Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

sevenarts

New York

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Dark, opaque black, small tan head, some lacing.

S: Coffee, chocolate, sweet malts, fruit, a bit of a smoky character.

T/M: Intense! Coffee and chocolate up front, some fruity hops blended in, wood, some bitter bite on the back end. Delicious and really complex and layered.

O: This is a fantastic stout, really rich and heavy, with a wide array of flavors.

Serving type: can

02-03-2012 23:49:58 | More by sevenarts

cragus

Ontario (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

355mL can into snifter
A - Pours a pitch black with no head to speak of
S - Smells of malt, coffee, and chocolate with a little smokiness
T - Spice from the alcohol is present, but is not unpleasantly forward. Malty chocolate is the primary flavour backed up by some roasted coffee and a minor fruitiness.
M - Thick and rich mouthfeel. Very full bodied with a long finish and light carbonation.
O - This is my favourite beer, the mouthfeel in particular is just incredible.

Serving type: can

05-02-2012 01:54:08 | More by cragus

acevenom

Louisiana

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to EgadBananas for this can dated 11-14-11. Poured into a pint glass. Pours black with a two-finger length dark brown head that dissipates slowly. Some lacing is left on the side of the glass during consumption. There are aromas of dark roasted barley malts, chocolate, coffee, and alcohol. It's mildy sweet smelling as well. The taste follows the nose. There are dark roasted malts, bitter chocolate, coffee, and alcohol featured prominently in the flavors. The hops are also present on the back end to balance some of the malty sweetness. The aftertaste is mildly of coffee and chocolate. The body is medium to full with moderate carbonation. It's creamy, but not too filling. The drinkability is very high for a style generally more suited for sipping. It's full of flavor and very easy to drink for such a big beer. Overall, this is an excellent beer and an excellent example of the style.

Serving type: can

05-29-2012 22:16:48 | More by acevenom

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a can into a nonic pint.

A - Pours like motor oil (a perception possibly aided because it comes from a can), so black it seems to absorb light. Did I mention that it's really black?? Aggressive pour yields only a one-finger head of dark brown bubbles.

S - Everything here smells roasty and burnt. Getting burnt grains, burnt molasses, burnt raisin, burnt coffee. Smells inviting.

T - Wow. Surprisingly smooth for the flavor richness and depth. Esters of mocha, devil's food cake, espresso bean, molassess, plum, black cherry, and egg cream. If you struggle, you can detect some herbal and fruity hops in the finish. Extremely well balanced between sweet and bitter. 10.5% abv impossible to detect. Out of this world.

M - Medium to full bodied, with low carbonation. Smooth and creamy. Marvelous.

O - An amazing stout, and probably the best I have ever had. I have been reading about this for a while, and NOW I see what all the hype is about. Nearly perfect. Kudos to OB for this amazing stout.

Serving type: can

07-04-2012 05:07:58 | More by TempeBeerMan

rudyarmand

Georgia

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow! I had never heard of this brewery or Ten Fidy stout. I selected it while having lunch at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Georgia. When the bartender served me, I couldn't believe the pitch black gorgeous color and the wonderful creamy head. I doubt I have ever had such an impressive brew.

The taste was marvelous. I definately would make a special trip back to enjoy another glass!

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2007 02:07:43 | More by rudyarmand

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Holy God!!

Thanks to gkatsoris for the trade.

Pours pitch black, impenetrable to light. The beautiful head is what gets me right away. Nice thick mocha foam on top with incredible retention and great lace. My this smells good. Roasty and toasty. Just the way I like it. The taste on this is simply divine. Roasty toasty malts, nice coffee and chocolate flavors through the middle. followed by (IMO) the PERFECT amount of hop bitterness on the finish. This is one wonderful stout. The mouthfeel is flawlessly viscous and creamy. Drinkability cannot be beaten. I strongly recommend this stout to everyone. Anyone who doesn't think great beer can come out of a can, this beer will change your mind GUARANTEED!!!! (If you like impy stouts that is). Defenitely one of my favorite beers. This four pack is not going to last long. I'm going to Colorado. Honey! feed the dogs!

