Christmas Ale
Sly Fox Brewing Company

Christmas AleChristmas Ale
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From:
Sly Fox Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #105
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,678
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 14.4%
Reviews:
193
Ratings:
446
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 26, 2023
Added:
Nov 24, 2002
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  49
This malty, full-bodied red ale is made with traditional mulling spices: Ginger, Clove, All Spice, Cinnamon & Nutmeg. If this one doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, you truly are a Scrooge.

Bottled: 16.0 OG | 16 IBUs | 6.5% ABV

Canned: 14.0 OG | 16 IBUs | 5.5% ABV
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JeffTheJuice:
Photo of JeffTheJuice
Rated by JeffTheJuice from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%

Nov 21, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of RacerX5k
Reviewed by RacerX5k from Pennsylvania

4.37/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ok guys, accuracy. Sorry, it's kinda my thing. This is 6.3% ABV today, one of the best beers I've had lately, $1 at one of my locals. Yes, $1. Christmas in July, gotta love it. Phoenixville PA? I may have been there, once, or 100 times. Looks good, smells great, tastes very good, the PERFECT amount of cinnamon in a beer. Amazing. X5K, out. Merry Christmas.
Jul 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.8 by CoasterGuy from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.65 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

Nov 18, 2022
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
12 oz can
glass: tulip


Look: Deep, dark copper with a 2+ finger off-white head. The head dissipates relatively quickly to a mostly consistent film. Good Lacing

Smell: Holiday spices, primarily ginger and some cloves, overlaying a sweet fruitiness.

Taste: Follows the nose but with a heavier does of spice. Again, the primary spice seems to be ginger. The spice lingers thru the finish leaving a slight astringincy.

Feel: Thin and noticeably carbonated but clean.

Overall: Not a bad holiday ale, but not my favorite. The spice is a bit too strong for my palette. What is interesting is how much that I notice the ginger. Almost to the point of not noticing the other spices. Nutmeg I don't register at all. But solid and an OK cold weather brew.
Mar 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.91 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania

Dec 20, 2021
Photo of adrock314
Reviewed by adrock314 from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz can into snifter. Current ABV is 6.3% according to label.

L: Bright & clear ruby color. Fluffy head dissipates rather quickly to a lingering ring. 4.25

S: Label references ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, & cloves and all of that is present in the aroma. Nose is Christmas cookies and gingerbread. It works, but it's a little too much for me. 3.5

T: Sweet caramel & toffee. Luckily the spice is dialed down a little bit in the taste. Ginger and hop bitterness combine on the back end to add some dryness and just a hint of heat in the finish. 4.0

F: Mouthfeel is appropriate. Carbonation is a little too fizzy. 3.5

O: Overall I think this one is better than the sum of its' parts, but something just doesn't do it for me. Definitely a solid seasonal offering, but I'm a kind of let down as I remember enjoying this much more in the past. It has been a year or so since I've had one, though. I'd recommend grabbing a single before committing to a 12 pack. 4.0
Dec 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.03 by T66tah from Pennsylvania

Dec 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.91 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Dec 13, 2020
Photo of Colenso
Reviewed by Colenso from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: thin head with plenty of lacing, straw-colored with a reddish hue
S: Malt, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, general seasonal (Christmas) spice on the palette
T: Hop bitter finish, no noticeable off-flavors but wasn't really picking up the ginger
M: Thin, mild carbonation, somewhat watery
O: It was a fine brew, but I wouldn't want to drink multiple of these. No enough body to support the spice. A bigger mouthfeel would improve this beer.
May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by PatrickCT from Connecticut

Apr 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by harpus from Alabama

Jan 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.79 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Dec 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by bdiiorio from Connecticut

May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.56 by tankg from Pennsylvania

Jan 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by bigschoolrecords from Pennsylvania

Jan 06, 2019
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz can into a pint glass last night at Hucklebucks, Pottsville PA. 2018 release, best by 3/29/19.

Dull dark amber body with a small off white lead leaving little in the way of lacing.

Aroma of the usual Christmas spices, Cinnamon being the most noticeable.

Actually tastes better then I expected. Often with these Christmas beers, the spices, particularly cinnamon , are very strong and quite often a little bitter and harsh. Not the case here. present, but nicely balanced, making for a smooth enjoyable drink. Good solid malt background.

Mouth above medium, finish smooth, spicy, and slightly sweet,

All in all, and enjoyable drinkable beer on a cold winter night.
Jan 04, 2019
Photo of Vetbidder
Reviewed by Vetbidder from Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Darker amber look with a decent tan head. Sweet malt nose, I’m not getting a ton of spice. Got the spice on the flavor plus sweetness with just a slight spicy bite. Just Ok carbonation and a thicker feel. Not bad...
Dec 09, 2018
Photo of rudiecantfail
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass.

L---Crystal clear, orangey amber color. Slightly off-white head faded to a cap fairly quickly and left very good lacing.

S---They advertised a spiced ale, and they deliver on it. Cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice. Initially has a pumpkin beer scent, but then the ginger & clove kick in and it's full of christmas. Some underlying malts are there, but no hoppiness at all.

T---Lots of nutmeg & cinnamon. Again, the other mulling spices kick in and steer it away from pumpkin beer territory. All flavors come from the spices.

F---A bit thick. Coating. Creamy.

O---A nice effort. Tastes like christmas. I wouldn't drink this in the spring or summer, but it's in the 20s today in December and this is well suited for that.
Dec 09, 2018
Christmas Ale from Sly Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 446 ratings