Paranormal Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
- From:
- Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #66 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #17,095 - Avg:
- 3.96 | pDev: 12.12%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 46
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 17, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 02, 2014
- Wants:
- 9
- Gots:
- 16
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
As if the cult of brewing with pumpkin wasn’t already an unexplained phenomenon, the Flying Monkeys have created a rich, mesmerizing Imperial Pumpkin Ale beyond explanation. Irresistible impulses drove us to dump pumpkin in our kettle and douse the brew with exotic warm spices haunting our brewhouse with the toasty aura of Autumn.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ichorNet:
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.52/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.52/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This beer intrigued me because I think it's the strongest of the imperial pumpkin ales I've seen around (in stores and readily-available to me, so not counting stuff like Rumpkin by Avery and whatnot), and I've also never had anything else by FMCB... what better way to start than with a zany idea like this? The can advertises this as a beer "doused with exotic, warm spices" that "evokes the aromas of pumpkin pie, graham cracker crust, and the toasty aura of Autumn." Sounds good enough, eh? (That's a reference to the brewery being based in Canada... get it?... uhh)
Pours a very deep amber bordering on a filtered mahogany/chestnut brown-ish color. Wow, this is completely clear! Nice looking color and the clarity is, of course, pretty interesting and out-of-the-ordinary in my opinion. A nice, built-up head of slightly-off-white foam that laces quite solidly and bears decent legs. This looks better than I expected it to, not gonna lie. Also quite a bit darker.
The nose is pretty convincing right away. My go-to strong pumpkin beer is Pumking, and this is kinda close but with more of a focus on spices than on the vanilla/pie and bright, distinct, indescribable aroma that beer has going for it. This has a huuuuge helping of cinnamon and nutmeg, though there's definitely a subtle and fun note of ginger in here that keeps things from getting too generic. I definitely pick up a decent amount of squash-like earthy pumpkin, but it's certainly a backing note, which is fine by me. Some beers in this style, imperial and normal strength, try to go hard in both the spice/pie AND pumpkin directions, leaving the beer confused. This has a good balance, so I'm into it, for sure.
Oh man, this is a real doozy. A punch in the face, with lots of complex spices and interesting stuff going on. First up I am just utterly assaulted by cinnamon and nutmeg, but the mid-palate has some honeyed graham cracker flavors and then quickly transitions into a beautifully sweet and boozy vanilla pumpkin pie flavor that is honestly blowing me away right now. This is way better than I expected it to be! Almost like Pumking's big brother, if I may be so bold as to stake such an illustrious claim! Strong gingerbread and whipped cream component with some balancing Munich-ish malt that performs favorably. Stiff ethanol component toward the finish that melds nicely with the spices. Almost has a woody flavor. Crazy, and quite good.
A bit thick on the tongue, though I kind of expect that with what I guess is basically a "triple pumpkin ale" if we're going with IPA-influenced style nomenclature. Moderate carbonation and a long-lasting finish that begins sweet but finishes off quite spicy and invigorating. A sipper, and a very fun one. Guess I have to pay more attention to FMCB now!
Sep 20, 2019Pours a very deep amber bordering on a filtered mahogany/chestnut brown-ish color. Wow, this is completely clear! Nice looking color and the clarity is, of course, pretty interesting and out-of-the-ordinary in my opinion. A nice, built-up head of slightly-off-white foam that laces quite solidly and bears decent legs. This looks better than I expected it to, not gonna lie. Also quite a bit darker.
The nose is pretty convincing right away. My go-to strong pumpkin beer is Pumking, and this is kinda close but with more of a focus on spices than on the vanilla/pie and bright, distinct, indescribable aroma that beer has going for it. This has a huuuuge helping of cinnamon and nutmeg, though there's definitely a subtle and fun note of ginger in here that keeps things from getting too generic. I definitely pick up a decent amount of squash-like earthy pumpkin, but it's certainly a backing note, which is fine by me. Some beers in this style, imperial and normal strength, try to go hard in both the spice/pie AND pumpkin directions, leaving the beer confused. This has a good balance, so I'm into it, for sure.
