The Fear
Flying Dog Brewery
- From:
- Flying Dog Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #197 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #31,951 - Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 13.21%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 190
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 25, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 25, 2011
- Wants:
- 52
- Gots:
- 135
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
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
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.
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.84/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Chestnut color. Medium-sized, off-white head. the aroma of malt and pumpkin spices. sweetness from toasted malt, spices and pretty strong herbal bitterness in taste. Good pumpkin beer.
Feb 25, 2025
Reviewed by Beertsipper from New York
4.01/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Very good Pumpkin beer. Looks like a stout, smell is complex. Pumpkin, spices, are all in the mix. Medium mouthfeel, and dry finish. I will purchase again.
Nov 03, 2024Rated by CanyonCitySteve from California
3.9/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
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
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4.04/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2023Aroma: 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.
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
3.96/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2022Aroma 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.
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
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, 2022Appearance: 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.
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
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, 2022This 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.
Reviewed by Nash39 from Florida
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware
4/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Reviewed by Christianriveraaa
4.28/5 rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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, 2022Smell: 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.
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
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
Reviewed by MrOH from Virginia
4.34/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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, 2022Smells 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
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!