Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

dnichols

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured a 12 ounce (355 ml) can, received in a trade from iconoklaztor, into a mug.

A: It poured a thick, black as ink body with a two finger sticky head that as it receded suppored a beautiful, rich full curtain of lace.

S: It had aromas a dark roasted malts, bitter chocolates, expresso, dark spices, and piny hops. The aroma were pleasant but not as pronounced as I expected

T: It had a bitter-sweet chocolate flavor followed by a bold coffee flavor driven by sharp and bitter hops. There were hints of licorice, molasses, and dark fruits and spices.

M: It was full-bodied with a burnt malt and espresso coffee sweet and bitter profile. It finished dry and clean with only a small sour aftertaste.

D: It was too rich and full-bodied to be a session drink, however, it is a great one and out brew worthy of repeated sampling.

Serving type: can

03-02-2008 04:59:01 | More by dnichols

udubdawg

Kansas

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 oz can

pours nicely viscous and black, no evidence of light at the edges of my Stone IRS glass. The head is quite dark brown and looks beautiful, tall and sticky, leaving exceptional rings of lace on one side, and spots with every sip on the side I'm drinking out of. Eventually it fades to a quarter inch of edge-clinging foam before refusing to die completely.

Nose falls short of the beauty of the pour, the complexity of the taste, and the creaminess of the mouthfeel, but enticing and reasonably full, just short of some of the aroma-heavy big stouts. Plenty of heavily roasted and charred malt here, heavy coffee aroma, some chocolate, hints of dark fruit. Sweetness is very dark molasses. Almost smoky. Not quite my favorite, but there's nothing to dislike here. Alcohol noted here only as it warmed to room temp. Well put-together.

Can't decide whether the taste or mouthfeel is better. So creamy and full bodied - very dense! Carbonation is soft, the herbal hops and charred malt adding sizeable bitterness that sticks around on the palate but falls short of obtrusive. Not quite dry, but well short of sticky. So full of heavily roasted goodness. Chocolate sticks out a bit more here than in the aroma; fruit remains light, almost an afterthought compared to the roastiness. Alcohol heat not noted on the palate or throat, but the stomach is notably warmed by midglass.

A sipper to be sure...one I must have more of. With just a bit more of the dark fruit coming through here I'd be tempted to give this a 5 for taste. Excellent and highly recommended!

Serving type: can

03-01-2008 21:56:14 | More by udubdawg

alysmith4

District of Columbia

2.08/5  rDev -52.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This beer pours thick like gasoline, and I must say it tasted like it as well. Way to syrupy and bitter for my taste. Couldn't detect any distinct flavors.. just thick and bitter.

The level of carbonation was not great either. Just a thick, cloudy, syrupy mess. I would not have this beer again, and I would definitely not suggest this beer to anyone.

Serving type: can

03-01-2008 21:50:40 | More by alysmith4

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Some how I missed this at the Extreme Beer Fest this year, so I had to pick it up. It pours an inky black, completely opaque when held up to the light. There is a nice deep brown head that lingers leaving a dirty looking lacing down the glass. The aroma is dominated by deep chocolate and roasted malt, with just a hint of caramel. The flavor is just a bit sweet with tons more dark and black malts. There is some hop bitterness but its hard to differentiate from the astringency from the dark malts. The carbonation is light but fine for the style. This is all around a great imperial stout and a good deal too.

Serving type: can

03-01-2008 20:37:04 | More by ericj551

dedrinker

Kansas

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

All good. Black with very little dark reddish areas under light. Thin tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, hops and alcohol in good balance. Combined it produces a licorice smell that I get in my more preferred Imperial stouts. Flavor is a repeat of the aroma which is good - I love when beer tastes as good as it smells (when it smells good that is). Full body that is at the same time easy going in the drinkability dept. Roasty finish with a dash of coffee, chocolate and hops. Yes yes ya'll, very nice.