Serving type: can

03-07-2008 22:49:23 | More by AKBelgianBeast

SteveO1231

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked up a can at Table & Vine in West Springfield, Mass. I had seen craft beers in can but never really took them seriously. I'd been hearing all about this Ten Fidy business and decided to check it out.

Pours a Wesley Snipes with a thick as balls mocha colored foamy head that leaves excellent lacing. Beautiful wall of cascading microscopic bubbles flow to the top of the glass.

Aroma of charr, dark chocolate, roasted malts, dark roasted crystal malts, dark fruit (prunes) a touch of black coffee and a hint of dry oak.

Mouthfeel is full bodied with a slick texture, very smooth.

Very nice flavor in this beer, sweet caramel/toffee flavor up from briefly with an overwhelming flavor in roasted malts, & creamy milk chocolate (Hershey's Kisses). The finish is nice, black patent (charred marshmallow) that is very subtle and not overpowering accompanied by a sting from the ABV. Dry with a black coffee after taste.

Overall this brew is OUTSTANDING! extremely smooth and drinkable Impy Stout despite high ABV.

Cheers!

Serving type: can

01-11-2009 04:09:56 | More by SteveO1231

Manoftyr

New York

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance-Pours a slick, slick, motor-oil black into the glass, a few centimeters of darkly brown head rise and settle into a sticky film around the sides and into a swirl of mocha on the top. Big lacing as I swirl. Perfect RIS look.

Aroma-A bombardment of darkly roasted malts ascend from the snifter, chocolate and roasted malt is king here, chocolate fudge is the dominant aroma followed by medium-roast coffee and a withering smidgen of hops.

Taste-Initial wave of sweet to bittersweet chocolate fudge rushes over the palette and literally coats everything, this is quickly tempered by a withering piny hop quality that struggles and does everything in its power to keep things from becoming cloying, it succeeds. Undercurrents of coffee beans, black molasses and sticky pine-sap can be detected, maybe a hint of anise as well.

Mouthfeel-Now this is just perfect, super thick, viscuous, syrupy, mouth-coating and drippingly thick, perfect RIS consistency.

Drinkability-This keeps me coming back for successive sip after sip, it's pretty much as drinkable as a 10.5% RIS stout is going to get.

Notes-All in all, a damn near perfect RIS and one that always makes me look forward the the late fall/early winter; it isn't the season until I've had some Ten Fidy in my snifter.

Serving type: can

11-26-2010 23:14:46 | More by Manoftyr

evanackerman

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beer pours thick and black like a conventional motor oil about 3,000 miles overdue for a change. Thick billowing taupe head that lasts throughout the consumption of the brew.

Aroma is very rich: dried fruits, peat, smoke, mocha.
Outstanding!

Taste is about as complex as it gets for beer, the arrival is dried fruit (fig, prune), followed by a pleasant smoky malt, bitter hops, finish is chocolate and coffee, particularly long finish for a beer.

Mouthfeel is phenomenal, extremely viscous, exemplary of the style.

Overall, exceptional offering worth seeking out, love that it is available in cans so there is no danger of light damage, one of the best Russian Imperial Stouts I've sampled. Delicious!

Serving type: can

02-18-2012 23:07:14 | More by evanackerman

ggilman

Maine

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dictated into an iPad:

Dark motor oil black with brown creamy head. Lots of chocolate and coffee beans and I was creamy dark chocolate dinner espresso. Delicious and rich. Quite a lot of carbonation first-out very drinkable can notice the alcohol content delicious.

None of the real dark fruit tastes that I don't like tuna in a dark stout.

I should probably edit and success.

Serving type: can

03-18-2012 01:49:45 | More by ggilman

MVotter

New York

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Darkest brew I've ever seen.

S - Toasted and burnt malts, coffee

T - Sweet malts, mocha coffee, hops finish for balance

M - Plenty of effervescence, heavy.

O - Overall experience is a stout lover's dream. Be ready for a robust, extremely flavorful and significant brew. This is not one of those sneaky, "deceptively strong" beers. Ten Fidy makes no excuses for its hugeness...never hiding anything, starts and remains delicious throughout. Imperial, indeed!

