”
This week we are looking at a local brewery called Sly Fox. Sly Fox Brewing started as a small brewpub in Phoenixville, PA in 1995. The brewpub gained popularity over the years and has increased both distribution and production forcing them to open a second location. The beer we are looking at is celebrating 20 years in the craft brewing business, which is a lot longer than most breweries can say. Sly Fox decided to brew a Belgian-style golden ale to celebrate, so let’s open the bottle and see how it turned out.
Poured out of a cork caged 750ml bottle into a a Teku glass. The beer pours a light gold with over 2 inches of overly carbonated thick white head that takes a while to dissipate. The nose gives strong notes of Belgian yeast, lemon, pepper, cloves and just a touch of banana. The beer tastes very similar to the nose, but with stronger lemon and yeast flavors and some nice golden maltiness. The mouth of the beer is medium to full bodied with the yeast and malts lingering on the palate. Overall, I would say this beer is pretty good in flavor if you like Belgians, but beer definitely seems a little over carbonated. I kept this beer in my cellar for about 6 months, so it is possible there was a second fermentation in the bottle causing the increased carbonation. Taking out the fact that the beer is overly carbonated, the flavor of the beer is pretty tasty for a Golden Belgian. I would recommend checking it out if you are into the style, but take care in opening it and pouring. Cheers!
