Slacker Bock
Sly Fox Brewing Company

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From:
Sly Fox Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Bock
ABV:
6.6%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 7.59%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
21
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 06, 2018
Added:
Jun 16, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by John_M:
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had this on draft at TJ's Everyday yesterday.

The beer pours an interesting dark brown color, albeit with not a lot of head retention and very little lacing. I don't get a lot from the nose, maybe some roasted malt flavor, but on the dry side. This does not smell as if it's going to be a sweet bock (which it's not).

I was talking to the owner at TJ's (Jeff) about bock's in general, and he consulted his guide. Both of us sort of noted that the term seemed to have little real meaning in today's brewing world, and stylistically they (bocks) seem to be all over the map. He mentioned that based on how his guide describes a bock, the slacker really doesn't seem to qualify. I mentioned that it reminded me much more of dry, roasty dunkel, and he agreed with that suggestion. Whatever, this is an interesting beer, whatever you want to call it.

On the palate the beer is quite dry tasting, with some roasted grain flavors, almost a hint of licorise. The abv. is pretty well disguised and the beer is pretty drinkable. I guess I wish it had a bit more flavor, as it struck me as bit light and somewhat one dimensionable. Not a bad beer, but I can't way it wowed me either.
Jun 10, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.85 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

May 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.39 by ShanePB from Pennsylvania

Jun 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by SHerninko from Pennsylvania

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by salthemonster from Pennsylvania

May 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Drknight from Virginia

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by PaBeerLover from Pennsylvania

Sep 06, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by victory4me from Pennsylvania

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of thain709
Reviewed by thain709 from Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A - Served with a clear copper body with a small white head...the head showed nice retention leaving behind a spotty cap...decent lacing was left

S - Caramel malt with some bready notes

T - The flavors are really light...slight sweetness from the caramel malt starts things off...there is an underlying sweetness brought on by some light flavored, dark fruits...the middle brings out some of the graininess and bready notes...the caramel comes back to balance that out and sweeten up the palate

M - Medium bodied...lacking carbonation...sometimes a little lighter...light flavors all around

O - I'm usually a fan of traditional bocks but this one was missing something for me...all the flavors were light, but it made for something very easy to go down especially for being towards 7%...I found myself enjoying the Peggy Maibock, and that's usually not my style...but you have to try it for the name!
May 13, 2011
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap @ the 9th Annual Sly Fox Bock Festival & Goat Race @ Sly Fox (Phoenixville, PA) on 5/2/10. Served in a commemorative mug.

Pours a deep coppery amber, topped with about a finger of off-white creamy head. This retained with a quality foamy look, leaving behind a good bit of spotty foam. The aroma is sweet and toasty in the notes, with notes of roast, caramel, and some herbal hop character. I'm getting some gentle fruitiness out of this as well.

I'm getting MUCH more fruit here in the taste, with ripe notes that mingle with toasted malts and sugary caramel sweetness. Hops are fairly moderate and add just a smidge of a spicy zest to this. Fruit and roast linger for a just bit on the tongue, as this mostly finishes clean. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a bit of thickness to the feel but this is smooth and creamy on the palate for the most part.

I don't think that I've ever had a Bock this fruity before and I must say that I rather enjoyed it! I appreciated the fact that this was a little different and coupled with the smooth body on this, really helped keep the drinkibility of this good.
May 11, 2010
Photo of AltBock
Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

3.66/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This Bock was on tap at the Phoenixville location on 5/9/2009, but instead of drinking it there, I took this one home with me in one of their 64 oz growlers. I had to pour this beer into my Sly Fox Imperial pint glass.

"Slacker" poured a beautiful dark copper amber color with a small tint of cherry red mixed in with it. Great color!! You have to see it for yourself to appreciate it. The head of foam was almost as nice as the beer's color. This head of foam was cream colored and between 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch in height. It had good retention that left behind a big string of cream colored rings and a few blots of lace around the glass.

Not much of an aroma to this beer. The aroma was lightly malty with toasted malts and with some minor hop and fruit notes in the background. Swirling the beer around will only increase the scent of the juicy fruits.

The taste of this Bock was slightly dry and more fruity than toasted. It was toasted too, but I could tell that the fruits wanted to be in the spotlight more. Behind the fruits were the lightly toasted malts with a smidgeon of black pepper and a small taste of fruity hops. In other words, it was a nice fruity Bock.

