Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

PhxHorn

Arizona

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

This one pours like motor oil--dark dark brown, almost black, with a very slight tan head. Smells mildly of chocolate and coffee. Tastes moderately of dark chocolate, coffee, malt, caramel. The flavors are well-blended, but they are on the mild side for an imperial stout. Mouthfeel is a bit watery for an imperial stout, but carbonation is about right. Overall, a good imperial stout which I'll drink again, but they could have ramped it up a notch.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2009 16:02:22 | More by PhxHorn

HeyItsChili

South Carolina

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

A - Poured from a growler from the Charleston Beer Exchange into a pint glass. Pours black with a coca-cola brown head.

S - Chocolaty, sweet, roasted coffee, with some alcohol in the aroma.

T - Delicious, and akin to the scent. Bittersweet chocolate,

M - Creamy, full bodied, viscous.

Notes - I've had a couple cans of this from the CBE and having it on tap really adds a lot of depth and at least some perceived freshness to the taste.

Serving type: growler

01-30-2009 21:23:38 | More by HeyItsChili

raoulduke37

California

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

OH man, what a beer! This is an exceptional stout. Had it on tap at Father's Office, once the Deschutes Abyss tap ran out, but not to worry, this one can, and did, hold a candle to that fine libation.

A - Thick black, not unlike motor oil, with brown hues, and a standard tan head that holds very well.

S - Roasted coffee beans, chocolate, dates

T - Incredibly creamy, especially the first few sips, combined with the dense head. Beautiful coffee flavor, with hints of mocha, and definitely cinnamon.

M - I could not emphasize how smooth this is in this medium (on tap). Tastes like heaven with the consistency of Dimetapp.

D - Share one of these with your friends when they graduate from something.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2009 22:46:05 | More by raoulduke37

TLove

District of Columbia

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this beer on rotating tap at the Big Hunt in DC. Just started. Get on that!

The color and head is similar to other russian imperial stouts that I have had, however, this seemed a bit over-carbonated at first.

The smell and taste are both surprisingly sweet, smooth, well-balanced and not-so-subtle with flavors of heavy roast, malt, cherry, and chocolate. The Ten FIDY has a great balance between the sweetness and the high ABV and is unapologetically complex.

The Ten FIDY finishes rather smoky and carbonated. The smokiness is reminiscent of the Stone Smoked Porter, however, with less single-flavor dominance.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2009 19:43:55 | More by TLove

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

I've enjoyed a couple before this official review... Shout out to Grandwazoo who learned to pour a beer with NO fear from this one...

This belongs in a can since it's a little less than a quart of oil!! Thick.... Syrup looking!! And pours almost like maple syrup... Except a tan head forms and clings to the glass for dear life.... Can you say "Lacing" champion?? Serious... Thick foam all inside the glass...

Roasted malts... Actually quite delicate if that makes any sense... A bit of floral hops in the background. Really nice!!!

Smooth as a baby's bottom... Not that I've ever tasted a baby's bottom!!! Intersection between coffee and chocolate almost equals.... Black licorice... but not too strong....
Nice... touch of cinnamon.... My God, this is a great beer...

As thick as this is in body it's unreal in mouth feel and drinkability...

Just unreal...

I could drink this all night.... Well, I agree it would NOT be a long night!!!

Great beer!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2009 02:39:46 | More by Reagan1984

meatyard

Pennsylvania

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

A-Is very, very dark-no light gets through. The head is short & a dark tan.

S-Is a number of things, There's dark roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate.

T-Is much the same as the smell only more. A hint of alcohol in the finish.

M-Is smooth, creamy and medium/thick.

D-Is excellent. Two of these would be easy and nice. I could probably happily do 3 but I'd more than feel it.

As so many have said, this is a great drinking RIS. If you like big tasting stouts you'll enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 01:21:26 | More by meatyard

omnigrits

Texas

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

Wow. I thought I'd found all I could ever find in a stout or a porter until I tried this one. When I see it coming out of the tap it reminds me of The Beverly Hillbillies - "Black gold, Texas tea. Well the next thing you know old Jed's a millionaire". This stuff is black, black, black!!! Very dark brown head that subsides quickly but leaves plenty of lacing. It shouts ROASTED MALT at you from ten feet away. It's like drinking an old ash tray, but in a good way. Somewhat sweet. Almost no carbonation. It really is like motor oil. Liquid engineering. I couldn't drink more than one of these in a session, but that's the way it should be. You don't drink port all night, you finish off the evening with it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2009 19:09:39 | More by omnigrits

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at TJ's in Paoli, served in a snifter

Appears an almost midnight black with a thick chocolate color head. No light is getting through this guy. It looks awesome in a snifter. A very little bit of lace is left behind.

