Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of Gford217: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a huge deep brown color head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma consists of roasted malt with some vinous notes and some sweet notes. Taste is a mix between some vinous notes with some roasted malt and a quite sweet finish. I could not detect much coffee or black chocolate notes that I usually associated with the style. Full body with average carbonation and no discernable alcohol. Interesting sipper but I am not sure what the hype was all about really.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2008 19:56:31 | More by Phyl21ca

Lothore

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a dark black hue letting very little light through. Deep reddish brown head which is absolutely decadent.

S- Smell consists of roasted malt and coffee. A bit faint.

T- Taste is predominately roasted malt, deep brown sugar notes, coffee.

M- Thick with medium carbonation.

D- This was a pretty tasty imperial stout. Not my favorite but it looks great and is very solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 07:33:25 | More by Lothore

xanok

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a 4-pack of these when I heard it was going seasonal. LAME. It's taken me a while to try craft beers in cans, but I've realized I like them just as much bottle form.
Poured into a tulip.

A-Looks like a stout should look. Black as night with 2 fingers of creamy, dark tan head. Lacing is very thick.

S-Chocolately and malty and just as dark fruity. Very balanced, not overpowering.

T-I didn't catch any coffee in the aroma, but it's clearly in the taste. Good amount of molasses. Very Balanced, but too sweet, and a tad artificial tasting.

M-Very smooth. Body is thick, carb is a bit llower than what i like. Alcohol has a bit of a kick on the back end.

D-Smooth. ABV is mostly well-hidden.

Serving type: can

03-24-2010 00:37:34 | More by xanok

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Swiss wine snifter. Canned on 11-12-2010, consumed 03-07-2011.

This viscous libation pours black with an almost rusty charred brown head, which rises two fingers and dies over the course of a few minutes.

From far away this smells like a box of fruit-filled chocolates. Cherry syrup, vanilla, imitation maple and confectioners sugar with sweetened milk chocolate. I have never smelled a sweeter beer. Swirling the odd concoction brings up some surprisingly bright and fresh hops, and the classic roasted barley notes that seem both sweet and burnt-bitter at the same time. Chocolate chocolate chocolate.

Thankfully the taste doesn't follow the nose, as this would be a mouth-hurting sweet syrup. First... well this is interesting. Darkly roasted malts are here and taste a little different than usual, could it be the hops? These taste different than usual as well. I think this different taste that I have been working to define is... burnt marshmallow! Not bad, but sugary AND burnt in a way I haven't tasted before. Pretty interesting, and tasty.

Mouthfeel is full and slick, I suspect the oats contribute to this. Carbonation seemed a bit excessive at first, and then a bit flat soon after, so maybe I am just picky tonight. Drinkability is pretty good, but not (in my opinion) up there with the very best.

Conclusion: Well my hat is off to Oskar Blues not because this is a beer that I love, but because it is unique. It tastes like nothing else exactly and for that I respect it, however I prefer my big stouts to lean more towards dark fruit, coffee, pure black patent malts or smoke, not burnt marshmallow. To each his own...

P.S. Take a big swig of this right from the can, it will scramble your expectations concerning 12oz cans wonderfully.

Serving type: can

03-08-2011 03:10:42 | More by allforbetterbeer

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a thick oil like black that just absorbs light.

The nose has notes of coca, coffee and a certain roastiness to it.

The taste is excellent with coca being quite prominent. There are also notes of coffee and booze.

The mouthfeel is thick but not overly so. About standard for the style.

Overall I thought that this was a very good but not quite world class imperial stout. However I would drink it again.

Serving type: can

08-06-2011 02:02:19 | More by beerandcycling88

beagle75

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. can into a tulip glass.

A: Opaque black color with less than one finger of diminishing light brown foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Dark fruit, rustic bread, and faint autolysed yeast stand out in the smell. Unctuous and intense spirituous qualities are also detected after a few sips. Alcohol is well-integrated, rather than obvious.

T: Begins off-dry, with roasted malt and fruity acidity. Flavors expand into the middle, boasting shoyu umami, bitter chocolate, licorice, and even vanilla. The finish is mineral-ashy, with inconsistent moderate bitterness cutting a sharp line on the palate at times. Alcohol vapors linger.

