Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

On-tap at Prime 16 into a 3/4 pint glass.

A: Fully black body that glows vermillion around the extreme edges when held up to light. 1/2" head of dense, pillowy brown foam. Good retention, great lace. Intense-looking, gorgeous stout.

S: Big + rich: chocolate, coffee, brownie batter, and booze. Quite good, but nothing really stands out to make it especially memorable.

T: Follows the nose: sweet and roasty up front, with major chocolate and brownie elements leading to a finish that balances the malty goodness with some earthy hop bitterness and a healthy dose of alcohol. Definitely boozier than I'd like for a sub-10% beer, but still very tasty.

M: Thick, viscous, and explosive. Definitely a bit overly frothy, but still hugely enjoyable.

O: Great beer, but I think I like it better from the can.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2011 18:15:05 | More by woosterbill

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

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

Enjoyed on tap at Pinocchio's in Media, PA. A 12 ounce pour into a tulip glass.

A: Black with a one-finger mocha head that sticks around for more than half of the beer. Fair amount of lacing along the glass.

S: Major notes of chocolate as expected, but also strong hints of bitterness from the hops. I expected the hops to come through in the taste, but probably not in the nose. Some clues that the beer will be sweet as well.

T: Chocolate malt upfront, with a light caramel sweetness. Strong bitterness from the hops also. Definitely not used to this level of hop bitterness in a stout, but it works well.

M: So creamy, so delicious. This is easily the creamiest, full-bodied beer I've had. Imagine the creaminess of Guinness, but without it's thin body. Perfect.

O: Great beer. I really enjoyed it and will keep an eye out for it on draft again in the future!

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2011 19:20:54 | More by Hophead717

Hands22

Florida

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Beachwood BBQ (Seal Beach). 

A- Poured dark brown (almost black) with a thick, brown head that lasted for most of the glass. 

S- Chocolate malt with a little bit of roast and booze. Strong malt sweetness reminiscent of dark fruits (plum especially). 

T- Chocolate malt and the dark fruit again. The beer is well balanced enough that the malt isn't overwhelming but it is still the focus. 

M- Medium-full bodied. Medium carbonation.  

O- A great imperial stout. Very well designed but a bit pricier than I'd like.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 04:37:53 | More by Hands22

CrystalShipMS3

Maryland

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

Pours black inky darkness. Super dark brown almost chocolate colored head. Head doesn't last long leaves some sticky residue on the glass as you drink.

Smell: Coffee and some cherry. Dark and bitter smell but slightly sweet.

Taste: Brilliant. Perfect. Sweet alcoholic fruit and bitter coffee and chocolate balance perfectly together. Lots of depth, each flavor develops on your palate with every sip. It's just plain excellent. Strong but tasty alcohol flavor develops as it warms, almost vodka like but it fits with the thick flavor well.

Mouthfeel: Cream. Perfect for the brew. Heavy. Delicious.

Oveall: I'll never forget this beer. Dear god. It's amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 22:48:42 | More by CrystalShipMS3

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark engine oil color with minimal caramel colored lacing that's very thin, and no carbonation. The beer is very viscous and sticks to the sides of the glass like cough syrup before oozing back down into the beer.

S - Aroma is chicory, oak, toasted toffee, extreme mild expresso, and big time roasted malt.

T - Massive woody oak character, bittersweet dark chocolate, mild charcoal, licorice, and anise. There's a moderate boozy presence with lingering chocolate and charcoal.

M - Heavy medium body, sticky, and viscous.

O - A big beer with big flavor and definitely worth every penny

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 01:43:52 | More by jzeilinger

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Stark black with no head other than a little wispy lace resting on the surface. No light is getting through this sucker.

S: Coffee. Yep, coffee.

T: A very smoky coffee flavor with hints of chocolate and caramel. This is a very, very tasty beer.

M: More carbonate than you might expect, but still on the oily and smooth side. This is a pleasant and not too heavy beer considering its density and ABV.

