Photo courtesy Sly Fox Taphouse
Known for its award-winning craft beer, Sly Fox Taphouse offers a family-friendly atmosphere, fantastic food selections, and a bevy of beers to please brew lovers. Step inside (when able) or order to-go for a tasty, unforgettable experience with a glimpse of history on the side.
Food
At the Sly Fox Taphouse, you won’t find your average bar food menu. Many mouthwatering and unique selections bring satisfaction to every appetite. The number one food item, believe it or not, is the Brussels sprouts. If this surprises you, you’re not alone. General Manager Randy McKinley says with a laugh, “This shocks me because, as others may have a similar story, mom gave you Brussels sprouts and you stuck them in your pocket under the table.” But these are no ordinary Brussels sprouts: they are beer-battered, fried to a beautiful, crispy shade of golden brown, and coated with a balsamic glaze. A choice of either a beer cheese or chili lime Ranch dipping sauce is served as an accompaniment. The runner-up with diners? It’s the cauliflower crust garden pizza topped with a delicious blend of tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and cheese. Other menu items include soups, salads, sandwiches, jumbo wings in many delicious flavors and much more. Every week, different specials are featured, so be sure to keep your eyes open for new offerings.
Beer
Bringing Reading Premium Beer back to the community is just one of Sly Fox Brewing Company’s best beer decisions. As one of their top three brews, the pre-prohibition lager has brought the loyal, older generation of customers into the bar for the simplicity of reminiscing on the past and sipping the nostalgia of it all. With more than 100 varieties of beer crafted, Sly Fox Brewing Company has won several awards in the Great American Beer Festival throughout the years. Industry professionals from around the world get together to taste different brews in specific categories. Awards go to the top three in each, earning gold, silver and bronze medals. Sly Fox has won several of these medals in the company’s lifetime. Their Grisette Belgium Wheat Ale has won four times, including two gold medals. Other winners include, but are not limited to, the Rauch Beer and Pikeland Pils. Randy says, “It’s a huge honor to come back after being recognized by some of the best beer people in the business.”
Location
Once home to the VF Outlets, the space that Sly Fox Taphouse occupies was formerly a Penn State Berks campus study hall, a Black & Decker outlet, Dooney & Bourke, and many other businesses. The space continues to hold onto this history. Check out the exposed bricks on the wall inside Sly Fox Taphouse: these are the original bricks from the early 1900s. Many people, whether first-, second-, or third-generation Berks Countians, have passed through these walls of rich history, and all have a story to tell. Today, this Sly Fox Taphouse location continues to thrive, creating more history and memories while also giving back to the community in any way it can.