M: Thick viscosity, remarkably smooth early, with low carbonation.

D/O: An old can, set aside since 2009, yields a Ten Fidy experience worthy of the praise that led me to buy the pricey 4-pack in the first place. While this beer was found to be chokingly laden with shoyu qualities when it was young, it wears its maturity well in its fourth year. The heavy-handedness of its origins will never fade entirely, but this sample's profile falls well within the accepted--if not preferred--parameters of the style. Surprisingly good, compared to the last encounter.

Serving type: can

03-24-2013 03:36:02 | More by beagle75

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Lovely dark brown head of two fingers thickness. This quickly recedes to just a super thin ring. Color is a jet oil slick black. Makes me think of oil and coffee that has added viscosity.

Rich, deep roasted malt aroma. Savory coffee notes with stronger dark milk chocolate overtones. Smells warm and relaxing.

Pretty bitter roasted, maybe burnt in places, malt flavor from front to back. Warm oily palate. Bitter dark chocolate finish for sure. Good sipping beer, but not as good as the hype in my opinion.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 13:48:48 | More by scruffwhor

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: After a relatively aggressive pour, there was a very small head of reddish tan bubbles. There are some bubbles rising, but the beer is thick and it seems to be a tough journey for the little bubbles.

Aroma: Lots of chocolate and dark roast along with tons of toasty notes that seem to be Munich malt derived. The dark roast malts make the nose think that this beer is going to be somewhat acidic when drank. There is definitely a good bit of hops in this beer with some green, almost grassy notes deep within the beer, but the malt is in charge of the aroma.

Taste: The flavor is bold, and this is my first beer of the evening. It has a whole lot of fruitiness that I didn't get so much in the nose. There is some dark fruit, like plums, in particular. The alcohol is definitely present, and the beer warms you up from the first sip. The alcohol isn't hidden all that well as is quite warming. It is some far off recollection, but it is reminding me of some of the liqueurs, like Jaegermeiser with the fruitiness from the fermentation, and the spiciness and warmth from the alcohol. It is quite the bold beer.

Opinion: As I mentioned above, this beer is quite bold. It has a whole lot of flavor and big alcohol, so this one is hard to miss. This can isn't all that carbonated, so it would be good to try this beer on tap when properly served. So far, it is a pretty good beer, but it could definitely use some more carbonation to soften the overall presentation. Either way, a good beer, and I would drink it again.

Serving type: can

12-20-2008 00:20:12 | More by SkeeterHawk

badbeer

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black color with a brown head that retains well and has excellent lacing. Smell has plenty of molasses and hops. Quite roasty in the nose as well. Taste starts out burnt and a little ashy, some molasses comes through, and then a hoppy, roasty finish. Light carbonation and medium body. Good beer, I'd like to see how this one ages. I could see myself getting more of this.

Serving type: can

12-28-2008 00:00:12 | More by badbeer

jstilwell

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Ahh yes the Ten Fidy! I love this company,all of their styles across the board. The Ten Fidy was one of the first RIS I ever tried, and boy was I horrified at the time. My tastebuds were not at all prepared and my palate had not quite matured. I went running for the hills. Time to review again.

This is the blackest of the black. I get a very dark head, a true medium brown with some off white. ITs a thick head but quickly shrinks to a half finger size. Lacing is lasting and everywhere on my glass. I'm a swirler! Aroma is tremendous, earth, malt, dark chocolate, strong alcohol, tree bark, and blackened char from the grille. This is a very complex brew. I can see how this one can be someone's favorite stout, it has a unique taste to it. There is some syrupy feel but it is not sweet overall, or is it?. Sweet and bitter battle it out and I feel differently with each sip. There is a definite smokiness to this one. There is a nice chewy roasted characteristic to this one. The aftertaste is a bit harsh and the alcohol is quite prominent. I will revisit this one from time to time one at a time. Drinkability is very low for me. I'm impressed with this, and I want to like it more than I do. Overall, many other stouts are ahead on my list, but I see the allure for sure.