Oh man, this is a real doozy. A punch in the face, with lots of complex spices and interesting stuff going on. First up I am just utterly assaulted by cinnamon and nutmeg, but the mid-palate has some honeyed graham cracker flavors and then quickly transitions into a beautifully sweet and boozy vanilla pumpkin pie flavor that is honestly blowing me away right now. This is way better than I expected it to be! Almost like Pumking's big brother, if I may be so bold as to stake such an illustrious claim! Strong gingerbread and whipped cream component with some balancing Munich-ish malt that performs favorably. Stiff ethanol component toward the finish that melds nicely with the spices. Almost has a woody flavor. Crazy, and quite good.
A bit thick on the tongue, though I kind of expect that with what I guess is basically a "triple pumpkin ale" if we're going with IPA-influenced style nomenclature. Moderate carbonation and a long-lasting finish that begins sweet but finishes off quite spicy and invigorating. A sipper, and a very fun one. Guess I have to pay more attention to FMCB now!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by talisen-crw from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 473mL in a pint glass. From the Huron Church Rd. LCBO in nearby Windsor. Canned August 14/25. My 20th beer from the Barrie, Ontario brewery, and 8th for 2025. Lovingly admired by Gracie the cat...
Nov 17, 2025
Reviewed by Mikehicks100 from Canada (ON)
2.5/5 rDev -36.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.5/5 rDev -36.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Made in my home town, eh.
Pours a thin tan foam head. Orange brown color. Smells very strongly of spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice.
Taste reminds me of whisky fireball or something like a spiced rum. Obviously not as strong as those but it got me thinking back to the days when I would drink crap like that. Maybe that's why it's a little bit of a turn off for me because I don't drink the hard stuff anymore, and overall I think it's over spiced. First couple of sips were OK, but then I didn't really want another cinnamon hit. With that being said I'll have to give this one a 2.5/5.
Sep 24, 2025Pours a thin tan foam head. Orange brown color. Smells very strongly of spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice.
Taste reminds me of whisky fireball or something like a spiced rum. Obviously not as strong as those but it got me thinking back to the days when I would drink crap like that. Maybe that's why it's a little bit of a turn off for me because I don't drink the hard stuff anymore, and overall I think it's over spiced. First couple of sips were OK, but then I didn't really want another cinnamon hit. With that being said I'll have to give this one a 2.5/5.
Reviewed by jrc1093 from Connecticut
3.58/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Best before 4/27/2028; consumed on 9/24/2024
Pours a murky mahogany hue capped with two fingers of sudsy, off-beige foam; great head retention leaves a modest layer of cap, a slight, frothy collar, and comprehensive webbing of chunky, soapy lacing around the walls of the glass.
Aromas of burnt pie crust mesh with baked pumpkin and supportive brown sugar accents as subtle vanillins, caramel, and notes of molasses shore up the back end of the bouquet.
Taste brings notes of burnt sugar and char upfront, with advancing pumpkin chunks and accents of toasted seeds expanding over the mid-palate as caramel esters linger through the finish.
Mouthfeel shows a medium body and a moderate-high, rounded fluff of carbonation before dispersing somewhat slick textures across choppy roast and a slight, building warmth over time.
Pumpkin pie essence sees prudent spice enmeshed in harsher char overtones; a robust take on a burlier seasonal expression.
Sep 25, 2024Pours a murky mahogany hue capped with two fingers of sudsy, off-beige foam; great head retention leaves a modest layer of cap, a slight, frothy collar, and comprehensive webbing of chunky, soapy lacing around the walls of the glass.
Aromas of burnt pie crust mesh with baked pumpkin and supportive brown sugar accents as subtle vanillins, caramel, and notes of molasses shore up the back end of the bouquet.
Taste brings notes of burnt sugar and char upfront, with advancing pumpkin chunks and accents of toasted seeds expanding over the mid-palate as caramel esters linger through the finish.