O: Oskar Blues is in the business of brewing classic beers. This is certainly one of them. One of the best, widely available stouts you can find anytime.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 21:40:33 | More by StoneTSR

ehammond1

California

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

On Tap (2010)

Blue Palms 3rd Anniversary Party
Blue Palms BrewHouse
Los Angeles, CA

(Aged 1 year)

Dark black and thick as hell. Shimmering and oily. Brown, persistent head. Sticky, thick, and decadent. Amazing!

Huge combination of rich chocolate and roasted coffee in the aroma. Very little hint of alcohol.

A huge amount of divine, rich chocolate, some roasted coffee character, and a bit of sweet vanilla. Some mild bitterness but little to no hop flavor present.

Big, thick, luscious, velvety mouthfeel. The gold standard.

An exceptionally simple yet divinely delicious RIS. I want more!

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2011 21:38:48 | More by ehammond1

DarthKostrizer

California

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

Look: Black with a 1/4 mocha colored head and ok retention and lacing

Smell: Mild coffee and bitter chocolate notes with hints of vanilla

Taste: Traces of chocolate and roasted/burnt malts. Traces of coffee oatmeal and vanilla but very muted.

Mouthfeel: Full body with low carbonation

Overall: Good beer but not great it is a Russian Imperial I could drink everyday and I highly recommend it

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2011 00:10:10 | More by DarthKostrizer

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

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 Fidy on tap at The Tasty Weasel OB Tap Room.

a-black and thick looking with little head. No lacing, head dissapated quickly.

s-roasted malts, hop smell had faded away. The chocolate malts were big in the smell. As the beer warms, the smell opens up slightly.

t-smooth, and rich. The alcohol has faded away, but the hops still have some life. The malts obviously are king in the taste. Really well balanced for being two years old. Lots to think about still in the aged version of Fidy. This beer has responded well to time.

m-just what you would expect in an imperial stout.

o-great treat at OB's. Really glad I had the chance to try this beer. Really good example of how this can age well in the keg. Hope it's still there next time I go!

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2011 02:19:08 | More by

bierguru

Florida

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - pitch black and THICK. About 2 fingers of a dark mocha head that is simply gorgeous. Great retention and lacing.

S - Dark dark chocolate, roasted malt, and some coffee.

T - Deep roasted malt characteristics with a TON of chocolate flavor. A bit of coffee bitterness as well. Delicious. you really do not taste the alcohol presence in the beer

M - the beer is for sure full bodied and no real abrasive mouth feelings

O - really awesome like really really awesome lol

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 02:25:15 | More by bierguru

Alpar

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very dark (like the name implies). The pour gave a 1.5 fingers worth of brown head and not much retention after a minute.

S: A little bit of alcohol, chocolate/malt maybe some leather in there too but nothing else that I am detecting.

T: Hmm this is not what I was expecting at all. Its malty and strong and that's about it. Even as it warmed I didn't pick up much more...

M: Very thick and an ok carbonation level.

O: This is a good beer but I am not seeing what is so spectacular here. I definitely wouldn't pay the $15 dollar price tag for a 4-pk, but not a bad stout overall.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2011 20:09:49 | More by Alpar

ExtraStout

Massachusetts

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

Had this on tap and in the can at the Distillery in Sav. GA. Both were equally great.

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

05-27-2011 20:10:22 | More by ExtraStout

Ralphs66

New York

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

Whoa nellie! The menu said that "there are few beers that make us say HOLY SHIT"...well, now I understand why the kind folks at Holy Smoke included that as part of the menu description. Let me state that I am NOT a huge fan of RIS. I'll try, and usually enjoy, anything; but if I had my pick, I'd go with a Kolsch. The RIS anti-thesis. But this beer blew me away. The head was so dark, heavy and rich that it gave off a purple hue. The color of the beer was as dark as anything I've ever seen. Smell was to die for. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, a good stout should have. Coffee, chocolate, molasses, vanilla, caramel. At 10.5, I wasn't knocked over by the smell or taste of alcohol. Smoooth...and the perfect ending to a fine BBQ meal and four tasting flight.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 12:28:08 | More by Ralphs66

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Philly, PA

Pours and oily, pitch black, with a finger of dense brown head that laces nicely. Smell of coffee, ash, and licorice. Taste of dark roasted coffee, cocoa, licorice and molasses, with a rummy alcohol kick. Bitterness from the coffee notes lasts into the aftertaste. Full body and good drinkability. Very good stout.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 15:34:44 | More by Rifugium

tbrown4

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Frisco Taphouse last night for happy hour. I've long been a fan of OB and their stellar craft cans.