Serving type: can

02-29-2008 06:00:56 | More by dedrinker

EStreet20

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce can. 20 ounce "tulip" shaped pint glass.

A - Brew pours out motor oil black. About a half finger of dark tan head is on there. Beer is completely opaque.

S - Nice smell of sweet malts.

T - Taste is of roasted malt all the way. A great dark malt taste. Tiny tinge of sweetness then a black coffee/espresso flavor kicks up. Some hops noticeable on the background. Coffee aftertaste lingers.

M - A very full, heavy bodied beer which is the only way to go for a stout so full of black coffee bitterness.

D - A nice sloooow sipper, but a brew that keeps you coming back. Great after dinner drink. Good for relaxing on a cold night as well.

Serving type: can

02-29-2008 03:46:22 | More by EStreet20

dsigmon

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

How have I not had this alread? I have seen it on the shelves many times...maybe the $15 price tag...maybe its ease of obtainment? However, wow.

A: pours a murky jet black thick and creamy sounding as it hits the bottom of my Dogfish Head snifter. Very little carbonation as a thing dark brown head forms and dissapears quickly leaving thin lacing.

S: Wow! This is one of the most aromatic smelling brews I have had in a while. Strong smell of chocolate coffee with cherries in the background. A little bitter coffee hop aroma ties it together.

T/M: This thing just keeps getting better! Wow! I feel like I am drinking a slightly melted milk shake flavored with a heavy amount of espresso shots and added flavor shots of chocolate and cherries and dark fruit. Thick and velvety with just a wee touch of carbonation to keep it from being overly sticky in the mouth. Don't get me wrong, your palate is still covered in oily tasty chocolate and cherries, but just not overly so.

D: This is delicious. I could drink them all day. The flavor profile is so strong however one as someone that is not a fan of coffee may get tired of the taste.

Serving type: can

02-29-2008 01:58:10 | More by dsigmon

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I love the fact that this high end offering comes in a can. Perfect for places that don't allow bottles in.

I have been through Lyons a couple of times but never noticed this brewery. I will have to look it up next time.

Can pops with nearly no sound at all. Like a flat soda. Pours like motor oil. Completely black with a small brown head that seems to linger. Smell isn't as big as I expected. Chalk and chocolate combine with a touch of grassy hops.

First thing that I notice about the taste is that it isn't as big as I expected. Very smooth overall. Hops are present through out. The ending is a big blending of roasted malt and hops. Taste lasts for a good 25-30 seconds after the fact. Very little carbonation overall. This is a sipper. Thick, mouth coating feel to it.

More traditional in style and much different than others I have tried of late.

Serving type: can

02-28-2008 22:46:06 | More by CharlesRiver

JackWeizen

Rhode Island

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A black ink-like spit comes out of the can as I crack it, splattering the top of the can and my finger. Cool. This stuff pours out as black as the label. Creamy chocolate milk head forms and slowly fades while clinging to the side of the glass as is sits. It smells of charcoal and deeply roasted coffee beans.

Thick lacing forms after each sip and then thins out a bit down the glass. It tastes great. Bitter, and dry. Roasted barley leaves gooey sensation on the tongue. The roasted malt character is strong and well balanced against the bitterness from the hops. I taste things like espresso, chocolate, charred oak, cherry and brandy. Alcohol is subtle in flavor, but quickly warming.

I really wonder of thats roasted barley, or oatmeal leaving this gooey sensation. I'm going to have to try an oatmeal stout soon. It makes the beer seem thick, but its more like an amped up dry stout, than a sweet stout. The carbonation is perfect.

This stuff is really worth trying if you find it. I could drink it for breakfast, but its great after dinner. It is very intense, so if you prefer beer that is easy on the palette, beware.

Serving type: can

02-28-2008 20:33:10 | More by JackWeizen

ccrida

Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my New Belgium Goblet, Ten FIDY is pitch black with a medium sized, tight bubbled head that is a very dark tan and leaves heavy lace. It is rather still, without even a crack of carbonation when I popped the tab. Served about 60F.