Mouthfeel shows a medium body and a moderate-high, rounded fluff of carbonation before dispersing somewhat slick textures across choppy roast and a slight, building warmth over time.
Pumpkin pie essence sees prudent spice enmeshed in harsher char overtones; a robust take on a burlier seasonal expression.
Reviewed by Historiker from Ohio
4.38/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
My first beer from this company, and I gotta say I'm impressed.
Poured a hazy, deep amber. About an inch of head that reduced to a skim coat with nice staying power. Now, the label is crazy. The ABV is high. You expect a color commensurate with that level of intensity, and this fella delivers. Just the look of this rust colored beauty suggests I'm in for a ride.
The aroma is spice forward. Lots of big, bold cinnamon, followed by other baking spices. This doesn't smell like it has pumpkin, or even canned pumpkin - this smells like alcoholic pumpkin pie dialed up to 11. You smell the malts and some caramel, too. If my eyes were turned on, my nose is downright aroused.
The flavor largely follows the nose. Fair warning - their website says they "douse[ed] the brew with exotic warm spices," and they ain't lying. These are some big bold flavors. There's some mild bitterness on the finish which I can appreciate. Absent that, this would be a high ABV dessert beer. Slightly boozy aftertaste. Quite nice, but I still liked the smell more.
Mouthfeel is quite nice. Nice medium body, smooth,pretty creamy.
This is a great beer, but be aware that it has a backbone. Its easy drinking, and I could definitely put away a couple of these 473ml cans and be quite happy. Highly recommend!
Aug 17, 2024Poured a hazy, deep amber. About an inch of head that reduced to a skim coat with nice staying power. Now, the label is crazy. The ABV is high. You expect a color commensurate with that level of intensity, and this fella delivers. Just the look of this rust colored beauty suggests I'm in for a ride.
The aroma is spice forward. Lots of big, bold cinnamon, followed by other baking spices. This doesn't smell like it has pumpkin, or even canned pumpkin - this smells like alcoholic pumpkin pie dialed up to 11. You smell the malts and some caramel, too. If my eyes were turned on, my nose is downright aroused.
The flavor largely follows the nose. Fair warning - their website says they "douse[ed] the brew with exotic warm spices," and they ain't lying. These are some big bold flavors. There's some mild bitterness on the finish which I can appreciate. Absent that, this would be a high ABV dessert beer. Slightly boozy aftertaste. Quite nice, but I still liked the smell more.
Mouthfeel is quite nice. Nice medium body, smooth,pretty creamy.
This is a great beer, but be aware that it has a backbone. Its easy drinking, and I could definitely put away a couple of these 473ml cans and be quite happy. Highly recommend!
Reviewed by Nash39 from Florida
3.97/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The pour is a dark bronze color with a thick & frothy white head of foam. The taste is mainly spices & pumpkin in the background. The 10% abv feels more like a 8% abv beer. Cheers! B
Dec 25, 2023
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio
4.33/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Wow. My third Flying Monkeys taste is amazing!
I insisted on buying this just for the label. My sample is three months old. The brand is, what, 8 years old! And look at all the BA people who've been here.
This beauty pours a brownish orange with perfect head. The aroma is an amazing head of exotic smells. If there aren't wacky adjuncts in here they have synthesized new smells from thin air. It gets better as it warms, and because it isn't heavy feeling (but oh man, it is heavy), it's still easy drinking warmer. Who am I kidding? Easy drinking it is not - easy sipping.
Highly recommended. I love this Flying Monkey creation. Call me a big fan. My dealer, Save On in Mentor, seems to be getting a few Flying Monkeys so I will request more!
Nov 20, 2022I insisted on buying this just for the label. My sample is three months old. The brand is, what, 8 years old! And look at all the BA people who've been here.
This beauty pours a brownish orange with perfect head. The aroma is an amazing head of exotic smells. If there aren't wacky adjuncts in here they have synthesized new smells from thin air. It gets better as it warms, and because it isn't heavy feeling (but oh man, it is heavy), it's still easy drinking warmer. Who am I kidding? Easy drinking it is not - easy sipping.