Serving type: can

03-11-2009 01:04:52 | More by jstilwell

tr4nc3d

Kansas

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a dark black color with tan head.

Smell is of roasted malts, molasses, coffee beans

Taste is just like the smell with a little more burnt coffee taste then I expected.

Mouthfeel is heavy and creamy with slight alcohol taste.

Best beer I ever had so far that came from a can. I dont think I could have more then one of these though.

Serving type: can

04-02-2009 21:54:54 | More by tr4nc3d

missingsense

California

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Pours a thick, motor oil black with a dark brown 1-finger head that fades quickly, but leaves a nice layer on top. No serious lacing. Smell is very enticing with cool extra-dark chocolate, cherries, and a slightly oaked scent. Mmm, I really like sniffing this one.

Some chocolate and coffee is noticeable in the taste at first, but the aftertaste is overpowered by alcohol, resembling cheap vodka. A Black Russian maybe? Mouthfeel is nice and fitting for the style, thick and chewy.

I really liked this beer when I had a small pour during a tasting, but polishing off a whole glass is not quite what I'd hoped. The alcohol taste is just a little too much and leads to a slightly unpleasant finish. For the same price, I could get 2 Old Rasputins or a 550mL Samuel Smith, which are much more drinkable to me.

Serving type: can

06-05-2010 05:24:32 | More by missingsense

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter.
Canned on 12-02-10, consumed on 5/4/12
Aged approximately 1.5 years

Appearance
Pours a slick, impenetrable black with 1 finger of rich, brown head.

Nose
Prune, toffee, smoke, scorched sugar and notes of bittersweet chocolate.

Taste
Upfront – Candy sugar, chalky bittersweet chocolate and prune juice.
Mid-palate – Raisins and dates.
Finish – Toffee, some charcoal and hints of smoke.

Mouthfeel
Full bodied, silky, smooth, sticky and borderline chewy.

Overall
I’m not particularly gung-ho about this Imperial Stout, but some people seem to love it. The mouthfeel is impressive and it’s gained an almost legendary status for its thickness. The year and a half aging has really mellowed this out and brought out a lot of dark fruits in the flavor profile. Try it for yourself.

Serving type: can

08-08-2012 17:52:26 | More by justintcoons

aeminter

Texas

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

OMG! For a second I thought I was changing the oil in my old farm truck. This stuff is so black you can see time and space bend around the glass. There is a dark tan almost chocolate brown head that flattens quickly.

The aroma is very rich and inviting at first pour, but it calms far too fast. There is little to no lingering aroma to get a hold of, but my first impression was of something rich, decadent and almost Christmasy (brown sugar and spice).

The taste is smoky (almost a Rauchbier quality), mild hop, and a little licorice.

Serving type: can

01-05-2009 00:11:15 | More by aeminter

willPS21

West Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This one was a bit of a disappointment only because my hopes were so high, kind of like "Dark Knight". Poured into snifter. There was a bit more of a fruity, floral, and anise smell and taste than I want in an RIS.. not my preferred flavor profile. In this sense, I would have probably enjoyed it more if it was only 3-4oz and not 12. Also, since I tried this the same week as the Old Chub, I expected it to be superior, which it wasn't IMO. It was definitely jet black and thick as hell and seemed to coat your teeth like a malbec or other thick red wine. In some ways I almost thought it tasted more like a double IPA. The fruitiness/spiciness combined with the thickness made it seem harsher and as if it had more abv than it did. I would have guessed it was more than the Stone, but its 10% less. Overall, the balance was not what I expected from an acclaimed RIS, and I wish it leaned a bit towards the malty/metallic side of things (Rasputin), or nutty/chocolate/coffee like Stone. After I washed this one down with an Allagash White, I cracked the Stone IRS later in the evening and realized what I had been missing. It was enjoyable overall, but if they have this in the store there's a huge probability they have something I'll buy instead.

edit: I just realized that this is an imperial stout, not an RIS. Therefore, my minor complaints about floral/fruityness and more harsh/alcohol taste are, well, duh. I guess my main disappointment was due to the fact I thought this was an RIS.