Smell is extreamly fruity, sweet caramel with only a hint of roast lingering in the background. Yummy.

Taste is the total opposite of the smell, in that it is massively roasty and woody, barely bittersweet and lacking the esters on the nose. The aftertaste is astrigent and burnt, and *really* lingers in the back of my throat, in-spite of which there is a noticably clean balance that makes it more enjoyable then I've probably made it sound. There is also a hint of sweetness on the finish that reminds me of lactose. First sip was a little dissapointing, mainly from the difference of the aroma, but also b/c it seems to roasty. After a few sips, I was begining to become convert, although even by then end I though it a bit to roasty for my taste.

Mouthfeel is smooth and luscious. Body is medium for the style.

Drinkability is pretty good, but not bananas, like this beer. Still a bit more roasty then I'd prefer, which seems to hinder it's depth, but still very nice and enjoyable. Worth seeking out, particularly for the novelty of such a big beer in a can being so good (e.g. once it's poured you'll never be able to tell it was canned).

Serving type: can

02-28-2008 01:54:20 | More by ccrida

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a very opaque reddish-black with a 1 finger dark chocolate/cherry bubbly head that was moderately lasting, leaving a great sticky film lacing behind all down the sides of the glass.

S: a rich, dark burnt roasted malt, dark rich, chocolate, pine and a lightly charred woodiness along with coffee.

T: The initial flavor was rich dark roasted coffee flavor that was very smooth and refined. There was a rich, dark, slightly burnt chocolate nature along with some dark licorice notes as well. A roasted burnt woodiness, deep roasted cocoa beans all add to the dark nature of this beer without adding any acrid bitterness. The flavor was very smooth and rounded.

M: warming, lightly roasted burnt malt and woodiness to it providing a silky, thick coating on the tongue along with some dark chocolate.

D: A rich, delicious treat that makes you wish you could have more. Case worthy for future enjoyment.

Serving type: can

02-28-2008 00:36:39 | More by beerthulhu

session1979

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Setting: Stuck on the couch watching American Idol with the wife so I went to the fridge to find something that could take the edge off, Ten FIDY it was..

Appearance: Poured this into my DFH snifter. Pours with the color and viscosity of used old black engine oil but with an amazing depth and clarity. The can burps as it releases this amazing beer. Once poured a thick 3 finger dark milk chocolate head sits atop the liquid and lasts for quite a while.

Nose: The nose is full and rich with chewy dark chocolate brownies, fresh brewed espresso, roasted barley, oats and molasses. The alcohol is noticeable and almost like a warning shot across the bow to remind you this is a big badass beer....

Taste: Wow, so freaking good. Big bold flavors, coffee, dark roasted malts, creamy caramel, slightly bitter chocolate. The ominous nose that warned of dominate alcohol was indeed misleading as the ABV is buried nicely under a flavor barrage of all that is good.

Mouthfeel: You know from the moment you pour this beer that the mouthfeel is going to be more like a heavy cream then a beer, and indeed it is. Moderate carbonation and the creamy texture make this a party in your mouth.

Drinkability: I would call this moderately drinkable and that is based much more on the fact that it is a full flavor powerhouse as the ABV presence isn't all that noticeable.

Overall: I have had this several times now and each time it has just gotten better and better. The first time I had it was 2 days after canning and it was very bitter and phenolic, almost like eating powdered aspirin. That was a one time taste as it has now become one of my favorite Imperial Stouts.

Serving type: can

02-27-2008 15:45:41 | More by session1979

triplecoil

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a snifter.

Extremely dark pour with a thin and quickly dissipating brown head. Nose of roasted malt, molasses, and beef jerky. Taste is bitter coffee and chocolate, some sweetness from the heavy malt, somewhat spicy aftertaste (the beef jerky again?), and a little alcohol. Mouthfeel is viscous with some nice carbonation.