Serving type: can

12-26-2012 00:51:22 | More by MVotter

joshbrink

Alabama

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Bloodhound in Auburn, AL. Good find.

A: Extremely dark. Larger head that remains for a while. Begs for a sip.

S: Inviting. Expresso, dark chocolates, some coffee, maybe a fruity sweetness to it.

T: Tastes like you would think from the nose. Roasted malts, dark chocolates. Hops are present but by no means overpowering. Some bit of fruity sweetness.

M: Extremely smooth, like silk. Thick.

O: Exceptional beer. Quickly became one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2013 21:04:14 | More by joshbrink

jtingue

New York

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a snifter. Dated 2011 Batch 1.

Appearance. Pours a very viscous deep reddish brown. A finger of mocha brown head dissipates to a ring of bubbles around the ring of the glass within a few minutes. One thing I love about the appearance of this beer is the deep red tint on the edges when held up to the light.

Smell. Roastiness hits the nose right away and is almost overcoming. Sweet molasses and vanilla follow. Alcohol is definitely present.

Taste. Very thick malt sweetness right up front. Hop or dark chocolate bitterness starts the forthcoming sequence of nuanced complex flavors. This bitterness slowly transitions into a sweet molasses and dark fruit flavor. A more roasty, coffee like bitterness returns and lingers for a while. The finish is slightly dry, but still bittersweet. The roasted malty sweetness lingers until you take the next sip. Surprisingly the alcohol strength is almost nonexistent for such a strong beer.

Mouthfeel. This is probably the thickest, most viscous beer I have ever had. It completely coats every part of your mouth with its wonderful flavor. carbonation is fairly light, but adequate for this type of beer.

Probably my favorite imperial stout. So much complexity here to entertain the palate for the entire can of beer. If this beer weren't so available it would be considered on par with Dark Lord and other "famous" imperial stouts (in my opinion)

Serving type: can

07-28-2011 03:27:57 | More by jtingue

--Dom--

Missouri

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

All I can say is, I now believe the hype. Wow.

Poured from a 12 oz can into a snifter. Pours like motor oil, short dark brown head. Smells of rich chocolate, dark roasted malt sweetness.

Opens up with sweet rich chocolatey goodness. Dark deep roasted malt. The taste just keeps on going for what seems like forever. Slight alcohol heat, but it's definitely held in check. The finish is long and sweet. Some slight hop bitterness creeps in toward the very end.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth malty syrup. Carbonation is just right. Overall.... all I can say is just wow, this beer really lives up to the hype. By far the best Imperial stout I've had in this price range so far. I'm sure it's not the best in the world, but I picked up a 4 pack for $13. So it get's my vote based on value. Once again, well done oskar blues, well done.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 01:49:17 | More by --Dom--

dar482

New York

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This little silver can packs the one of the best Russian Imperial Stout I have yet to have. The color is a dark black with a creamy slightly brown head.

The aroma isn't too strong, but it makes it up with the flavor.

It starts off a bit creamy, with a bit of dark chocolate and strong roasted malts. The coffee and huge chocolate flavors are in this. It has great creamy mouthfeel, but then cuts off the tongue nicely once you start tasting the alcohol in there.

The can is a good amount because it is so rich and boozy at times, you might want a snack or something with this. Its boozy, but does it so well.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 08:10:14 | More by dar482

Kerrie

Michigan

4.94/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at the Berkley Front. As far as I know, this isn't distributed in MI, but the last reviewer is also from MI, and I saw an IPA from the same brewery at my bottle shop today. Are they finally branching out here? Let's hope!

A- Typical stout. Pitch black, tan head, and I actually did have some lacing. Near perfect for me.

S- Chocolate and licorice, like most imperial stouts.

T- So, so good. I don't know how to describe it other than "smooth." For a beer that's 10.5 percent, it certainly didn't taste like it. I pretty much guzzled it down, and my bf still had half of his 5% drink when I was done. It was like liquid candy. Not too bitter, but not too sweet, either.