A very pungent nose of cocoa powder, dark Belgian chocolate, coffee beans, and very mild grassy hops. A large overhang of alcohol leads me to believe this is going to be a huge beer.

Yup, just what I thought. A big huge beer that is surprisingly well-balanced. Roasted, slightly charred malt profile, chocolate and caramel. A small amount of dark fruits and a decently strong grassy, earthy hop profile. A long, lingering alcohol burn is noticeable.

Thick and creamy. A very huge beer.

This was one of the slowest beers I have ever drank. A nightcap indeed. The 10% abv is big and omnipresent throughout this experience.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2009 03:02:26 | More by ColForbinBC

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Pours a deep, opaque sable with minimal, fine-bubbled tan head. Rich, mocha-like aroma is just a bit sweet and a little smoky, and very appetizing. Superb coffee and chocolate flavor is mouth-filling and delicious, smoky and lively. Texture is thick and tingly so it satisfies on the way down the pipes.

Serving type: cask

12-30-2008 03:11:54 | More by Cyberkedi

angelmonster

Colorado

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

Poured into a snifter at the flying saucer. Nice dark chocolate inch head with a pitch black body. Very good lacing through out.

Smells mostly of roasted, chocolate malts , faint hops and bits of alcohol. Expected more of an alcohol smell since its 10 % abv but it smells very sweet

Taste is a rich, sweet, chocolate cream with low medium bitterness. Alcohol is also present but not over powering.

Mouth feel is a nice balance of carbonation. Some bitterness is present but the creamy head does balance it out a bit.

Ten fidy does a nice job of masking the alcohol while keeping true to the IBU's of an imperial stout , while also providing a rich flavor to balance it all out. Would buy again , especially in the winter. I love this beer

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2008 06:10:00 | More by angelmonster

AustinBeerLvr

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this on tap at the Draught House here in Austin, Texas.

This brew poured to a beautiful deep black color with a very dark tannish head. Excellent lacing on the glass. I asked the bartender what temperature they serve their beer, and he said all beers are served at 42 degrees. Because of this, my first sniff of this brew was a lot of alcohol, as the cold temperature numbed the flavors. I took one sip and it reaffirmed my expectation that it would be way too cold for the style....

I let it warm up a good 10 minutes before my next sip (in other words, as cold as anybody should drink a Russian Imperial Stout).

S: Nose of this brew is a very potent blend of cocoa, chocolate, a little caramel, and nice dose of well blended alcohol. Hop bitterness is definitely there, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint what hints they were giving off.

T&M: Huge complex malt character up front, comprised of dark chocolate, caramel, molasses, some burnt smoky hints. Alcohol is very present, but at 10% ABV, blends very nicely with the huge malt character of this huge brew. Some lightly fruit like esters make there way through, before a very pleasantly surprising silky smooth malt flavor proceeds the bite of the hops and alcohol at the end. As expected, mouthfeel is very thick and creamy, but at the same time very silky smooth.

D&Notes: I think this is the biggest beer I have ever polished off one pint of. Indeed, this one awesome brew, meant to be consumed very slowly, with small, thoughtful sips (I took one hour to finish the pint). Obviously, at 10%ABV, one of these is plenty, but this beer is by no means just another big beer to try to satisfy beer geeks. Yes, it's a huge beer in every aspect, but it is superbly balanced, especially when taking its ABV into consideration, and as warming as can be. That said, a word of caution, as this brew definitely sneaks up on you in a hurry!

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2008 02:19:38 | More by AustinBeerLvr

brandoneast

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dirty engine oil black - I think this is dark matter. Thick head retains like an espresso cremma head.