This is definitely a premium imperial stout. I could drink this as often as I could get it...though I guess I would get pretty smashed doing so.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2008 00:42:58 | More by triplecoil

dfillius

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev -5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

Enjoyed in a pint glass.
A: pours motor-oil-black with two fingers of red-brown head. Head is darker than some brown ales I've had. Nice creamy, pillowy head with good retention.
S: Semi-sweet/dark chocolate, tobacco, tiniest hint of alcohol that increases as it warms. Not much coffee aroma, which I've smelled a lot of in other RISs. Nice for a change!
T: Bitter and roasty. Bitter like bakers cocoa. A sweet cherry flavor comes through with some raisiny sweetness. I wish it were a tad sweeter/played with the middle of my tongue more.
M: Terribly smooth! Where is the heat?! So creamy due to phenomenal head retention.
D: I feel the alcohol after 1/4 pint! Only one for me. An eminently enjoyable beer though.

Serving type: can

02-26-2008 22:37:43 | More by dfillius

barleywinebrewer

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to oxymoron for sending this my way! I still get a kick out of what oskar blues is doing - a big tasty RIS in a silver can. Keystone and coors - take that (thumbs nose and waves fingers. Ok, how about the beer?

A - rich dark black color with a dark brown head which lasts almost the full glass.

S - molasses, espresso, roasted grains dark sweet malts.

T - similar to the nose with a nice hop left undercut. Rich sweet balance of flavors but a definite lean towards roasted / acrid burnt flavors.

M - full bodied, rich smooth and enticingly put together to leave the mouth with a nice residual roast impression

D - did this really pour from a can? I have to get over that. This was a quite pleasant beer and I'd definitely have it again.

Serving type: can

02-26-2008 14:39:50 | More by barleywinebrewer

Zorro

California

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled through a trade with Northertimber.

Pours a thick black colored beer with a thin brown head.

Smell is sweet with a trace of hops giving it a scent best described as 'carrot sticks." Caramel candy and chocolate syrup aromas and a hint of smoke. Faint fig Newton cookie aroma.

The taste starts out thick chocolate with a lot of patent malt and smoke and roast flavor. Gets more bitter as you drink it with a long lasting roast malt and smoke aftertaste. Faint berry and vanilla flavors but this beer is all about the roast.

Mouthfeel is quite thick.

Not bad at all but I may have had my expectations a little to high for this beer based upon word of mouth. Nice and very smooth what it lacks it that extra layer of complexity that the best Russian Imperial Stouts posses. Still this is a good beer and no doubt the best RIS in a can.

Serving type: can

02-26-2008 04:18:29 | More by Zorro

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz can, from Oxymoron

A: Pours a deep dark black under a inch and half dark brown head. Some good lace and retention.

S: Smells of a sweet but roasted malt. A bit of mocha, dark fruit and hint of cream. Very appealing to the nose.

T: Very nice. Sweet and roasted, a little bit of anise flavor, good bitterness from the roasted malt, some dark coffee and chocolate hints. Alcohol is there with some warmth, but it can't be tasted.

M/D: Big, full bodied, extremely velvety on the tongue. Drinkability only hampered by the big ABV. This one is very, very smooth and extremely tasty. Bring this baby to NC!

Serving type: can

02-26-2008 00:40:37 | More by NCSUdo

dreadnatty08

District of Columbia

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours, well black as hell, completely opaque, with a solid quarter inch of dirty brown head, and some nice tracing. Gorgeous so far. Aroma's are not as strong as expected: cocoa, roasted coffee, black patent, creamy bourbon (if there was such a thing), and quite a bit of citrusy hops. On the palate, the roasted barley tumbles the tongue, chocolate malts develop finishing with some high alcohols and those west coast hops. It finishes almost minty and vodka like. Incredibly chewy in the mouth with moderate carbonation and heavy mouthfeel. Very refreshing after recently having Storm King and Black Bear stouts finding them just way too hoppy. Hops here are quite evident but very balanced. Not much bitterness from the malts, I imagine a low percent of black and roasted malts, making it very smooth. This is a very enjoyable RIS from a brewery who has such a solid lineup.

