The Fear - Flying Dog Brewery

thebrood1987

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Nice pumpkin pie smell with some pie crust , cinnamon, dark malts and some fruity alcohol fumes. I get spices right up front with some cinnamon, ginger, a tad of nutmeg. Very complex beer. It ends with a hoppy earthy bite. I also taste some alcohol and the dark fruity ester come out.

Its very spicy and the pumpkin takes a bit of the backseat but coming through with a vegetable bite that mixes in with the hops. You get a lot of tastes in this one. I also get a burnt malt porter taste as well. Its almost like a porter mixed pumpkin ale. The dark malts and earthy bitterness of a porter but not uite stout with the pumpkin pie spices and slight pumpkin taste.

An amazing take on the style very unique in comparison to most. With that being said its not the best but very complex and still an amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 02:42:00 | More by thebrood1987

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Quite excited to see this right next to secret stash!
Great appearance with a dark ruby brown color. A thin head sits on top of this gorgeous beer. It smells of sweet malts, pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The first sip blows me away. It reminds me of pumking with less sweetness and more rich maltiness. As I work my way through the glass, the beer warms showing more pumpkin flavor along with the subtle spices. Nice balance between the pumpkin, malts, and light spice. Overall I found this to be an excellent beer, like a darker pumking perfect for enjoying on a cool fall evening outside around the campfire.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 04:07:22 | More by taylor714914

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've always been indifferent to Flying Dog and am not a big fan of their standard line-up. However, I tried a single bottle of this the other day and was totally blown away. I'll love to see a local brewery shine like this!

I poured into a snifter.

"Whatever THE FEAR is that consumes you, embrace it, along with this Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Only then will the true artist in you rise up."

A: The darkest pumpkin ale I've ever seen. I mean really.... wow! It looked dark brown coming out of the bottle, but once collected in the glass, it's maybe a shade or so lighter than pitch black. The head is marshmallowy and clingy.

S: Big pumpkin spice bomb with cinnamon taking the lead. I friggin love cinnamon! Of course, nutmeg and allspice are in there also.... in a very fresh, intense way.

T: The pumpkin coated alcohol attacks you first... and that booze is coat doubly with cinnamon. I also go some of Flying Dog's signature, Wild Dog series, profile in there as well.

M: Like I said, the cinnamon burns the palate and the booze is present, but it is of the candy-coated, Three Floyds-esque variety. The carbonation is light and the lacing is ridiculous.

O: If you ask me, this is of the best pumpkin ales on the market. No joke!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 22:17:03 | More by Chaney

DreamInOrange

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a very dark brown nearly opaque but not quite as dark as a stout. Very little visible carbonation but can be seem bubbling at the top. Small off-white head with decent clinging. Smells strongly of nutmeg, spice, and caramel, not overly noticeable pumpkin smell. This is more of a fall spice beer than typical pumpkin ales. Definitely a warming spiced flavor that reminds me of a spiced pumpkin coffee drink more than pie. Strong but not overly boozy alcohol. This is a nice alternative to other pumpkin beers. I would go back to this next fall.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 01:41:31 | More by DreamInOrange

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ba Review #77
Served On: 10/13/2011
Glassware: Snifter
Labeled ABV: 9.0%
Date/ Code: 2011

I can’t believe I ran into some of this. Perks of working right down the road from Flying Dog’s brewery in Frederick – I guess.

Look: Poured a rather dark color for a pumpkin ale. An almost porter brown consistency with a thick 1 finger tan head. Carbonation seemed rather good, but bubbles were hard to detect through the murky appearance of the brew.

Smell: The aroma made me feel like I was actually smelling pumpkin pie. No real artificial notes or extreme spices like some pumpkin ales I’ve had. Granted - spice and pumpkin meat were apparent, just not way overpowering or fake. I also got some hops and a somewhat earthy potpourri that promised some balanced sweetness. Not much booze in the nose.

Taste: First on the palate were soft notes of pumpkin meat with some typical pumpkin pie spices - like allspice and nutmeg. The middle offered more spice with pleasant alcohol warmth that confirmed the 9% ABV. Finish had an unusual bitterness mixed with lingering spices. I would have to guess the unexpected bitterness was from the Warrior and Willamette hops making up the 45 IBU’s. This beer certainly had the imperial qualities I was hoping for. What a treat!

I’m hoping I can pick up more of this. My bottle shop said distribution is extremely limited and they were only able to get in a couple cases.

___

Vintage Tasting Notes:

Ba Review #77.5
Served On: 10/17/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Date/ Code: 2011

This bottle has been in my cellar since last year around this time.