M- Not too thin or thick. I'd call it a perfectly balanced stout.

Overall, I loved it. I really hope that they're starting to distribute here in MI. The price tag is the only bad thing about it, but I would certainly splurge every now and then.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2013 04:11:30 | More by Kerrie

ralree

Maryland

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Pours deep black with a dark brown head. Head is slight, but expected for the style. Retention is good, but lacing could be better.

S: Roasted coffee, hops, loads of bitter chocolate, some herbs, a touch of vanilla. Wonderful smell.

T: Extremely toasted malt and wonderful hops are right up front. Chocolate is strong and a main player as well. Coffee is also in there, but a little lighter. The bitterness of the hops and the charred malt go together well. Aftertaste is of, surprise, burnt wood, along with a sweet vanilla that is just delightful. Alcohol is nearly undetectable. Fantastic.

M: Lighter than some Imp. Stouts I've tried. Still, medium-heavy body, oily, non-astringent, good carbonation. Nothing to complain about here!

D: Goes down wonderfully for the style. I'm usually expecting a meal, but this is delightfully lighter and easier to drink than many.

Serving type: can

10-09-2010 19:34:06 | More by ralree

amcmaho1

New Mexico

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

After hearing so much praise, i figured it to be the right time to finally have a Ten Fidy. With the weather slowly changing in these late november nights, what better companion than a delicious Imperial Stout?

Appearance: Incredibly dense, black, impenetrable body. A nice head, the color of creamy coffee rises and quickly dissipates. Some lacing, and certainly lots of "tiny bubbles."

Smell: Right off the bat, black licorice seems to be the dominant smell. Along with this is the definite hint of dark fruits, bittersweet chocolate, but most predominantly black licorice.

Taste: In the taste there are elements of chocolate and licorice again in the beginning. In the middle theres a slight bitterness, favoring the chocolate flavor; which transforms into a chocolaty coffee taste towards the end. The aftertaste left in my mouth reminds me of a flavored coffee (i.e. a froofy choloclate mocha whatever etc...). The malt and hop interplay in this beer is really nicely balanced.

Mouthfeel: Not too thin, not too light. Nice carbonation without being too powerful. Slight chewiness. Overall, Great mouthfeel!

In all I've been very pleased with the Ten Fidy. I'm glad to have found another great Imperial stout which is relatively easy to find and exceptional drinking...

Serving type: can

11-19-2010 23:58:15 | More by amcmaho1

willseph

Illinois

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to Blargimus for sending an extra Ten FIDY so I didn't have to break up my vertical to enjoy one!

2011 vintage, poured from the can into a snifter.

A - Dirty motor oil colored with no head initially, but a slow forming, short, cocoa-colored head after 10 seconds or so. Mainly just a ring around the edge of the glass a couple minutes in.

S - Initially, the nose was mainly booze, hickory, and chocolate. As the beer warmed, the smell wasn't as noticeable. Phenomenal smelling beer, exactly what a stout should smell like.

T - Big hit of chocolate at first with notes of dates and smoked goodness throughout. It got a bit more boozy as the beer warmed, but not overpowering. This tasted like a quintessential stout.

M - Quite creamy, heavy-bodied, not a lot of carbonation, while still being very drinkable.

O - Best stout I've ever had, and far and away, the best canned beer I've ever had. I need to get my hands on more of this!

Serving type: can

01-24-2012 16:30:35 | More by willseph

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 ounce can poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a black color with a half finger head and decent lacing.

S: This smells amazing!! Roasted malts, dark chocolate, a little coffee as well as some nice sweet fruity aromas.

T: Lots of roasted malts, espresso, dark chocolate, smoke, and a little fruit. There are hops in there somewhere, but hard to find with all the other strong flavors. The alcohol is very well hidden.

M: Full bodied with just enough carbonation. Super smooth...almost perfect.

O: There's nothing bad I can say about this beer. It's damn near perfect.