A - Pours pitch black with a thin dark tan head. There isn't much lacing to speak of and the head quickly leaves.

S - Heavy coffee aromas, tart cherries, dark chocolate.

T - The front mimics the aroma with coffee notes, tart cherries, dark chocolate. Feels deliciously tart and sour in the middle to the back of the throat. Finishes very clean with a quick aftertaste.

M - Medium in body. Not a hint of the alcohol.

O - Excellent flavorful and complex RIS. If you like sweet strong stouts It doesn't get much better than this in my opinion. Priced at about $8 a pour at Frisco its not an everyday beer. I may have to go our an buy some cans of this to keep around. It's too good to ignore.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2011 16:08:05 | More by tbrown4

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

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

Just moving some stuff around here, Review # 1050.

Poured from a 12oz can into a snifter. this can was bought over a year ago so it may have been from one of the 1st "canings" of this brew. no date present on the can.

A- Cracking open the black can came a black liquid that was thick as thieves. A aggressive pour lead to a nice 1 1/2 finger brownish head that looks creamy. a lot of bubbles are seen throughout the head. a good amount of lacing as well. very beautiful.

S- I smell a lot of chocolate and some tootsie roll goodness. It's followed by coffee, a little caramel, and a twinge of alcohol. Malts are also present. A very nice full aroma consistent with the RIS style. the smell tells me i'm in for a treat.

T- Wowsers, flavor overload. I get a bunch of dark chocolates and black coffee with roasted/smoked malts that add some bitterness as i sip more. As ten fidy warms the chocolate comes out even more and some licorice makes a cameo appearance. Alcohol is only slightly present.

M- TF goes down pretty smooth and has a medium body. not as thick/thin as some RIS i've had so the feel is almost perfect.

D- Yummy yummy yummy, i have ten fidy in tummy, and i feel like drinking two!!! This is not a session beer but once i'm done one, i want another. A perfect sipper but i can't help to drink this fast.

I'm going to have to get a fresh can and compare the batches cause i read that some changes were made.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 04:22:05 | More by onix1agr

dragonWhale

New York

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

sweet sweet Jesus..2006 on tap at The Gate. Beautiful. Some sweet roastiness in full midnight. The bitterness of the brew is still solid, all flavor hops faded totally removed. Some chocolate and coffee behind the roasty bitter. Very good with this age on it. The bitterness finally balances the rest of the beer out. The more recent batches seem to have been way too heavy on the roast but this one is right on.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2011 05:54:54 | More by dragonWhale

claytong

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another great one from the guys at Oskar Blues. I love Imperial Stouts and this one I loved even more than normal. A great darkness to it. Controlled, but fun. A bit bitter for my liking but otherwise great tones.
A little pricey as usual, but worth it without a doubt. Just not an everyday beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 22:58:04 | More by claytong

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

on tap at irish pol in philly. served in tulip glass.

Pours a deep inky black with a wonderfully frothy layer of deep, brownie colored head. This retains a thick layer on top of the beer until nearly the last sip, as the beer leaves patches of tanned lacing on the glass.

Roasted dark malt with cocoa and dark chocolate. Dark fruits mix in with some more sweetness and a bit of smoke. Light alcohol flair.

Plenty of rich malts laced with bittersweet dark chocolate and cocoa. A decent layer of dark fruit with dates and plum add in a unique sort of sweetness. Hints of charred smoke towards the middle. Some alcohol flair with a hop bite during the finish.

