[null, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv8gqJBqn1A/UI70387NfmI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Okr1hHIgLl8/s400/2012-10-16+19.57.34_wm.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv8gqJBqn1A/UI70387NfmI/AAAAAAAAAj8/Okr1hHIgLl8/s400/2012-10-16+19.57.34_wm.jpg", "rendered_width": 300, "rendered_height": 400}, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m15vk4MsfqE/UI7049uxnSI/AAAAAAAAAkE/xA_2-DfIRlU/s400/2012-10-16+19.57.51_wm.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m15vk4MsfqE/UI7049uxnSI/AAAAAAAAAkE/xA_2-DfIRlU/s400/2012-10-16+19.57.51_wm.jpg", "rendered_width": 300, "rendered_height": 400}, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HGiRKy6z9Iw/UI7059ajWPI/AAAAAAAAAkM/cZ5CYtorMyY/s400/2012-10-16+19.58.21_wm.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HGiRKy6z9Iw/UI7059ajWPI/AAAAAAAAAkM/cZ5CYtorMyY/s400/2012-10-16+19.58.21_wm.jpg", "rendered_width": 300, "rendered_height": 400}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled-3.png", "src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled-3.png", "formatted_filename": "Untitled", "alt_text": "Untitled"}, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled1-1.jpg", "src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled1-1.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Untitled", "alt_text": "Photobucket"}, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled2-1.png", "src": "http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/most4stel3ss/Untitled2-1.png", "formatted_filename": "Untitled", "alt_text": "Untitled2"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.hipsterbrewfus.com/2012/10/22-flying-dog-fear.html", "unformatted_src": "http://lh4.ggpht.com/_u7a1IFxc4WI/TTjruHJjcfI/AAAAAAAAAk0/i11Oj6i_bHY/s50/no-image.png", "src": "http://lh4.ggpht.com/_u7a1IFxc4WI/TTjruHJjcfI/AAAAAAAAAk0/i11Oj6i_bHY/s50/no-image.png", "formatted_filename": "no image", "alt_text": "no image", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, null, null]



I'm dressed up like a slutty beer drinker today, just so I can share a review of one of my favorite beers ever, Flying Dog's "The Fear." I've been the first one to admit on my social media slices of heaven that pumpkin ales, and pumpkin spice, and pumpkin this, and pumpkin that, is something I grow weary with quickly. Its true. Just like with "Dr. Who," a show I no longer have any interest in watching, or even hearing about anymore, the Internet has killed pumpkins dead.

That why I'm reviewing an Imperial Pumpkin Ale! I'M A HYPOCRITE! Actually, no shit, ever since I tried this straight out of the vats on my birthday brewery tour at Flying Dog in 2010, It has become one of my favorite beers, ever. And you can read about how I incorporated it into my totally awesome chili, in this previous post.

The pour is nice and dark, with beautiful burgundy highlights in the light. In the glass though, it's blacker than the blackest black, times infinity. A surprising, three finger, fluffy beige head. I love it. Left behind is a sticky, resilient, lacing.

The Fear smells like autumn. It smells like you're looking out of the window at crunchy leaves while you're carving a pumpkin. And then you stop paying attention and you cut your hand. Its heavy on the spice. Clove? Allspice? Nutmeg? Cinnamon? Check, check, check and check. Pumpkin?

Is the pumpkin in the taste? Well, there is a hint of pumpkin at the front end, but not much.If you blink, you missed it. It really does taste  just how it smells. Spice! I love it. I want a hearth and a fire, NOW! It feels heavy in my mouth, like I would expect from it being an Imperial. The spice and the roasty-ness of this beer are perfectly balanced. To me, this beer perfect. And not to forget, the spice hides the alcohol, but even at 9% you can't ignore it.

Without going too much into detail, and it's certainly something I own up to, but Flying Dog is my absolute favorite beer. They have made beer that I have openly admitted to not liking, so I hope my review isn't too biased. If you're within the Baltimore area, you can get this beer for a short amount of time, which at this point, I think is waning. Out side of this immediate area, I'm not sure what the availability is, other than I know Connecticut doesn't get any. Its a super limited release, and that makes me happy when I get my hands on it. It's like being a part of something very special.

So there you have it, My first review of one of my favorite beers, from one of my favorite breweries. Happy Halloween and be safe! And check out the awesome bottle art from Ralph Steadman! You can follow Flying Dog on Twitter @FlyingDogYou can visit them online, too http://flyingdogales.com/
And of course, they are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/flyingdog


Smell: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Taste: 5/5


This beer pairs well with:Stolen candy & Ministy - Every day is Halloween