Serving type: can

02-12-2010 03:08:18 | More by willPS21

dzni

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Decent head, last a little while. Dark, tar-like black.
S - Malt, chocolate, espresso
T - Chocolate, cakey, some creaminess
M - Heavy body
D - This is too heavy to be something I could drink a lot of, not to mention the alcohol content.

Honestly, I think Old Chub from Oskar Blues is phenomenal, in comparison. This one is good, but it doesn't seem to have the complexity that Old Chub has, in my opinion.

Poured into a snifter.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 04:08:40 | More by dzni

Florida9

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Black. Glugs out of the can with a noticeable viscousness. While I am always hesitant to compare beer to motor oil, this one hits the mark. Forms a weak 1/4" of dark tan head that has little retention and quickly reduces to a ring around the side of the glass.

S: Molasses, licorice, sweet roasted malts, and alcohol.

T: Moderately sweet molasses flavor that finishes quickly with a heavy roasted malt bitterness.

M: Moderately thick with low carbonation. Bitter on the tongue.

D: A good beer, but not overly impressive. For me, the reason I drink stouts (and Imperial Stouts and RIS's) if for their complexity and this beer is lacking complexity. There is nothing wrong with it, no off flavors or anything of that nature, but between the flat, black liquid look to the relatively simple and quick finishing flavor, I was left wanting more.

Serving type: can

04-10-2010 02:21:45 | More by Florida9

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Can, thanks to HogtownHarry. Thick, dark, black pour with a bit of brown head. Aroma is a malt bomb, heavy with chocolate. Some hops and licorice too, reminescent of Bells Expeditions stout. Taste is quite bitter, some roastiness and hop bitterness with a fruity finale. Palate is rich and thick, quite boozy (lots of alcohol warmth). Slightly overdone even for an imperial stout.

Serving type: can

08-23-2010 18:05:21 | More by Luk13

bobjonesSD

California

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Picked some up from Whole Foods. Very dark from the can into a glass. It has a very small espresso head. The aroma is nice, roasted malts, chocolate, coffee - could be a little bigger though. Taste is solid with a subtle slightly acidic undertone that gives a bit of bite. Mouthfeel feels a little thin for the style. Drinkability is solid.

Serving type: can

10-01-2010 03:18:07 | More by bobjonesSD

BillHaverchuck

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours pitch black, might night motor oil
about an inch head, thick texture, dark tan to light brownish
overwhelmingly sweet chocolate smell kicks first, followed by a slight roasted home sweet home smell
thick texture in the mouth, sweet chocolate taste at first, followed by some gritty espresso, coffee bean flavors
drinkablility is that of a light sipper, very heavy beer

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 00:30:53 | More by BillHaverchuck

MrDonQuixote

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Oskar Blues tap room

A- oily black with a chocolaty black head

S- intense smell, Smells of chocolate and espresso and a hint of grain

T- chocolate notes. Slight oatmeal taste. Slight espresso taste as well. Enjoyable flavor

M- extra smooth, strong bite at the end

O- great look and feel. Intense taste.. Want to try again soon

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2011 04:44:53 | More by MrDonQuixote

chinchill

South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from can into Intuition Ale glass.

Pours like used motor oil. Examined outside revealing no sign of direct sunlight being able to penetrate this brew. Fine light brown head. 4.25

S: Sweet dark malt with some dark fruit. A hint of sour.

T: sensory properties like the aroma, including having a tinge of sour mixd in with the rich dark malt. Also has hints of espresso and charcoal. Lingering finish. 3.75

M: full body; I think this actually has a higher viscosity. Near creamy; Semi-dry finish.

O: High ABV partly hidden, especially in aroma. Plenty rich, but not sufficiently complex or well-integrated to be world-class. I expect I'd like this more served via nitro tap. 3.75

Serving type: can

05-29-2012 23:59:59 | More by chinchill

Traquairlover

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

12-oz can poured into a pint glass.

A = Pours like old engine oil, thick and so dark brown it is pretty much indistinguishable from black. Forms small dark brown head which dissipates slowly, leaves medium lacing on glass.

