Sly Fox Hop Project Review

By: Jack Horzempa
(Originally Posted on Beer Advocate)

Who doesn’t like a beer project!?

A brewery local to me, Sly Fox, decided it is time for a Hop Project. The beer I am discussing today is the second iteration of this project and is branded as Hop Project #002. I had the pleasure of drinking the first iteration of #001 and that beer was absolutely AWESOME!! How will #002 be?

At this point you may be asking: what the heck is a Hop Project?

Well, the folks of Sly Fox have an answer for you:

“Our brewers are excited to continuously explore the universe of hop-forward beers. Each project is a chance to step out of our comfort zone and flex our creative brewing muscles by utilizing new hop varieties and utilizing innovative hopping methods. The Hop Project™ possibilities are endless.

Hop Project™ beers are available in 16oz. cans and on draft, but quantities are very limited. Be sure to keep an eye on our social media pages for the latest release announcements, because just like the beer itself, no two releases will cover quite the same ground.”:

http://slyfoxbeer.com/hop-project

On their website they describe #002:

“No. 002

India Pale Ale

OG:15 IBUs: 70 ABV: 6.8

For iteration No. 002 in our ongoing liquid experimentation project, we combined copious additions of Centennial, Simcoe, and Denali hops to create this fragrant IPA bursting with tropical fruit aromas. Do the results of this liquid experimentation lineup with our hypothesis of deliciousness? - See more at: http://slyfoxbeer.com/beer/hop-project-no-002#sthash.NLsfHA8Z.dpuf

Release Date 05.13.17”

I am familiar with both Centennial and Simcoe hops from my homebrewing; in a couple weeks I will be brewing another batch of Simcoe IPA. But I am unfamiliar with Denali hops. Below is some information about this hop variety from one of my homebrew suppliers:

“Denali™ Hop Pellets

Denali (formerly known as Hopsteiner 06277) is a dual purpose hop, originated from a cross between Nugget, Zeus and USDA 19058 male.

Denali has a big aroma that imparts pineapple with notes of citrus and pine. This hop is popular with brewers who are looking for a distinct, impactful flavor in their beers. Denali has an unusually high total essential oil content, averaging more than 4 grams oil/100 grams of raw hops.

Denali hops are often used in pale ales and IPAs.”

Well, it sure reads like an intriguing hop.

Let’s see how Denali plays with Centennial/Simcoe!


Served in my Gulden Draak tulip glass:



Appearance:

Golden colored, a BIG fluffy white head and just a tiny bit of haze.

Aroma:

Yup, the tropical fruits as advertised are there but also lots of dank! An intriguing aroma!!

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a complex combination of tropical fruits and dank. There is a moderate bitterness there.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a bit of a soft mouthfeel; I enjoyed this body.

Overall:

I think this beer is very, very good! I am typically not a fan of dank flavors but in this beer the dank flavors mesh very pleasingly with the other hop flavors (i.e., tropical fruits). I typically pick up piney flavors from Simcoe but in this beer I did not perceive piney; I am guessing that the Simcoe hops in this beer is providing the dank component?

This series of Hop Project beers is an interesting business concept for Sly Fox. Sly Fox has been around for a long time (over 20 years) and I am guessing this venture is there way of spicing things up and participating in the contemporary Philly area beer scene. There is presently lots of ‘excitement’ of the beer geeks for the local, smaller breweries (e.g., Tired Hands, Hidden River, Forest & Main,…). I am guessing that is one way that Sly Fox can say: Hey, we can make exciting beers too! Well, they have my attention here.

I am looking forward to the release of Hop Project #003.

Cheers!

Jack Horzempa is a longtime friend of the store and an extremely knowledgeable home brewer, brewing some of the best beer I have ever tasted. Jack's palate is well seasoned and he has been a valuable source of beer expertise to the store. He has graciously allowed us to re-post his review/posts from Beer Advocate where he has achieved Poo-bah status. Since joining Beer Advocate 12 yrs ago, Jack has posted more than 20,000 times and earned over 25,000 likes.