Joy
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

 

Joy from Flying Monkeys. 16 fl oz can picked up at Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA, 28/08/25 - $ 5.50 (including tax)/$ 0.343/fl oz. Reviewed 11/09/25, review 3584. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on bottom “PKG NOV/28/20214.” Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 45.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 52.5 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), Opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light barely penetrates, but distinctly ruby.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour). Biscuit, high density, average retention, leaving a 0.5 – 1.0 cm crown and a complete cap.
Lacing – Good. Short narrow high-density band of near-microscopic to tiny bubbles, connected to the remaining head by multiple short columns.
Aroma – 3.5 – Oranges. No malt, no hops, no expected chocolate.
Flavor – 3 – Begins slightly sweet with artificial-tasting orange. No alcohol (7 % ABV, according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slow gastric warming. Slightly bitter chocolate on the aftertaste.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium: Watery: Soft carbonation.
Style: Loosely follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 3.5 Uncredited artist of a very attractive label. Faint orangish aroma and flavor are stymied by a bitter, artificial-tasting cocoa/chocolate background. One and done.

473 mL can from the LCBO, included in Flying Monkeys' Box O' Chocolates mixed pack. Dated Nov 15 2024 and served barely chilled.

Pours an opaque brownish-black colour, generating just over an inch of dense, foamy tan-coloured head that lasts for five minutes or so. A wavering band of lace adheres to the glass, with a frothy collar and thin cap right beneath; looks fine to me. Orange extract and vanilla on the nose, with subtler notes of brown sugar, dark chocolate and chocolate syrup also discernible. It's an appealing aroma, though the fake orange is a little overstated IMO.

The flavours are fine, though I still find the orange to be a bit much. Roasted malts & milk chocolate right off the bat, with that oily orange extract flavouring quickly taking over. The vanilla is no slouch either; together, they provide an orange creamsicle-like aspect to the profile, particularly mid-sip. Dark chocolate bitterness and brown sugar gain momentum near the finish, with hints of cocoa powder and orange oil fading into a bittersweet aftertaste. On the fuller side of medium-bodied, with middling carbonation levels that supply some spritz to this brew's smooth, somewhat oily mouthfeel. I'll be able to finish this can no problem, but frankly, a pint is almost too much.

Final Grade: 3.76, a B+. If you're one of those people who actually likes those chocolate oranges that show up around Christmas, then Flying Monkeys' Joy is the beer for you. Personally, I don't care for 'em, so it's not surprising that I'm rating this lower than the current BA average - it's an admirable effort that manages to pull off the gimmick it was going for, but it ain't for me. I would not buy this again, but that's largely due to personal preferences: to each their own, and if a chocolate orange stout sounds enticing to you, by all means give 'er a go.

16 ounce can, canned on date of NOV 28 2024 stamped on the bottom of the can. Part of the Box O' Chocolates stout sampler 4 pack. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a couple inch frothy head. Head retention is pretty good and there's a lot of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells mostly like an orange creamsicle, with orange, vanilla, chocolate, and some roasted malt. The taste is similar to the aroma but seems to have a little less of a kick. There's also a bit of coffee flavor noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's coating, smooth and easy enough to drink. I thought this was a good overall brew, certainly worth picking up but recommend it more to people who like orange creamsicles or dessert stouts in general.

 

 

At my lady Pamela's house; canned, from Flying Monkeys' Box O'Chocolates Stout Sampler from the University Ave. LCBO in nearby Windsor. My 14th of the brewery's handiworks overall, and 2nd of 2025.

473 mL can
Served in a snifter

This beer pours black and is topped with an inch of mocha head that leaves spotty lacing.

Big orange aroma with complimentary chocolate.

Orange flavor that kind of overwhelms everything else. Feint vanilla and chocolate flavor. Clean finish

Medium bodied with an effervescent mouthfeel

It's not bad.

Dec 23 2024

473 ml can served cold into a pint glass. Part of the FM Winter Stout pack of 2024. Early November canning date.

Appearance - Dark brown, near black with a finger plus of rocky tan head. Good staying power.

Smell - Delightful aroma or chocolate orange with a depth and creaminess. Full aroma and one of the best smelling beers I've had in a long while.

Taste - The amazing nose matches with the flavor, although the sweetness and robustness of the nose is muted here, with dark chocolate, orange cream and just a tiny bit of roastiness. The flavors meld together quite nicely.

Mouthfeel - Medium-full bodied with good texture, a tiny bit of chew and sufficient bubbles. Not quite velvety in texture.

Overall - A clear winner of the mixed pack, an enJOYable treat and with a robust nose that mimics the real deal.