This was a light to medium bodied Bock with a faint fruity aftertaste of juicy fruits, toasted malts, and a gentle touch of fruity hops.

I like my Bocks chewy with a good amount of either toasted or roasted flavors, but this one was a nice change of pace. It was very easy to drink. That could be a positive or a negative thing. In fact, it was good and so easy drink, I didn't have any problems drinking a whole growler of this beer. I know I probably shouldn't have done that, but I did it anyway.
May 11, 2009
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Deep copper with a medium light tan head that reduced and left spotty lace.

S-Light, but present, caramel malt sweetness and a touch of brown sugar/maple syrup.

T-Sweet caramel and very clean. A touch of toastiness and hint of brown sugar. Not overly complex but it all comes together to form a very tasty brew.

M-Medium body, smooth and clean. Not much in the way of lingering flavours, but this is what I expect.

D-A solid if slightly dull brew. A smooth beer that takes little effort to drink. I am sure it would be easy to put down tankard after tankard of this one!
May 04, 2009
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Original review 06-05-08, moved from Phoenixville to Royersford - on advise from jcwattsrugger - to fit in with my other reviews from the brewery, as the packaging is done in Royersford) -

On-tap at Circa in High Bridge, NJ:

Pours dark brown with a thin, lasting tan head. Lacing sticks to the glass.

The smell is of toffee and chocolate with dark fruitiness.

The taste is of sweet dark malt, giving it suggestions of toffee and chocolate. Fruity/earthy (Continental-type) hops give it a balancing bitterness in the finish.

It has a firm, smooth medium body.

A nice, tasty example of a bock. An all-round good brew.

Serving type: on-tap
Jan 30, 2008
Photo of EPICAC
Reviewed by EPICAC from Massachusetts

3.17/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On tap at Spuyten Duyvil.

Appearance: Pours a clear reddish-brown with a thin beige head that fades to a ring.

Smell: Light overall. Sweet malts, caramel.

Taste: Sweet malts. Fruity throughout. Too sweet with little to balance it. Not unpleasant, just way too sweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, overly carbonated.

Drinkability: Way too sweet, needs something to balance.
Jun 06, 2007
Photo of NJpadreFan
Reviewed by NJpadreFan from New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sly Fox- Slacker Bock

Appearance- Dark murky brown with a moderate foamy head. Lacing down half the glass.
Smell- Big caramel malt with hints of bread/ biscuit.
Taste- Caramel malt dominates but a nice earthy grain comes through to balance out things.
Mouthfeel- Creamy smooth and quite easy to drink.

Overall- An easy session beer here. A nice solid Bock hidden amongst so many other offerings on tap.
Apr 23, 2007
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear, reddish chestnut colour with a light tan head. The foam fell quickly to a ring, then to nothing in a short time. Rich, malty aroma with some toffee and lots of caramel. Notes of freshly milled grain were evident and the malt intensified as it warmed. Mild to moderate bitterness with plenty of malt sweetness. Caramel throughout. Hop bitterness grew suddenly in the short, mostly malty finish. Very clean yeast profile. Medium body and carbonation with some crispness and a bit of dryness. A thirst quenching bock that has plenty of malt character without being heavy. Very nice!
Jun 17, 2006
Photo of blitheringidiot
Reviewed by blitheringidiot from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Grey Lodge Publick House.

Pours a deep russett brown with some glints of violet light escaping.

Scents are deep malty goodness. Solid Germanice malts at play. Just overall welcome malts.

First swigs: What a clean bock. Deep maple malts and clean as a whistle toasted wheat goodness. Some yeasty cleanliness compliments the brew.

Mouthfeel is solid for the style. If this can't be enjoyed at the brewpub, The Grey Lodge is the next best thing.

Last swigs: The last time I was able to try this was at the newer Royersford Brewpub. It is as delicious now as then. Brian O'Reilly is a top notch brewer and the SlyFox name continues to be a Gold Standard. More of my duckets go to Sly Fox. This stuff was so good that two growlers went home with me and my buddy Cormac.

Beer is good. Happy LOCAL beering.
Jul 03, 2005
Slacker Bock from Sly Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 21 ratings