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The Beer Fox

Cultured, yet finely brushed, the Beer Fox appears to be a specimen of healthy imbibing, lips glossed in mahogany malt, with a hint of floral hops feathering the surrounding air. Is she secretly a society bitch, a vixen with a showy tailpiece?

The taste of her latest kill leaves a tingle in the recesses of her mouth. Perhaps I should elaborate. Her “kill” is of the Barleywine species …was it Road Kill or the ever-present Cereal Killer? An alcohol level of 10% leaves her reeling with pleasure, a victim of kinesthetic sensations impressed upon her inner spirit.

Many believe she is a carnivore, but her omnivorous nature makes her a most sensory creature. It is a matter of survival. The fact is, she never goes to bed without indulging in a creamy head and a body that reflects of coppery highlights. As the Beer Fox, her promiscuous nature takes over when it comes to the basic desires of body and soul. She delights in frothy mousse on her tongue, the taste of liquid bread drenched in molasses and figs, and rich warmth oozing down her throat.

Her craftiness is celebrated in cultures throughout the world, often perceived as if magic ruled her soul. In Finland, she is a mythological being who outsmarts the wolf and the bear, a symbol of intelligence that trumps both evil and brute force. She is a messenger to the gods, carrying the flavors of ambrosial craft beer to Bacchanalian Feasts in the heavens.

Her species is both common and pure, Vulpes vulpes, characterized by a coppery color and prominent tail, tipped in white. The Beer Hunter once asked her if she had a bushy tail, just before he caught her during his global travels in search of beer. She dedicated herself to preserving his legacy, seeking beer in the world’s cultures, leaving no glass unturned. She wrote about his influence on the Craft Beer Renaissance in America for the Journal of the Society of Brewing History in the UK. Her brief opening chapter, Quintessentially Michael, introduced the Bard of Beer on a personal level in "Beer Hunter Whisky Chaser," a book of essays published by Neil Wilson Pub Ltd,© 2009. Proceeds totaling more than $21,000 have been contributed to the Parkinson Society of the UK on behalf of the contributing authors, and will continue with the conversion of this work to digital format.

But craft beer is her weakness. As an international beer judge, she has assessed beer across the globe, from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival to the Mondial de la Biere and beyond. Her writings on beer-related topics number close to a thousand, and can be found in hardcopy magazines and online publications.

She serves the Brewers Association onstage, as the emcee at the Beer and Food Pavilion during the Annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. With Jason Harris, The Beer Fox also founded the Philly Beer Geek Competition in 2008, an annual tourney that awards passionate beer lovers with an enticing cache of prizes to satiate the cravings of every Champion Beer Geek. She is an expert on Gluten-Free Beer, and served as advisor to the Gluten Free Beer Festival in the UK.

The Beer Fox is anxious to share stories of her global exploits, touching upon culture, society and health, designed for your sensory pleasure. Her mash of crafty tales launches the week in style, each Monday.

Notable Stats:

• Name: The Beer Fox
• Habitat: Suburban Foxadelphia
• Breweries of Fondness: Sly Fox Brewing, Phoenixville, PA; Mad Fox Brewing, Falls Church, VA
• Foxy Beer: Rare Vos
• Distinguishable Feature: Bushy Foxtail
• Favorite Movie: The Fox & the Hound
• Look for her Crafty Tales: Beer Fox Monday