Highly recommended. I love this Flying Monkey creation. Call me a big fan. My dealer, Save On in Mentor, seems to be getting a few Flying Monkeys so I will request more!
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
473 mL can
Served in an imperial nonic pint glass
This beer pours a murky rust color. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves nice lacing.
Pumpkin spices, pumpkin pie filling, and vanilla
The taste follows the smell. Pumpkin spices followed by a little pumpkin pie filling in the middle. And I get vanilla. Not sure if it is an actual ingredient or just perceived. It has a bit of a boozy aftertaste.
Medium, almost full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel
It is pretty good. The boozy aftertaste, which I am normally fond of, isn't hitting my sweet spot today. Easing back into drinking after a wild time last weekend. So, it comes down to my mindset.
Oct 29, 2022Served in an imperial nonic pint glass
This beer pours a murky rust color. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves nice lacing.
Pumpkin spices, pumpkin pie filling, and vanilla
The taste follows the smell. Pumpkin spices followed by a little pumpkin pie filling in the middle. And I get vanilla. Not sure if it is an actual ingredient or just perceived. It has a bit of a boozy aftertaste.
Medium, almost full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel
It is pretty good. The boozy aftertaste, which I am normally fond of, isn't hitting my sweet spot today. Easing back into drinking after a wild time last weekend. So, it comes down to my mindset.
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.73/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Best by 9/6/27. Seems like an absurdly long shelf life for a Pumpkin Beer but sure
Pumpkin Beer season is in full swing; this my my third new one this week, and I've been revisiting old favorites along the way as well. This brewery I had never even heard of, but any pumpkin is fair game at this point so I went ahead and grabbed it. Let's see what this imperial version of the style is all about
Pours a muddy orange brown with 3 fingers of rocky light tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose is definitely spice-driven, but there's still a nice malt sweetness behind it. I'm picking up on aromas of earthy cinnamon, nutmeg, brown bread, roasted pumpkin, light clove, apple skin, and a touch of caramel
Unfortunately it's a bit more abrasive in the spice realm in taste, knocking it down quite a bit. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting nutmeg, pumpkin meat, clove, allspice, graham cracker, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of clove, earthy cinnamon, nutmeg, herbal hops, pumpkin meat, burnt caramel, and nutmeg
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and creamy beer. Finishes spicy and oddly herbal but it's still drinkable
This isn't the worst I've had of the style, but it just feels like overkill with those spices. Oh well
Oct 09, 2022Pumpkin Beer season is in full swing; this my my third new one this week, and I've been revisiting old favorites along the way as well. This brewery I had never even heard of, but any pumpkin is fair game at this point so I went ahead and grabbed it. Let's see what this imperial version of the style is all about
Pours a muddy orange brown with 3 fingers of rocky light tan head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose is definitely spice-driven, but there's still a nice malt sweetness behind it. I'm picking up on aromas of earthy cinnamon, nutmeg, brown bread, roasted pumpkin, light clove, apple skin, and a touch of caramel
Unfortunately it's a bit more abrasive in the spice realm in taste, knocking it down quite a bit. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting nutmeg, pumpkin meat, clove, allspice, graham cracker, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of clove, earthy cinnamon, nutmeg, herbal hops, pumpkin meat, burnt caramel, and nutmeg
A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and creamy beer. Finishes spicy and oddly herbal but it's still drinkable
This isn't the worst I've had of the style, but it just feels like overkill with those spices. Oh well
Reviewed by Tony210 from New Jersey
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a fairly clear dark amber color, ample foamy head. Big pumpkin spice aroma, cinnamon and cloves dominate. Flavor is aggressive pumpkin spice, very flavorful, with a sharp bitter hop finish. Creamy texture. Overall a very tasty imperial pumpkin ale, 10% abv is apparent.
10/5/22
16 oz can dated 8/18/22
4.25 rating
Oct 05, 202210/5/22
16 oz can dated 8/18/22
4.25 rating
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