Serving type: can

01-05-2013 00:18:41 | More by nUgZ

WiscoBrewsco

Wisconsin

4.96/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Poured into an imperial pint glass

Appearance - Black as night and thick as motor oil, very low carbonation, thin tan head that doesn't stick around for very long,

Smell - Rich toasted malts, milk chocolate, coffee and a hidden floral hop smell but it's no surprise that it is there since this beer clocks in at a massive 98 IBU's

Taste - Massive chocolate and malt notes come in right away and fill the mouth. The hop presence makes itself known on the tongue but very subtly. Slight coffee tint near the end but oh that finish down the throat. It is like drinking liquid brownies. And the 10.5% ABV is completely hidden which is very impressive

Mouthfeel - Very smooth and textured mouthfeel. Good creaminess to it. The malt bill provides for a good bite. Not the thickest mouthfeel RIS on the market but it hangs with the best of them

Overall - This is a fantastic beer in every respect. One of the best stouts I have ever had. The taste is just decadent and defines excess in every sense. Everything you could ask for in a beer from the malt bill to the hops and the rich chocolate. This is a beer to be treasured and not ignored, simply because it comes from a can. Most likely the best stout on the market that is available year round

Serving type: can

12-07-2012 22:02:01 | More by WiscoBrewsco

al3

Maryland

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - 10w40...no wait 5w30...maybe it could resurface my driveway

S - Blueberry pancakes (yeah..really..) with molasses and a roasted, burnt sugar aroma

T&M - Holy moly, mother of god...not really sure where to start. The flavor profile and feel was phenomenal. Molasses/Brown sugar, with some coffee, some dark berry, dried fruit in there as well. Got to admit I had trouble focusing on the elements of the flavors becasue they were so well balanced. Just the right viscosity, very cohesive.

D - This one ain't about how many you can put away...

A great beer, probably my favorite RIS so far. (We will see how the Stone cellars) Not sure how it got any subpar reviews (maybe drink it in the sun on a hot day?), but they should seriously consider revisiting this one. Mine was canned 12-10-09, find one of these and you may want to update your review..

Serving type: can

06-16-2010 02:46:58 | More by al3

Vierenner

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Fantastic brew. Never poured such a dark beer from a can ... the comment that it "looks like motor oil" takes on a very relevant meaning!
There's a slight nutty taste, and a pleasant sweetness with a slight hop bite. My slight ding on "appearance" stems from the imprint of the "Ball" logo on the can.

Serving type: can

01-12-2011 00:54:30 | More by Vierenner

Lynn

Ohio

4.98/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

By far, this is my favorite imperial to date. It took a lot of courage to open a can containing Imperial Stout.... Really? A can? When i popped the tab, I thought the beer might be flat, as there was no release of pressure. Upon pouring it into a pint glass, the motor oil appearance got my hopes up a bit; though I was concerned by the lack of head. All doubts were put aside on the first taste. Caramael, roasted malt, chocolate, as each sip went down, I waited for the usual let-down of excitement or back-end bitterness... That never happened. This beer is incredible! Thank you Oskar Blues for bringing this stout into the world! Oskar Blues is not currently distributed in Ohio, so I will seek it out in my travels. Cheers.

Serving type: can

02-26-2012 11:50:46 | More by Lynn

jeffbearer

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I don't often review beers on BA, often because I can't say something that hasn't already been said for me. But I just can't let Ten Fidy go by without saluting it.

Ten Fidy pours jet black with a coca colored head. Aroma is full of Roast, Coca, and Dark Fruit, Flavor washes your senses with roast, coffee, rasins and prunes. The alcohol is present as it is in all my favorite imperial stouts, but it is not obtrusive, subtle actually when you consider that it is 10% ABV. Superbly drinkable this beer could get you into trouble if you are not paying attention.

Comparing this beer to others in the style I have to put it at the top, de-throning others such as Avery's Czar, Bell's Expedition, and Old Rasputin. Even the perennial #2 beer can take some lessons away from Ten Fidy.

I don't want to rate this beer perfect, but I can't mark it down in any of the categories in good conscience. At $8 for 12 ounces that is a bit steep, but I'll gladly pay for a couple of snifters full to revisit this gem every winter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2007 15:04:33 | More by jeffbearer