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Christmas Ale
Sly Fox Brewing Company


- From:
- Sly Fox Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #96 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #24,444 - Avg:
- 3.68 | pDev: 14.4%
- Reviews:
- 192
- Ratings:
- 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
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.
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
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, 2023Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania
3.38/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
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, 2022glass: 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.
Reviewed by adrock314 from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
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, 2021L: 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
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
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, 2020S: 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.
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.9/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
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, 2019Dull 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.
Reviewed by Vetbidder from Pennsylvania
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
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, 2018Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
3.93/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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, 2018L---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.
Reviewed by Fatheroftoomany from Pennsylvania
2.43/5 rDev -34%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
2.43/5 rDev -34%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Almost red ale in color. Smell is of something cinnamon mixed with something I can’t pin but it’s not good. Had a cigarette taste and a smooth finish. Not my first choice for a winter beer.
Dec 09, 2018
Christmas Ale from Sly Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
446 ratings
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