Full bodied, softer carbonation, rich sticky texture with slight chewiness. Drinks nicely, the flavor and feel is excellent. I've had this aged and fresh; I think its safe to say I prefer it on the fresher side.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2011 05:21:54 | More by xnicknj

Janderson91

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on-tap at Taco Mac in Atlanta on February 19. Review from notes.

A - Pours absolutely opaque black with a small pretty dark brown head. Leaves very little lacing but could have been because of a bad pour.

S - Chocolate. Some roasted malts and also a very slight hop aroma but mostly bittersweet dark chocolate.

T - Taste follows the nose. Extremely chocolatey which gives way to a good roasty flavor toward the back. Actually finishes relatively dry for the richness of the beer. Leaves a good hoppy, roasty, dark chocolate flavor.

M/D - This has one of the thickest bodies of any beer I've had. It works though. Ten FIDY is incredibly rich and therefore it's a definite dessert beer and drinkability is pretty low.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 14:59:33 | More by Janderson91

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pitch black...that about sums up the color of the body...a creamy tan head stands about one finger...it slowly falls into a thin bead...some lacing

S - Chocolate, a lot of roasted notes, smokey notes, coffee, and dark fruits

T - There is a lot of dark chocolate flavor in this one...it's there from start to finish...the roasted characteristic goes right along with the chocolate even adding some complexity to the flavor...in the middle I picked up some dark fruits and paired with some vanilla it was enough to sweeten the beer...the beer finishes with chocolate, roast, and smoke

M - Full bodied...smooth and creamy...nice finish that coats the palate

D - I finally had the chance to try this and it was pretty good...I don't think it lived up to its hype for me...but don't get me wrong it's delicious...and I couldn't see having more than one since it's 10.5%

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 16:27:02 | More by thain709

thedoubler55

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pitch black in color, with a slight brown head that leaves slight lacing as you drink it

S - Chocolate, and slight hint of coffee, and dark roasted malts

T - Nothing crazy in taste but good, chocolatey up front with hints of raisins at the tail end.

M - Creamy and think and not to much carbonation.

D - Very drinkable I would say, great tasting and not to much alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 15:24:19 | More by thedoubler55

rivalrome

Florida

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Found out they were serving this badboy at WoB in Orlando and I had to go sample it for myself. Served to me in a snifter; I let it sit for a while before I started to attack it.

Appears an extremely thick, jet black mixture. It's appearance and texture is similar to frozen Jagermeister, or the commonly suggested motor oil. Had a very dark brown head; unlike something I have never seen in a beer. Super, super excited.

Smells of roasted malts, fantastic burnt chocolates, fruits, and figs. In all regards, I'm salivating at this point to just get my nose into the glass.

Wow, this is almost like a beer milkshake. It's extremely chewy texture makes this the thickest beer I've had to date. Seems to be mostly devoid of carbonation; but that's not a complaint! It adds to the character of the beer; the taste isn't too strong, but it is very far from weak. It's syrupy consistency tastes of malts, roasted grains, bitter chocolate, and hints of cherry.

Overall, for how thick it is, this is an extremely drinkable beer. For those who aren't fond of the thickest of beers, I'd advise to steer clear, because this syrupy monster almost needs to be cut with a knife. Overall an extremely fabulous beer. Oskar Blues never ceases to amaze me!

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 02:50:40 | More by rivalrome

ScorpyX

Colorado

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

Pours very dark, nearly black with a small, light brown head, kind of like dirty snow.

S: Sweet smell, chocolate notes are most obvious. There's some roasted scents in there as well.

T: Thick and sweet, with the aforementioned chocolate and some caramel flavor. Coffee flavor as well, many expected and wonderful flavors from a stout.

M: Pretty thick and syrupy, typical heavy feel. Not overwhelming, though.

D: Like I said, it's thick and sweet, but in spite of that a few would be perfect for a cold winter's night. The high alcohol content would limit too many, though.

This is the second Oskar Blues brew I've tried and thus far they're great. I hope I'll have the chance to sample more in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 22:31:19 | More by ScorpyX