Sly Fox Challenger IPA

Formerly brewed at Sly Fox Brewhouse
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Royersford and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA

One of the best that the Sly Fox has done in the firist two years of this IPA Project, outstanding IPA, amber in color with an orange hue, thick off-white head, great lacing around the glass, aroma full of hops & oranges, full-bodied, great malty backbone for nice balance, dry & hoppy flavors with notes of oranges & caramel, dry & bitter finish, excellent IPA

Draft at the Grey Lodge in Philly. Now this is a beer. Nice dry hoppy flavor. With some bitterness to it.

Draft at Phoenixville. This one arrived with a hazy orangish/dark copper color and a medium off-white head. I really liked the appearance of this one. The aroma was hoppy and fruity, with big black pepper and floral spiciness. The taste has the great malt backbone with the floral spiciness, subtle but firm hop presence, and some esters as it finishes. Complex, well balanced, and very enjoyable.

Draft at Phoenixville location. Pours a hazy copper, head settles to a thin creamy film. Forget lacing on this one, the whole opposite side of the glass was just covered in a creamy film. Aroma of fresh hops, malt, spicy, citrus. Flavor is great, lots of spicy hops and what tastes to me exactly like those red hot fireballs I used to eat as a kid. Strong malt background as well. Palate is full bodied and oily with great carbonation. The best beer I had there (of 7) by far. Very unique tasting IPA. I love the concept behind this beer, and just wish I was closer to be able to try their others in the Project.

I wasn’t expecting much after moving from the Pale Ale (boring) to this one, but it exceeded expectations. The appearance was golden amber colored with a nice head and great lacing (many of these Sly Fox beers have been so). Lacing was not continuous, but left long fingers or trails on the glass with good coverage. The aroma was mildly hoppy, not much else going on (again, not excited to try this one at that point). The flavor, though, was outstanding without being hop crazy. Grapes, other fruits, some citrus, were all present in the malty base that was well balanced (again, not overly hopped) with a hop presence. I liked the approach, I liked the hop selection, and the flavor was great. Mouthfeel was typical for the style, but not too thick.

First time I’ve tried a single-hop challenger brew. Amber color thats pretty & clear. Aroma is a nice floral-grassy mix with some sweet citrus. Flavor is very nice - sweet citrus with just enough grassy-pine. Caramel and other malt tastes mix well with this finely balanced IPA. Not quite simcoe, but the challenger is a fine hop to turn to for a quality brew. Well done Sly Fox!!!!!!!!

On tap at the Sly Fox in Phoenixville, PA. Poured a medium to darker amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, oranges, very light grapefruit and light caramel. Tastes of the same. Not your bitterness overload IPA and well balanced and tasty. Nice lacing left on the glass.

Draught @ Brewery: What aroma? I know this is supposed to be an aromatic hop varietal, but I don’t smell a thing. Beautiful, opaque, glowing orange color. Big white head. Good lacing. Really a pretty beer. Tastes of floral, spicy hop. Easy to drink. Makes the tounge tingle. Medium bodied. Overall, a good IPA.