Serving type: can

02-25-2008 20:38:25 | More by dreadnatty08

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Dev (BuckeyeSox) for this can. I poured it into a standard pint glass, and admired it's looks for a while. Honestly this is one of the most appetizing looking beers, dark dark brown with a thick frothy foam colored like chocolate milk. Really good lacing on the glass too. The aroma is roasted malt, very rich smelling. The flavor is roasty with just a touch of sweetness, and quite a bit of bitterness in the after-taste. The mouthfeel is thick, giving a nice match to the rich flavor. I recommend this beer, but the only drawback is that I'd prefer a little less burnt bitterness in the taste.

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 21:39:37 | More by TurdFurgison

NBake

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Ten Fidy

The can is interesting, like all of the Oskar Blues clan, with goofy quotes and a simple yet appealing graphic in the background. I'm excited for this one.

I pop the top, hear that little fizz of delight and ceremoniously pour Ten Fidy into my big mug. I am rewarded for my effort with a black body, capped with 3 fingers of beautiful brown head.

The nose is unexpectedly hoppy, with notes of chocolate and general roastiness mixed in.

First taste brings lots of roasty and hop filled bitterness with some dark fruits and cocoa, followed by some alcohol and rebounding back into bitter dark chocolate flavors. The alcohol and chocolate stick to the roof of your mouth, begging you for another sip. I'll oblige. I'll admit, there is a lot of sweet malt flavor going on here as well, but this one is really about the roasted barley, and an assertive hop profile. I dig it.

Ten Fidy goes down smooth. It is viscous, with low carbonation and right on for the style, as far as I'm concerned. It isn't too syrupy or sickly sweet.

Overall, this is a great beer. Many of the Imperial Stouts out there are very sweet, which is ok, but this one is dry enough to session, if you can handle the booze. It brings a flavor that is hard to get tired of and I would recommend it to all that are unafraid of dark beer.

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 06:35:39 | More by NBake

BattleRoadBrewer

Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served cool in a nonick pint. Reviewed blind against Abyss, KtG, DL, Ky BS, P. Mortel, Stone IRS, B. Albert.

Pours thick, black and with great clarity. Nice foamy dark brown head leaving heavy lacing.

Aroma is surprisingly mild, a blend of chocolate, dark fruitiness and roastiness.

Taste is complex and perfectly balanced between roastiness, chocolate, and hops. Unexpected hop burp at the finish.

Mouthfeel is creamy smooth and perfectly bittered. Light in a good way with a hint of lingering oiliness. Feels like it would have good ABV but with no alcoholic bite--perfectly balanced.

Drinkability is just great. Glad this came to Massachusetts so I could buy a bunch of it and drink it regularly, instead of having to trade for it. Down with rare beers--this is a great one. But rare beers aren't reviewed by the macro-swilling masses, so this one's overall rating is being pulled down by people who don't like imperial stouts. Food pairing: Ten Fidy would go great with a glazed doughnut!

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 03:19:55 | More by BattleRoadBrewer

bigeyedfish

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz can courtesy of Johnny Med poured into a rodenbach grand cru tulip.

pitch black body, which looks even more reminiscent of motor oil when it comes from a can, with a thin layer of milk-chocolate-colored head. the head fades pretty quickly, save for a burnt-red layer around the outer rim; some nice lacing.

not as strong a smell as i expected it to be; some roasted malt and some dark cocoa, some tobacco, even a tad bit of smoked meat. so yeah, it smells like an imperial stout. one of the more subdued russian imperials, at least based on smell- nothing really blows you away with this one.

