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ROBBIE BURNS BIRTHDAY BASH, JANUARY 22
Don't mess with a good thing.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Wise mottos for sure, and reason enough that the Eighth Annual Robbie Burns Birthday Bash on Friday night will look a lot like all those which have preceded it.

Burns night, with its bagpipers and kilts, customers reciting the great Scottish poet's verses, and the traditional piping in of the Haggis, has become one of the most anticipated Sly Fox events every year, not least because it provides a welcome respite from the depths of winter.

And, or course, it's the night when Sly Fox Gang Aft Agley Scotch Ale is officially released, reason enough for celebration all by itself.

This year, Gang Aft Agley 2010 and our Burns Scottish Ale 2010 will both be on draught and firkins of both will be on handpumps. Not enough? Vintage Gang Aft Agley from 2007 will be on tap as well.

Even if it's cold enough to make a Scotsman wear something under his kilt, you can count on a big crowd to be on hand. Please join us.

SLY FOX GROWTH CONTINUED IN 2009
One of the exciting business news items of the past year was the continuing strength manifested by the craft segment despite the poor economy. That good news was reflected in results at Sly Fox Brewing Company, which showed a 13% increase over its 2008 production figures during 2009, a total of 6,728bbl.

Sly Fox's presence in the tri-state marketplace continued strong, as sales to its wholesalers (NY, NJ, & PA) grew by more than 22% in 2009. Sales to wholesalers overall were just shy of $1.3 million and marked the most profitable year in Sly Fox history. That figure (which does not include internal sales to the Phoenixville and Royersford pubs), when added to additional income from our expanded contract brewing program, made the bottom line 32% higher than it was in 2008.

The popularity of our can packaging played a significant role in that growth. Can sales now encompass approximately 30% of the company's total production.

With the addition of a fifth beer to the canned portfolio and a return to the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania market scheduled for early 2010 (see stories below), it is reasonable to project continued success for the coming year. "We are delighted with the progress we've made and are looking forward to producing more of our award-winning beers for an even wider audience," said managing partner John Giannopoulos.

BACK TO "DA 'BURGH?"

Answering the plaintive pleas of beer lovers on the other side of the Commonwealth, Sly Fox returned to Pittsburgh and the surrounding market early this month under a new contract with Galli Beer Distributing of suburban New Kensington.

Galli Beer Distrubuting Galli was founded by Italian immigrant John Galli Sr. as a soda bottling company in 1926 and became a beer distributor when Prohibition was repealed in 1933. Today it is a state wide-distributor delivering domestic and import beers to all counties of Pennsylvania.

Sly Fox's earlier foray westward a few years back did not work out because the company and its first wholesaler turned out to not be a good fit and production was hard-pressed to meet demand. Rather than leap back in, Sly Fox held off until the time was just right and a new wholesaler was ready and eager to spread the word...and the beer.

That time is now.

WHO IS THAT MASKED MAN CAN?

Visitors to the Sly Fox Facebook page have been intrigued this month by a series of mysterious posts which suggest that a fifth beer may be added to the brewery's canned portfolio, which currently consists of year-round Pikeland Pils and Phoenix Pale Ale and two seasonals, Dunkel Lager (winter) and Royal Weisse (summer).

And intrigued they should be, because a new canned product will be introduced this spring.

A new beer? A familiar beer in a new package? Something else altogether?

We are sworn to secrecy'for now. Check out Facebook, keep watching the skies and, if all else fails, take comfort in the fact that our February Newsletter will reveal all.

That's a promise.

SLY FOX HAS GONE TO THE DOGS?
...and the cats and other animals in need as well.

Human Society Logo
Sly Fox Brewing has become the official sponsor for the Humane Society of Berks County. Every event that this most worthwhile organization holds will have Sly Fox beer on hand, including the monthly open house, Furry Fridays, which is held on the Second Friday of every month at HSBC headquarters (1801 North 11th St, Reading, 610.921.2348). This year, HSBC will hold its annual art show April 17, "Pints for Pups" July 17 and a Walktoberfest in October.

Look for Sly Fox at all of them.

WHITHER PHOENIXVILLE?
A variety of factors have slowed down the move across Rt. 113 for Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery and a decision was made in December to pull back and wait until the annual ten-week St. Patrick's Day Boot Camp and annual St. Patrick's Day Party were over.

Meanwhile, there is visible evidence at the new location, in a space which was previously a Blockbuster store, with the terraced area out front already completed. The question everyone is asking is "Where will the goat races be held?"

Here's Phoenixville managing partner Pete Giannopoulos on that and the whole project in general:

"We have been moving forward despite some unexpected delays. Since the foundation of the beer garden was completed, we were able complete the difficult building permit process, get PECO to retro-fit our natural gas lines and have Comcast pre-wire our entire facility for phone, internet and TV, among other things. The entire LCB license transfer process is completed, as well as the ATF/TTB process at the Federal level. Even I have to admit, the people in Harrisburg and the Federal people at the ATF could not have been more accommodating. Perhaps our 15 year history helped us in that regard.

"We are still on track and very excited." This year we expect to have the best Bock Fest ever at our new location. It will be bigger and better than ever!"



Real Cask Ale on the handpump at Phoenixville every Friday, beginning at Noon!	On the First Friday of every month, Incubus Tripel goes on tap at Noon, only in Phoenixville.	On the Third Friday of the month, a firkin of cask ale goes onto one of the hand pumps in Phoenixville at Noon.