Whiffs of dark fruit (cranberry, pomegranate, cranberry), fresh baked sugar cookie (no vanilla), baker's chocolate, and roasted coffee. Taste brings flavors of cooking caramel, chocolate dipped cranberry biscotti, and cocoa cappuccino dusted cordials. Leaves with medium dry finish and tiny lingering of hops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 21:35:36 | More by brandoneast

magictrokini

California

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

Tap @ Pizza Port SB. Pours midnight black with a 1 cm cap of tiny brown cascading bubbles. Lovely rich aroma of coffee, baker's chocolate, brownies, and tobacco. Earthy. Full, velvety mouthfeel. Taste is unbelievably good. Loads of dark and milk chocolate blended perfectly with strong, black coffee. Its tempered by the sweeter caramel malt and roasted oats. Its like eating a rich chocolate cake, while having a strong coffee and finishing it with a nice single-malt. I'm in love with this beer. If they don't get cans of it in San Diego soon, there may be civil unrest.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2008 22:52:46 | More by magictrokini

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.9/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 3/18/08. Can. Poured oily black with hardly any head. The aroma was not very strong, but I got some chocolate, roast, and alcohol. Flavor strong in roast and citrusy hops. At some points, it tasted like I was having a stronger/thicker Gordon. This was a thick and hearty beer, definitely a slow sipper. I liked it, but it had a little too much roast/bitterness than I cared for. Also a very strong alcohol presence.

UPDATE: Had on tap at Plan B (suspect it was on nitro). It had a much larger and creamier head than from the can. Much smoother and easier to drink and there was less roastiness/bitterness than I had detected previously. Definitely prefered the on tap version, so sample on tap if you can! 7/4/8/4/16 (3.9/5)

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-02-2008 02:19:34 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Chelsea1905

Washington

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Really dark with a chocolate off white head

Smells really chocolatey, with dark malt and a little bit of bourbon or alcohol in the background

Tasted like a good porter, smokey, chocolate, and then you get a hit as if you've just chased it with some shot of bourbon

Feels fine, smooth like guiness

Couldn't have much more than the pint I had!

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 03:29:18 | More by Chelsea1905

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served on tap at Bridgids in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia during Philadelphia Beer Week 2007.

Pours pitch black with huge foamy beige head. Malty aroma of roasted coffee, chcolate and toffee. Excellent easy drinking stout. ABV very well masked. Very complex with lots of roasted coffee and chocolate maltiness, oatmeal, toffee, caramel and a nice bitter hop finish.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 09:45:47 | More by corby112

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

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

Can is like 99% full - there's almost no air space. Crazy. Poured into a sniffer. This is scary-looking stuff coming out of a can. If I didn't know this was a beer there's no way I'd drink it; it looks like black motor oil... with a small light-brown head.

Nose is highly malty and full of dark fruit. Smells like a good, strong Stout.

Thick and daunting. Nice roasted notes take center stage with espresso, chocolate, bread crust, and something that tastes savory like a pot roast or some heavily-cooked beef, especially near the finish. Not very sweet, but a definite fruity/sugary sweetness is present. Nice warming smoky and woody tones linger near the finish. Very thick, very full bodied. Mild carbonation. Smoothness stops just short of velvety. Finishes slightly dry and woody.

Good, solid Imperial Stout. Delicate yet strong sweetness. Heavy emphasis on roasted malt without detrimental over-roasted sideflavors. Lighter fruit and floral notes than I typically find in strong stouts, which is a nice change of pace. No alcohol noticable; I would like to see a little more heat to dry it up and pin down the finish. Overall, Ten Fidy is an exceptional experience. I will definitely buy the next 4-pack I see.

I am so glad Oskar Blues moved into my beer-turf. Ten Fidy is amazing. I bought this can in Boston at the BBF and flew it home to find that a month later Ten Fidy was available locally. I wish more beers came in cans. The airplane-loader guys would have to outdo themselves to detriment a can.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 01:42:40 | More by MrHungryMonkey

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.83/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Reviewed 11/6/2008 (Tap @ Flying Saucer, Houston, TX): Pours an inky black hole color body. Big tan head, good lacing, somewhat diminishing. Coffee alcoholy aroma, dark fruitiness, some dustiness. Coffee taste, watery, hot. Dusty. Warming up...Still a little hot, dusty. Malty, dark chocolately taste. Eh, not a fan.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2008 04:56:01 | More by jujubeast6000

allengarvin

Texas

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

Just arrived in Dallas. I popped the can and poured it into a New Belgium chalice. The beer is so dark one could easily mistake it for motor oil--old oil at that, coming from the can. The nose is rich with dark, roasty chocolate notes. Now this is a beer to be savored on a cold night! A wonderful combination of malts, a good amount of chocolate, nutty toffee, a light roasty acridness. Bitterness is high but hops don't make a substantial flavor component. It's all about the malt here.