interesting taste. the mid-palate is a lot of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa powder. the finish is a little bit of hop bitterness, which is unexpected, but with the recent interpretations of the style, not totally unexpected. but the finishing part of the finish is a little hot, a little metallic and a little almost unpleasant. it's kind of comparable to the taste of salt. really sweet beginning taste though- a little butterscotch-like.

for an imperial stout actually pretty lacking in body. there's some carbonation/sensation that develops in the back of the mouth around the mid-palate and lingers till the finish, so that's mildly unpleasant. yeah, the most noticeable mouthfeel characteristic is the astringency on the finish. there isn't a whole lot of palate coating, it's not a super rich body.

this is a lot smoother than a lot of other russian imperials; it does not have a huge hop presence, and there is not an abundance of flavor that might make you feel full; it doesn't have that huge pallet coating that keeps the taste of the beer fresh in your mind for hours and it isn't out of this worldly alcoholic. and yet, for each of those categories it's easy to envision a beer that fits the description. with this one? it's from a can. sometimes its good to be average. right?

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 03:16:46 | More by bigeyedfish

guinness33

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an oily black colour with a much smaller than expected mid-sized to small dark tan head that quickly fades to a thin lace and leaves minor amounts of residue on the glass.

The aroma is nice but is not nearly as pronounced as I would have expected: chocolate, coffee, roasted malt and perhaps a slight touch of fruit sweetness. There's definitely a hint of noticeable alcohol here as well.

Flavour basically hits on all of the notes from the aroma: there is a big roasted malt presence throughout along with a much bolder coffee flavour than was to be expected from the aroma. Any chocolate/cocoa and sweetness is more subdued, although still present. Alcohol flavour creeps in mostly at the finish of each sip to provide for a nice bite. Mouthfeel is full bodied with a good amount of creaminess to it. There is also a fair share of hotness here from the alcohol.

This was a very nice brew overall, but it just didn't live up to the hype that has been built around it. I was expecting to try something that would rank amongst the best beer I've ever had, which is always difficult to live up to for any beer and for anyone. Instead, I got a rock-solid excellent example of the style that just couldn't get to that tip-top level for me. Needless to say, this is a no brainer to try, should you be able to find it.

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 02:48:19 | More by guinness33

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz can from a recent trade with mmtmatrix.

A: The stout poured the darkest head I've ever seen. It was a dark ruddy brown color, brilliant in its depth. The stout is dark and black, its event horizon absorbs all light.

S: The nose is an intense amalgum of chocolate, burnt toast, coffee, molasses and dark alefruits. All this from a can? Awesome!

T: The stout packs a big hoppy bite up front. Somewhat surprising because it really didn't register in the nose. The citrus is in contrast to the dark roasted stout body. Coffee and chocolate, mixed with dark fruits and molasses, nicely define the post-hops body. A sugary sweet chocolate flavor lingers in the palate long after the sip is gone.

M: The mouthfeel, despite the abundance of different flavors, really comes together nicely. The acrid burnt flavor is a nice sendoff.

D: At 10% this is a whopper. One can is more than enough at one sitting.

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 02:01:00 | More by akorsak

awall422

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Been waiting a long time for ten fidy to work it's way to massachusetts...

poured a pure black with a finger of dark brown head that lasted well for a high abv beer and left nice lacing all the way to the end of the glass.

smell is nice, mixture of roasty grains, coffee notes and a little chocolate.

more coffee along with a touch of baker's chocolate in the initial taste, finishes with a nice bitter hop note, more than i was expecting.

rich and creamy with the bitter finish helping to make sure the palate isn't left too coated. nice finish for such a strong beer.

excellent drinakbility for a RIS, alcohol presence only really starts to come through as the glass begins to warm.

i've read lots of hype about this beer over the last few months. it lived up to it, excellent example of the style! need more...

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 01:18:17 | More by awall422