ROBBIE BURNS BIRTHDAY BASH WILL FEATURE
RELEASE OF GANG AFT AGLEY SCOTCH ALE IN BOTTLES
The Sixth Annual Robbie Burns Birthday Bash at Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery in Phoenixville on Friday January 25 will not only feature bagpipers and kilts, customers reciting the great Scottish poet’s verses, and the traditional carrying in of the Haggis as it has in previous years, but also see the first-ever release of Sly Fox Gang Aft Agley Scotch Ale in 22oz bottles.

Both Gang Aft Agley and Burns Scottish Ale, well-crafted interpretations of Scotland’s two signature beer styles, have become among the most popular offerings on Sly Fox’s eclectic beer list, but they have been draught only releases until now. (The Gang Aft Agley bottling marks a significant change in the brewery’s rotating seasonal beer schedule which is explained in detail in brewmaster Brian O’Reilly’s column below.) Each of these brews is a malty delight in keeping with the traditional styles, but Burns Scottish Ale is more of a session beer designed for pleasant quaffing with friends over a few hours while the Scotch Ale is a big, warming brew best enjoyed with a hearty meal or while sipping it in front of a fire.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BOOT CAMP, BOTH LOCATIONS, JANUARY - MARCH 2008
It’s the fifth time around for this rugged ten-week “training” program (okay, not so rugged). Boot Camp allows participants to earn Raffle Tickets for a drawing (conducted on an alternating basis at both Sly Fox locations) on St. Patrick's Day for a free trip to Ireland. Details, ID cards and lots of O'Reilly's Stout available at both pubs. There’s a Boot Camp each week on Wednesdays at Phoenixville and Thursdays at Royersford, beginning January 9. All the details are right here.

INCUBUS FRIDAY/ IPA PROJECT VARIETAL RELEASE/THIRD FRIDAY FIRKIN FEST-Every Month @ PHOENIXVILLE
Every Sly Fox aficionado is familiar with these monthly events. On the First Friday of every month, Incubus Tripel goes on tap in Phoenixville at Noon. On the Second Friday of the month, February through November, a new Varietal IPA Project beer is released. On the Third Friday of the month, a firkin of cask ale goes onto one of the handpumps in Phoenixville at Noon. These beers pour until they're gone and that's it until the next time. Check our Monthly Calendar for Details.

IT'S FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK OUT SOMETIMES.

But the Bronze for Instigator Doppelbock? That was very much a matter of chance. It takes lots of planning to get beers registered for GABF and ready all at the same time. Last year we had decided to make Dunkel Lager one of our entries but because we delayed production it wasn't available, so we had to find a substitute at the last minute.

Instigator filled in and won the Bronze.

Serendipity.

Now, the logical thing to do would be to try and capitalize on that medal, and we will, when Instigator is released on draught later in the year. But we will not be bottling it in 2008; we are bottling Gang Aft Agley Scotch ale for the first time instead.

We have a seasonal release on our schedule each January, which is a slow time in the beer world: brewers are recovering from the frenzied holiday rush and beer drinkers tend to be well stocked on beer from holiday gifts and party leftovers. Taking that into consideration, we originally chose Instigator because it’s an excellent style for the colder months and yet is also very nice drinking throughout the spring.

But as we looked at things in planning for 2008, we heard all the perennial customer voices echoing in our minds. “When will you bottle the Gang Aft Agley?” “How about the Panacea Barleywine?” “Any chance we’ll see Prometheus in bottles soon?” And it struck us that if we rotate four bigger beers for a January release every year instead of sticking with just one, we can meet at least some of those demands. Plus we might also have ourselves some fun by creating a new beer or two when inspiration strikes if we're not locked into a schedule. At the very least, we can build some curiosity and anticipation for each year's release.

Gang Aft Agley will be released on January 25 at our Robert Burn's night celebration in Phoenixville. I'm looking forward to being able to sip this one at home when the mood strikes, but I usually opt for the Burns Scottish when I'm at the pub. It's a great session beer which I can enjoy while staying a little longer and chatting with people (maybe even Big Dan now that our no smoking policy is in place).