This is definitely my Christmas night beer this year, when I save something special to enjoy (hopefully in front of the gas fire, if it's cold).

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 04:21:46 | More by allengarvin

fostwal

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a pretty strong beer. Now doubt about it. This is a pitch black brew. Evan the foam is bark. It has a heavy roasted chocolate and caramel odor to it. The taste is very harsh at first. Though it really mellowed out while drinking it. Not sure if it needed to breath or just warm up. Similar to a red wine. In the end, it was a heavily malted, coffee tasting beer. The mouthfeel is ok.

Overall, this is a goodbeer. Definitely better after it breathed some.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2008 01:45:49 | More by fostwal

egajdzis

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

[Tap @ Hop Devil Grill] Poured a deep, dark, black color with a super dark, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, buttered toffee malts, smoke, and a floral hoppiness. Taste was rather viscous, dripping with roast, smoke, and chocolate, with a fair amount of alcohol, and a super thick mouthfeel. After sampling both batches, the first batch is preferred. Creamier, sweeter, and fuller mouthfeel. More enjoyable over the drier, roastier 2nd batch.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2008 00:08:32 | More by egajdzis

HalfFull

California

3.65/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served up on tap in a pint glass, this brew pours an oily black in the dim light of the cantina. The depth of the color is a bit difficult to ascertain, but the rich mocha color of the head is a good hint. Said head is thin and fleeting however, yielding some early lacing yet surrendering such things as time moves along.

Smells of deep chocolate, carob, and roasted malts. Not much for hops yet pretty inviting, and with a notable alcohol volatility.

Tastes nice with chocolate, coffee and a bit of toasted caramel. A light bitter finish lingers given a well placed carbonation level. Offers a nice feel and drink. Alcohol is well hidden on the tongue yet notable on the nose. Not a lot of variety on the taste, but what is there is pretty good.

An Oskar Blues brew I would recommend, vs. condemn, what a concept! Not an outstanding RIS, yet decent, and worth a try. Might be better in the can if it holds the carbonation better, will pick up if I can find a single...

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2008 04:59:08 | More by HalfFull

glid02

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got this on-tap at Trappeze in Athens, GA.

Pours completely black with a dark brown head complete with big bubbles. The head dissipates into a wispy layer of bubbles on an oily film and a thin ring around the glass. There's not very much lacing.

Smells very good. Lots of dark chocolate and coffee with mild roasted malt aromas.

Tastes even better than it smells. Lots of dark chocolate and roasted malt up front, followed by molasses and ending with a coffee bitterness. No hint of the alcohol except for the warming.

Mouthfeel is amazing. Very thick with subtle carbonation that goes down incredibly smooth. It's like drinking a milkshake.

Drinkability is great. Everything about this beer makes me want to drink more.

Overall this is even better on-tap than it is from the can. Now if I can only find it on cask.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2008 22:31:59 | More by glid02

umtox

Pennsylvania

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

What a great example of this style.

Had on tap and appropriately served in a small snifter. Pours pitch black with a dark toffee thin head of small bubbles. A lot of chocolate and coffee here, but everything in balance. Also a hint of vanilla that tastes very natural-not the artificial taste that is often present in many stouts. Drinkability is on par for the style--it is rather heavy in body, but the 10%ABV is not as apparent as expected. Great with a chocolate based dessert or as a dessert by itself.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2008 15:21:44 | More by umtox

opwog

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Now listening to: Pato Banton - Gwarn!

Thanks to Beechwood BBQ for the chance to try this on tap!

A- I don't think that beer can get any darker than this. Even the head is completely dark brown.
S- coffee, chocolate, burnt malt, alchohol, dark fruit
T- taste is almost exactly as the smell, only the burnt quality of the malt turns to molasses
M- Meal in a glass style. This is a hearty pour gauranteed to warm you for the winter months
D- Not for faint of heart, but this nails the Russian Imperial style, which I could drink until my eyes melt.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2008 01:30:14 | More by opwog