Look: Poured the same very black color. Think Pumpkin Porter. Sandy head reduced down to a clump that floated around. Head lacing almost looked like flames rising up from the dank scary liquid. Alcohol legs everywhere along the sides of the Duvel glass.
Smell: It seemed as though the spice intensity was turned down a bit and replaced with some dark chocolate notes. The aroma could have reminded me of a Stout. Some of the pumpkin meat character was still vaguely noticeable.

Taste: First off was a creamy dark chocolate note that was followed by a bitterness found in the fresh version. I have to say that most of the pumpkin and spice qualities went away over the past year and left my palate with very basic Stout or Porter notes with minimal spice. Also the bitterness level seemed more intense. A slight hit of cinnamon or nutmeg did hit right before the finish. The aftertaste was just more bitterness.

I can't say that I'll over cellar a pumpkin beer again. I've heard where the spices seem to subside, and I can see first-hand that is true.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 22:11:53 | More by CraftBeerTastic

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in flared glass

A: Thin head; good carbonation; dark cola color; not much lacing
S: nutmeg, pumpkin, caramel; inviting
T: very satisfying; alcohol and spices (nutmeg, allspice) prominent; hops are very strong, providing complexity

Some reviewers complain about the abundant hops, but I find that an asset in a pumpkin beer (a style I tend not to prefer). It's superior to Dog Fish Head's pumpkin, which is overly spiced.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 14:21:33 | More by Arithmeticus

HoppyRedskin

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I purchased a single bottle at Rodman's DC today. Pours dark brown, with a nice foamy white head. It has a fabulous aroma of pumpkin pie. It has a silky mouth feel, with a nice after taste. Not as good as the DFH Pumpkin, but a great substitute. I would recommend this beer, and would love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 00:07:29 | More by HoppyRedskin

mdfb79

New York

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 11/22/11 notes. Had on tap at FireWorks in Arlington, VA. Served in a 4 oz. taster glass.

a - Pours a dark brown mahogany color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pumpkin, spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, bready malts.

t - Tastes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, spices, bready malts, light wheat. A lot more cinnamon than the nose, which I like a lot. A step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall I thought this was a really good pumpkin ale, and was really easy to drink for 9% ABV. Loads of cinnamon in the taste, would definitely order it again sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 22:09:58 | More by mdfb79

jslice99

New York

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- Very dark brown with about a half finger of white head.

S- Excellent smell. Smells strongly of pumpkin. I also pick up some cinnamon and nutmeg spices.

T- Cinnamon and nutmeg are the dominent flavors but i do get a taste of pumpkin towards the end.

M- Light to medium with some carbonation.

O- Overall this is a solid pumpkin ale, one of the best i've had. I would highly reccomend this.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 04:24:26 | More by jslice99

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Opaquely very dark brown, almost black in color, with ruby-brown highlights. Silky aged ivory head on top with amazing retention and rings of lacing. Pumpkin pie and cinnamon come to mind when smelling, as well as other aromas of nutmeg, allspice and other sweet spices. Pleasant.

Big and bold taste, the first thing that actually hits you is a bitterness remeniscent of a mixture of hops and coffee. After that come some pumpkin tastes that try to struggle through, but are overpowered by the alcohol and dark roasted malts. Alcohol is pretty well integrated into the beer, not being over boozy even at 9%, but it does seem to detract from some very pleasant pumpkin tastes. Spices like the cinnamon and allspice work their way through as well, but are muted compared to the pleasant aroma. Still obviously a pumpkin ale however, just an imperial one with very tasty competing flavors. Pumpkin and bitterness both linger in the aftertaste, after a creamy but prickly mouthfeel.

All that said, I still really enjoyed this beer. Its big and bold, and even though the pumpkin doesn't shine through, it does add a layer of complexity to an already complex beer. I would buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 03:49:36 | More by chodinheaven

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into goblet.

A - Pours a very dark brown, nearly black. About a finger of almond head tops it off. Shows good lacing.

S - Roasted malts, nutmeg, and some pumpkin. It has molasses and toasted characters similar to a big stout with additional pumpkin pie spices.

T - Starts sweet, but mellow. Some toasted malts follow with a big cinnamon spice finish. Char on the aftertaste adds an interesting dynamic. Very nice. A nice change of pace from all of the cloyingly sweet pumpkin ales out there.

M - Very smooth carbonation with a medium-thick body. No alcohol presence. Velvety feel.

O - This dark pumpkin is hard to compare to most others in the style. The roasty char character pairs wonderfully with the pumpkin and spices. This is a great imperial pumpkin I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:52:37 | More by NoLeafClover44

schoolboy

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I'm not sure when this one came out, but I missed it, so this week I picked one up for tasting.

It is a lot darker that one would expect - like a deep dark reddish, almost opaque. The aroma is a bit weak for such a big beer, with spice (cloves?) overpowering hops and malt.

I was not in the mood for a really sweet drink and this was just barely OK. It is a little bitter, with some hoppiness and loads of spice, but better balanced than many. Underneath all this is a very big, strong beer, and the booze is totally covered by all the taste.

The aftertaste is bitter with spices. Overall these tastes seem to have settled into this beer nicely, and I think waiting a few months since it was brewed (I can't make out what any codes printed on it mean but I have to assume it was brewed in early fall or before) has probably improved it.

I would not go out of my way to buy this again at $2.50 bottle, but I also would not refuse one if offered.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 02:11:13 | More by schoolboy

DapperGrowler

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I tried this beer on tap.

A: The beer was a dark amber color (not quite brown) with a good head and decent carbonation.

S: The beer had slight pumpkin smell with some spice (nutmeg, cinnamon)

M: Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, malt

O: This is one of my favorite pumpkin beers. It is a solid fall beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 16:28:28 | More by DapperGrowler

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz.

Pours a deep mahogany brown, tannish head, fine, about an inch, slow dissipation.

Smells of sweet to tangy pumpkin, brown sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Tastes of mildly toasted pumpkin with some nutty hop bitterness. Brown sugar and nutmeg spice as well. Hint of smokiness.

Medium to full body with mild prickly carbonation on the tongue.

A different approach to a pumpkin ale, works pretty well. Sweet like some pumpkin ales, but the smokey and bitter notes take it somewhere else. I like this pretty good and would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 21:46:23 | More by Cylinsier

jwc215

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours brown, almost black, with deep, dark mahogany to dark garnet hues, with a thin, lasting creamy head. Trailing lacing sticks.

The smell is typical pumpkin spiciness - allspice, nutmeg, clove, etc. with some brown sugar. Pretty robust.

The taste is of pumpkin spicing with a touch of smoke. There is enough porter character so that it is not all just spicing. Alcohol comes through. There is a slight hop bitterness in the finish.

It has a firm, full body. Some alcohol warmth lingers.

This pumpkin ale has strong pumpkin spicing without leaving behind the beer aspect. It has a touch of smoke and a hop touch that add to the complexity. The alcohol is apparent, so be ready for the 9% abv, though it doesn't interfere in the beer's aspects. Not quite the pumpkin pie beer that others are, this one has the strong pumpkin spicing, but has a unique character to it, as well, that makes this one worth trying, and enjoyable. Well-done!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 16:58:20 | More by jwc215

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am excited to have found this one. The beer poured a deep clear chestnut, mahogany color and builds about a finger high, tan head which has good retention and leaves lacing on the glass.
The smell reveals lots of spice, nutmeg, coriander and malt.
Tasting the beer the front is certainly marked by all the spices. In the middle actually a little pumpkin flavor works its way through along with caramel and brown sugar. At the end the alcohol is certainly making its mark, along with some flavors almost expected from whisky barrels.
A really great fall beer with a lot of character. I am glad I had a chance to taste it!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 02:34:24 | More by Hopfenpeter

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nearly black in color with brownish hues on the edge of the glass. Poured with a short beige foam that quickly reduced to a soapy cap that drapes sheets of wet lacings on the glass. Thick, creamy, smooth feel. Sweet pumpkin aroma with a lightly roasted malt aroma beneath. Sweet pumpkin flavor up front and into the middle with a floral hop bitterness in tow that continues to grow to the finish. Hop bitterness gives way to a brief pumpkin sweetness at the finish that leaves a lingering hop bitterness. The imperial nature of this beer is very apparent from the middle to the end. This was damn good. A truly unique spin on pumpkin ale.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 17:47:07 | More by IronLover

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.96/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a snifter

Appearance- Served a deep orange-brown color with a thin cream colored head. The head fades very fast to leave a whole lot of nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell-The aroma is on the more roasted and dry side overall. It is heaviest of a roasted malt and light roasted pumpkin smell. The nose has notes of a nutty nature as well as some spices of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Taste – The taste follows the nose of the brew very well. It begins heavy with a roasted malt and roasted pumpkin flavor. There is a light only a light level of sweetness upfront, but as the taste advances some sweeter brown sugar and caramel flavors come to the tongue. Initially in the taste there are some light nutty flavors which dwindle as the sweet flavors come to the tongue. Spices come to the taste more at the end as well. Nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon mix with the sweeter flavors and the roasted malt and pumpkin well to produce a rather balanced pumpkin flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer was on the slightly thicker side with a carbonation level that is rather average. The creaminess is quite nice for the pumpkin and roasted flavors of the beer while the carbonation suits the spice and sweeter tastes that come to the tongue at the end.