S = Strong bitterness and hops flavors mixed Turkish coffee, evaporated milk, flowers. Interesting smells, but frankly a little too hoppy and flowery for my tastes in an imperial stout.

T = Strong coffee tastes mix with both bitterness and pine tastes from hops. As with the smell, the pine and floral tastes of the hops just don't meet my expectations. It's not bad, but it's not my cup of tea. I'd prefer an RIS with perhaps some of the bitterness of hops, but not the strong flavors. Tastes too much like I mixed a coffee stout with an IPA. There's not inherently wrong with doing that, but it's not what I'm looking for in an RIS.

M = Heavy, heavy body, luscious creamy feel, great mouthcoating. One of the best mouthfeels I've ever experienced in a beer.

D = This is a drinkable beer but with the ABV and the mixed tastes of RIS and IPA, I think this is one where I really have to be in the right mood.

Serving type: can

05-01-2008 22:53:01 | More by Traquairlover

phisig137

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours a "none more black" that doesn't let any light though, even around the thinnest edges. A very deep milk chocolate colored, two finger head has phenomenal retention, and leaves great lacing behind. Very viscous, scary, and beautiful.

S- Heavy amounts of roast and toast here, with little else present. Molasses, chocolate, espresso, brown sugar, burnt caramel, and a heavy mocha latte aroma make this very malt forward.

F- Again, heavily toasted/roasted malts take the front line in this. Chocolate especially dominates the flavor with a heavy coffee presence as well. After the first sip though, this turn downward a bit. The roasted malt character is a bit overpowering, leading to a burnt/metallic type flavor. Finish is astringent and acrid from the heavily roasted malts. A touch of hops are apparent on the finish, but are overshadowed.

M- Thick, heavy, sticky, and full

D- decent at best. This is definitely a sipper for many reasons.

Overall, this is a solid RIS, but could be a bit better. Spinal Tap references aside, this could use a little less roasted malt. It simply tasted burnt. That being said, it is an impressive beer, and well worth picking up for $3 a can. I'll hold onto a couple of these for a year or two, and they should do quite well. Until then, this is just a little unbalanced. Oskar Blues usually does a great job of "overdoing" beers, but this is just a little too far to the burnt end of the spectrum.

Serving type: can

05-14-2008 02:31:49 | More by phisig137

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can poured into a Nonic. "canned with care" 10-27-09 @ 14:52 "Join the dark side" on the bottom. Part three of "Birthday Beer Extravaganza"

Thanks to Beerwolf77 for this canned beauty!

A - I absolutely did not expect this from a can. The pour showed the beer to be extremely dark cocoa brown with a good clarity but I have never seen a beer so black in my life. It's as black as the can it comes in, blacker even than Satan's soul. It also poured with a head darker than any I've ever seen. Totally chocolate brown and dense, it has moderate retention with specks of lace left on the glass.

S - The aroma broods with deep roasted malts, cocoa, and unsweetened chocolate. Unfortunately like the Rochefort 10 before it, it also has a strong metallic nose. A bit of alcohol comes out on a swirl and, thankfully, the malts become more prominent than the metallic nose.

T - The malts seem to be at an insanely roasted level. Lots of molasses flavor with bittersweet chocolate too but damn it, it's got that same metallic-like thing the nose does. I don't know if it's from the can or from the malts being roasted beyond comparison (if that's possible) but it makes it much less appealing to me. It also has a slight nutty, woody hint to it and a little spice with the alcohol. A bit overly roasted methinks.

M - This beer would compare to some motorcycle oil in weight. It's as thick as molasses and coats your throat the same. Almost no carbonation to speak of and an utterly full-bodied beer. The finish is a bit dry and bitter from the sheer level of roast.

D - OY, this beer is out of control. I'm having a hard time sipping at it for two reasons; 1) The ridiculously roasted flavor, and 2) that pesky metallic thing. Sometimes more is not better which is exemplified in this beer. I'm going to try and share it now.

This might be the Star Wars geek in me, but my favorite part of this beer besides its ink color is the "join the dark side" quote on the bottom.

Serving type: can

12-01-2009 03:58:08 | More by BeerFMAndy