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Crafty Fox

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Crafty Fox pulls off a contradiction: it wears the black of a stout and delivers the hop character of an IPA. The malt brings dark fruit and a whisper of toast, while hops and double-roasted malt keep the bitterness present without overwhelming. Smooth and easy despite the colour, it packs full flavour into a session-strength frame. A black ale that tastes lighter than it looks.

ABV
4.4%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession

AWARDS

Silver · 2023
International Beer Challenge Taste Awards
★Silver — International Beer Challenge Taste Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyroasteddark fruit
hoppy
roasted
dark fruit
fruity
malty
toasty
Aroma
The nose leads with earthy, herbal hop character balanced against roasted malt—dark grain, a hint of cocoa, and subtle stone fruit notes emerge as it opens.
also:citrusy
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Crafty Fox

◎ Appearance

Deep black to dark brown in the glass, with a density that suggests substance despite the modest alcohol level. The head is cream-coloured and persistent, settling into fine Schaumkleiden around the rim. Carbonation is gentle and well-integrated, contributing to a smooth visual presence.

deep blackpersistent headsmooth carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with earthy, herbal hop character balanced against roasted malt—dark grain, a hint of cocoa, and subtle stone fruit notes emerge as it opens. There is warmth without sharp edges, a whisper of toast alongside the deeper roasted tones. The overall impression is restrained and inviting rather than aggressive.

herbal hopsroasted graindark fruitbalanced

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and approachable, with dark fruit—plum and raisin—mixing with the roasted malt base. Mid-palate develops a subtle bitterness and citrus edge from the hop charge, while the double-roasted character adds depth without roughness. The beer carries full flavour across a lean alcohol frame, closing with a gentle dry character.

dark fruit forwardclean bitternessfull-flavouredsessionable

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with roasted notes settling into a faint citrus bite. The aftertaste is clean, leaving no cloying sweetness.

dry finishroasted aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
77
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Crafty Fox

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, roasted, smooth-drinking character as Crafty Fox will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all IPA beers in hopIQ →New to IPA? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →