The Fear
Flying Dog Brewery

The FearThe Fear
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Flying Dog Brewery
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #163
ABV:
9%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,996
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 13.21%
Reviews:
187
Ratings:
693
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 26, 2024
Added:
Sep 25, 2011
Wants:
  53
Gots:
  136
Why is there only one time of the year - as goblins, ghouls and ghosts frolic on front lawns - when we embrace THE FEAR? At all other times, THE FEAR dominates us, controls us and prevents us from greatness. What is there to THE FEAR? Disagreement? Criticism? Humiliation? Whatever THE FEAR is that consumes you, embrace it. Only then will the true artist in you rise up.

Malts: Carabrown, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate, Vienna
Hops: Warrior, Willamette
Yeast: American Ale
IBU: 45
Special: 300 pounds of pumpkin added per 50 barrels
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WVbeergeek:
Photo of WVbeergeek
Rated by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

Oct 22, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of CanyonCitySteve
Rated by CanyonCitySteve from California

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Looks and smells fine. It's really dry by design, but it kinda tastes bitter. Not my favorite.
Jan 26, 2024
 
Rated: 3.82 by FrancisM12 from New Jersey

Jan 06, 2024
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.04/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clear, dark brown body, average size tan head, good lacing.
Aroma: Spicy, herbal, resinous. Pumpkin is subtle.
Taste: Earthy. Dark bread, spices, herbal hops. Pumpkin more evident. Some pine in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Good carbonation for a stout. Full bodied.
Overall: Tasty. Nice kick from the abv. Like the pumpkin staying in the background.
Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by GatorCoop from California

Oct 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.68 by Danzifer from Ohio

Sep 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.58 by Mikexw from New York

Jun 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by Beecham from California

Jan 16, 2023
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

3.96/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper with a 3/4" foamy, tan head, which lasts. Moderate lacing.

Aroma of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon.

Tastes of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin. A bit harsh from the spices.

Medium body, moderate carbonation. Spicy, dry finish.

A very good pumpkin ale.
Dec 04, 2022
Photo of Dr_Gonzo
Reviewed by Dr_Gonzo from Kentucky

3.89/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a tall clear pint glass. Appearance has a darkish amber color, with a sort of tan thick head that has decent retention and lacing.

Appearance: Spices like allspice and nutmeg first come to mind, along with the pumpkin of course first up. Also cinnamon, caramel, marshmallow, chocolate, brown sugar, cloves, and vanilla.

Can taste the bitter alcohol somewhat, and the pumpkin and brown sugar are obvious. Essentially like the aroma. Body is medium-light.
Oct 31, 2022
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

2.96/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
This one pours a dark-ish amber color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells quite bitter and spicy, with nutmeg and cinnamon leading the way, with some light breadiness.

This is much more bitter than I’d want this style to be, with a bitter spicing and an almost licorice-like bitterness as well that feels kind of out of place. I’d want more breadiness and sweetness here.

This is light bodied, spicy and bitter, and not super drinkable.

This is a bit of a mess, and not really recommended on my end here.
Oct 24, 2022
Photo of Nass
Reviewed by Nass from Florida

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The pour is hickory colored. The taste is pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, along with a mild brown sugar note. The 9% abv was hidden well. Overall, this was a solid pumpkin beer but it was a little too spice forward for my liking. Cheers! B
Oct 18, 2022
Photo of DrOfGolf
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured out into a clear pint glass. The color was a dark amberish with an off-white head. The smell to me was of pumpkin, nutmeg, hops, cinnamon, and some other spices l can't identify. The taste was one that I like and I'll try to find others like this while they're around.
Oct 17, 2022
Photo of Christianriveraaa
Reviewed by Christianriveraaa

4.28/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Jet black pour from a 12 oz bottle purchased from trader joes at a cool temp. Heavy lacing as the foam dissipates on this one. Looks like it will be a good one!
Smell: Getting mainly malts for this, caramel, pumpkin, slight cinnamon, nutmeg.
Taste: Enhanced version of the smell with a added brown sugar to it. Wow this is a good holiday beer!
Feel: Medium to light bodied beer.
Overall: Wasn't hoping for to much here, but I have to say if your a holiday person and see this beer you won't be let down.
Oct 15, 2022
Photo of BillAfromSoCal
Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Wow… not your typical pumpkin beer. Deep, dark brown, not a lot of smell but taste screams roasted squash, brown sugar, clove and some pumpkin. Medium heavy mouth feel. This screams “ holidays” even if not overtly pumpkin in smell or taste. Too bad there is no lacing and just a short lived head
Oct 04, 2022
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

4.34/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark brown with ruby highlights, short, dense khaki head, great retention, rings of lace
Smells like winter squash, toasted marshmallow, a hint of dark malt, some autumn spice
Tastes like it smells, the spice lingers
Medium-heavy bodied, appropriate carbonation
What a pumpkin beer should be
Sep 26, 2022
Photo of DarkLordScott
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin

3.32/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Pours a deep bronze color, with minimal head and light carbonation. Aroma is distinctly pumpkin and spices. Taste is bitter pumpkin, cardamom and nutmeg. There is little to convey the ABV of 9%. A dark malty character follows this profile.
Sep 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.65 by Curt3 from Ohio

Sep 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by KT3418 from Colorado

Sep 03, 2022
The Fear from Flying Dog Brewery
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 693 ratings