Sly Fox Brewing Company - Vulpulin IPA

In naming this brew, Sly Fox cleverly combined the Latin “vulpes”, which means “fox”, with lupulin, the yellow powdery substance produced by hop flowers which contains the various oils and other compounds that give hops their powerful aroma characteristics. Vulpulin pours a slightly hazed bright orange color topped by a head of sticky foam that laces the glass before dropping to a lasting collar. On the nose, we get lots of orangey citrus as well as some softer floral and tropical fruit notes evoking mango, as well as some hints of stone fruit and even some berry-like touches. In the flavor, look for that complex hop profile to come through loud and clear, most prominently with layers of zesty citrus and juicy tropical fruit. The malt backbone is fairly simple, but sturdy, and quite West Coast in style, providing good body and support for the hop show without getting in the way. Bitterness is quite firm, easily keeping Vulpulin effortlessly dry from the start to the finish, which lingers with a clinging note of grapefruit zest. For pairings, we’d look to spicy fare like tacos with a hot and fruity mango salsa, or Jamaican jerk chicken. Of course, Thai or Vietnamese dishes, especially those featuring citrus or tropical fruit elements, should work nicely too. For less spicy fare, look to dishes with a bit of fat and/or cheese, as well as fried and salty foods. Cheers!

The Sly Fox story began in 1994 when Pete Giannopoulos left his job in corporate sales to pursue his dream of opening a brewpub. But when he talked to the New Jersey investors who’d been encouraging him, he discovered that talking was the extent of their game. Having lost the investors he thought were on board, things all fell into place with a single suggestion from family patriarch, Dr. Peter H. Giannopoulos: “Why not let us be your partners?” With that, what had been simply a personal business prospect suddenly became a prospective family trade.

After finding a suitable location for their operation, Pete quickly went to work designing the pub, while he and his younger brother John set out to become professional brewers. The whole family pitched in, with Mrs. Giannopoulos helping to decorate and various aunts and uncles helping out. Older brother Harry was put in charge of the books and financial records, while younger siblings Wendy and Glenn signed on to work at the pub. The name “Sly Fox” was chosen to reflect the brewpub’s home in Pennsylvania’s Chester County and the area’s fox-hunting tradition. The Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery opened its doors on December 20, 1995 in Phoenixville, PA.

In 2003, Sly Fox was named among the top three brewpubs in the country by Beer Advocate and in 2004, having outgrown their initial location, the brewery moved into a new 20-barrel brewhouse in Royersford, PA. In 2006, Sly Fox became the first Mid-Atlantic brewery to install a canning line, pioneering packaging that has now largely become the default for craft beer. 2012 saw another expansion, this time to their current location, a new 40-barrel brewhouse in Pottstown. In 2021, Sly Fox passed into the next generation as Pete’s son Peter took over as president. Over the years, this highly acclaimed brewery has taken home numerous Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals from the Great American Beer Festival. For more info on their multiple pub locations and their current lineup of tasty brews, visit them at www.slyfoxbeer.com.