Overall – A rather nice roasty at first and sweeter and balanced pumpkin flavor in this one. A good example of an imperial pumpkin brew and one to try if you have the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 00:19:30 | More by Darkmagus82

mchodge13

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of the better pumpkin beers I've tried this season. Pours a very dark brown with small beige foam. Picked up some usual pumpkin spices in the aroma(cloves I think) but got a whiff of banana-flavored bubble gum. Taste is a little spicy with hints of graham crackers. Packs a nice alcohol bite and has a tingly mouth-feel.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 23:52:43 | More by mchodge13

jfmorey

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Whole Foods in Vienna, VA

Very dark, almost opaque rudy-brown

Swell is all malt, black cherry

Taste is only fintly of pumpkin and spice; perhaps the reason for the generally low reviews? Just enough piney hops to balance the sweetness, with none of the metalic taste the is an issue for me in higher alcohol beers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2011 18:49:25 | More by jfmorey

MrOzNthePumpKings

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I wanted to give this one an overall of 3.8, but I rounded it up to 4.0 by default of the rating options. This one is real fun, I LOVE the description on the label about fear and Halloween, really makes for an exciting journey into my stomach. The main thing that stands out in, or maybe I should say Jumps out, of this Pumpkin Ale for me is the extreme spice received when washing it down. I personally enjoy it, and the slightly higher alcohol content helps make it something more special and provides a pre-winter warming bite to it. It has delightful mouth feel, very frothy and sort of thick, coats the inside of your mouth with all that autumn spice. I drank this with a Pumpkin whoopie Pie from Whole Foods and I tell you, the combination of the pumpkin dessert washed down by the Fear was so delightful I almost keeled over with joy! I think this is one of the BEST pumpkin beers to drink with pumpkin related desserts (cookies, pound cakes, pumpkin butter battered croissants)seriously, drink this one with your favorite pumpkin sweets!

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 02:28:26 | More by MrOzNthePumpKings

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I can't say I was hugely impressed with this beer on tap when I had it at Frisco's, but when I saw it on cask at Max's, I just couldn't resist.

The beer pours a brownish amber color with minimal head retention and very little lacing. The nose is spice filled, with considerable clove, allspice and nutmeg. The flavor profile replicaates the nose in this fairly sweet beer, and once again I'm impressed by the amount of spice in the beer. The cask condition tones it down somewhat, but this is still a clove and vanilla driven seasonal from FD. Mouthfeel is fairly soft with the low carbonation, and the alcohol seems a bit more noticeable as well. Nevertheless, this is an spice infused, interesting interpretation of a pumpkin ale, though a little bit goes a long way. I'm thinking one and done with this one.

Serving type: cask

10-23-2011 19:14:06 | More by johnmichaelsen

Arenbeer

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle thanks to Finewinemike!

A- Pours a deep dark blood reddish brown with 1 finger of off white head. Splotchy lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- Tons of fresh pumpkin, bready notes like pie crust, spices such as allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and a slight bit of alcohol in the finish.

T- Very bready and malty up front that brings out the sweet pumpkin and pie crust. As it finish's and goes down the throat you get lots of spices and a bit of alcohol.

M- Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a nice slight bitter coating finish.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 23:08:17 | More by Arenbeer

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rustico's OktoBEERfest 2011. Served in a plastic pint. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a fairly-dark brown color with a light tan head. Moderate lace. Nose brings forward some nice pumpkin spice and a bit of chocolate and roast. The flavor blends the pumpkin and porter characteristics quite well. A bit of booze, though not much. Medium body with good roast and spice. Well done; I like this pumpkin "sub-style."

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 14:59:19 | More by Thorpe429

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Actually got this right as it kicked, but the bottom of the barrel was still good. Poured a dark chestnut brown, hazy, with a large, rocky, tan head. Aroma of grains and pumpkin pie spice; quite earthy. Taste more of the spice than the pumpkin, with a good amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, and even a hint of basil, I thought. Thick with malts, and a bit earthy, with some bitterness in the finish. Medium mouthfeel; chewy. Not too bad overall.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2011 01:47:15 | More by Rifugium