Flying Monkey Invictus 22OZ

Flying Monkey Invictus 22OZ is a bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, bottled at 17.5–18.4% ABV in a 22-oz format. A Gold Medal winner at the 2016 Ontario Brewing Awards, this solera-system stout stands as one of the most ambitious barrel-aged beers produced in Canada.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17.5–18.4% (varies by vintage)  |  Origin: Barrie, Ontario, Canada  |  Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Production & Heritage

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery operates out of 107 Dunlop Street East in Barrie, Ontario, and has built a reputation for boundary-pushing, small-batch releases. Invictus is brewed with a grain bill of Pale Malt, Munich Malt, Chocolate Malt, Great Western Malt, Caraform III, Roasted Barley, and Flaked Oats, then cellared for over a year in a rotating solera system of Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. The solera method blends older and younger beer across successive barrel generations, building layered complexity that a single-pass barrel aging cannot replicate—a process the brewery itself describes as "entirely unprofitable, and completely craft."

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opaque ebony in the glass, Invictus opens with voluptuous waves of raisin, amaretto, and roasty bourbon. Underneath, toasted oak and brown sugar emerge as the beer warms.

Taste: The entry is thick and silky, almost Cognac-like in consistency, delivering immediate hits of dark chocolate, cocoa, and espresso. Mid-palate, turbinado sweetness mingles with toffee, fudge, vanilla, and coconut drawn from the bourbon barrels. Caramel and molasses deepen the body, with marshmallow softness rounding out each sip.

Finish: Long, bold, and warming, the finish carries bourbon, vanilla, milk chocolate, sweet molasses, and brown sugar well past the swallow. Dark cherry and roasted grain linger at the edges, giving a final bittersweet punctuation.

How to Drink Invictus

Pour Invictus into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) and let it open for several minutes; the complexity rewards patience. At its ABV and viscosity, this stout is best treated as a sipping beer, much like a digestif. For an indulgent twist, use a small measure as the base in a Beer Float with high-quality vanilla bean ice cream—the bourbon barrel character plays beautifully against cold cream. It also substitutes compellingly for stout in a Black Velvet variation, where a small splash of dry sparkling wine can cut the richness. Finally, a Boilermaker pairing alongside a pour of straight bourbon amplifies the shared barrel notes between beer and spirit.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who values rare, limited-release bottles
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert course replacement
• Vertical or horizontal tastings comparing barrel-aged imperial stout vintages
• Cellar aging for future complexity development

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Invictus taste like? Invictus delivers intense dark chocolate, espresso, toffee, and vanilla layered over bourbon barrel character, with a viscous, almost Cognac-like body and a long, warming finish of brown sugar and dark cherry.

How does Invictus compare to Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout? Both are high-ABV bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts, but Invictus uses a solera system blending multiple barrel generations (Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill), whereas Bourbon County typically employs a single-pass barrel aging in Heaven Hill barrels. The solera method gives Invictus a more layered, vintage-blended complexity compared to Bourbon County's more straightforward barrel punch.

Is Invictus good for sipping neat? Absolutely—its 17.5–18.4% ABV, thick mouthfeel, and multi-layered barrel character make it ideal for slow, contemplative sipping from a snifter at cellar temperature.

Where is Invictus made? Invictus is brewed by Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery at 107 Dunlop Street East in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, and aged on-site in their solera barrel program.

What foods pair well with Invictus? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and bourbon notes; aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with sharp, savory depth; crème brûlée mirrors the caramel and vanilla barrel character; smoked brisket stands up to the stout's intensity; and pecan pie echoes the brown sugar and toasted oak flavors.

What sizes does Invictus come in? Invictus is available in a 22-oz bomber bottle, the standard format for this limited release.

Is Invictus worth the price? Invictus positions firmly in the ultra-premium craft beer tier, justified by its solera barrel-aging process spanning over a year across multiple high-end bourbon barrels, small-batch production, and vintage variation—placing it among the most labor-intensive imperial stouts on the market.

Why Invictus?

The solera system sets Invictus apart from the vast majority of barrel-aged imperial stouts, which rely on single-barrel or single-pass aging. By blending across generations of Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, Flying Monkeys achieves a depth and integration of flavor that few North American breweries attempt. Its Gold Medal at the 2016 Ontario Brewing Awards validates the approach. With vintage-to-vintage ABV variation reflecting genuine batch character rather than industrial consistency, Invictus is a release built for drinkers who appreciate the craft behind the liquid.