Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

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

Halcyondays

California

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours an endless black, with one of the darkest brown heads I've ever seen on a beer. An old man sitting adjacent to me said to his wife, "Did you see how dark that is?" Great head retention and extensive, thick lacing, to start a great looking Imperial Stout.

S: Didn't get a huge smell out of this one, dissapointing, had some nice chocolate and molasses note.

T: Great flavour, big dark chocolate dominates the overall flavour. French Roast coffee is there as a hint of bitterness, light brown sugar as well. Very enjoyable.

M: Thick and slick, very full-bodied like Old Viscosity, creamy, smooth.

D: This is a great stout from Oskar Blues, I knew I had to jump on the chance to try it at Beachwood. It wasn't mind-blowing like Oak Aged Yeti or Abyss, but it was still great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2008 22:09:53 | More by Halcyondays

kindacold

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

My cousin did it again. Along with the Gordon's he put in his kegerator, he also put this in.

Looks black like the bowels of hell it came from...in a good way.

Smells like heaven in a glass. Malty and sweet smelling.

Tastes like dark chocolate mixed with coffee and a touch of hops in the background.

Thick and magnificent. A few of these and you've had a meal.

I had a few of these, and was full, but very, very content.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2008 14:47:02 | More by kindacold

Wetpaperbag

Washington

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

A- Nice black beer with a brownish tan head.

S- Smells of anise, chocolate and roasted smells are very present.

T- There is a powerful anise taste which I like. This beer is very smooth. Great representation of an RIS.

M- Feels good on the mouth, a bit thick and oily.

D- Easy to drink, even easier to drink in a can, I'm glad it comes in a can.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2008 23:59:24 | More by Wetpaperbag

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

A. Poured into a 12 oz snifter glass. Black liquid with a dark brown head. Pretty sexy.

S. Roasted malt and some sweet mocha tones.

T. Robust and flavorful, a rich almost chocolate taste with the roasted malt and a bit of a coffee tinge. Hop profile is subdued to the heady malt.

M. Full bodied and smooth.

D. Very enjoyable, would certainly have again. The ABV is hidden in taste, but noticable after drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2008 17:56:03 | More by Stinkypuss

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

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

Serving type: bottle

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

shbobdb

Indiana

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

Wow. Way to shatter all the stereotypes that exist about canned beer! This beer blubs out of the can like a thick sludge. Wow.

My first impression of the appearance is that this beer is *dark*. Even at the thin parts of my SA glass, no light comes through. Pitch-black. The head is a very nice deep chocolate.

The smell of the beer is fairly muted. Plenty of bready grains, and a nice bit of chocolate and roast. Good stuff.

But it is the taste where it really shines. Despite being as dark as it is, the beer isn't overly acidic. There is just a nice soft roastiness to it, coupled with truckloads of anise. They had to have put licorice in this beer, the taste is just too knock-your-socks-off for them not to have. Since I really like licorice/anise, I'm happy with that. A nice bit of milk chocolate makes its way through as well. Mmmmm. Good stuff.

Mildily tongue-numbing, mildly carbonated, the mouthfeel is full but not too full. It could be over-the-top crazy, but instead of a gooey mess it drinks more like a nice glass of milk. Certainly full, but you could pound it if you were so inclined.

Wow, thanks ColoradoBobs. Great, great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2008 00:08:14 | More by shbobdb

Franchise

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Sunset Grill in Allston, MA. Pours jet black leaving a small thin head that sticks to the glass. The aroma is chocolate, caramel, earthy hops, but pretty weak nose.

The taste starts with citrus bitter hops, then has a soft floural essence, with a sweet caramel feel that finishes again bitter hoppy dark chocolate syrupy mouthfeel. Decent imperial stout something I might visit again overall a bit sloppy and not what I expect from a great brewery like Oskar Blues.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2008 15:17:17 | More by Franchise

RomanW70

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown with a thick one finger head. Aroma of chocolate, oat, toffee, and hops. Huge bitterness. Flavor inititally of dark chocolate, but the hops quickly present, and the finish is seriously bitter. Great mouth feel. A really good, huge Imperial Stout. Note: I had a second tasting on 3/27 and let it breathe for a while (15-20 minutes). The bitterness still lasts, but all that chocolatey, malty goodness presented right up front and went along for the ride.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2008 02:51:16 | More by RomanW70

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Courtesy of Karen and Jeremy, thanks, shared amongst the gathering at biegaman's Saison tasting. Poured motor oil black, opaque with a thin brown head. Bubbles are miniscule, observed at the edges of the glass. Smell of coffee beans and cocoa. Astringent in the mouth, tastes of overpowering bitter dark chocolate, I found it bone dry with sharp edges and with a lingering astringency that was almost annoying in its dryness. The alcohol was cleverly hidden. The finish was extremely long. Altogether, this is a really nice example of an Imperial Stout and I'd love to try it again sometime.

Update June 1, 2009, the same beer sampled from a can. My notes would be almost the same but there is a molasses smell in the mix and I would rate the drinkability and mouthfeel a half-point higher as the astringency is not quite so dominant without sacrificing the full flavours. Again, a very long finish and the alcohol again is well handled. Cheers!

Serving type: growler

05-30-2008 04:14:22 | More by ThatWineGuy

israel

New York

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

What can you say about Ten Fidy that hasn't already be said. This beer pours like used motor oil, and is only ever recognizable as beer when the espresso colored head forms. The head clings to the sides of the glass, but never really sticks around. The aroma is big with it's notes of coffee and dark chocolates. The flavor certainly follows suit with the aroma, but the chocolate notes really seem to dominate the initial flavors. The mouthfeel is really deceiving as initially the beer goes down smooth, but leaves a sensation of the back of your throat being coated with syrup. This may sound unappealing but only adds to the experience with an intense after tast that hangs around for quite some time. This beer comes across as immensely drinkable, but with the high ABV. it is wise to refrain. Overall this beer deserves any hype that it may receive, and I am always on the look out for it. This beer has really opened my eyes to what an imperial stout can taste like, and has got me even more excited about whats next.

Serving type: growler

05-22-2008 02:01:39 | More by israel

claytri

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured coal black with a good bit of light brown head that stayed throughout. The smell was of roasted malt with a hint of sweetness. The taste was of toasted malt a little sweetness on the back end and bit of coffee mixed in. The feel was heavy and dry. This was a very nice drinkable RIS, very enjoyable, but I would have preferred a bit more sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2008 12:10:45 | More by claytri

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

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

Ten Fidy pours a deep black color with a small, creamy tan head on top. A fair amount of lace clings to the glass as the foam dissolves.

The aroma is rich roasted malt and chocolate. Each sip of this full bodied beer is very smooth, but a little bit thin. A mild tingle on the top of the tongue lets you know some carbonation is present. The flavor is malty sweet with lots of roasted malt, chocolate, and toffee. Towards the end some nutty notes and a hint of bitterness poke through. It finishes with a taste of alcohol and leaves behind flavors of chocolate and roasted malt when gone.

This is a very easy to drink, full flavored stout. It hides its 10% abv very well.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2008 21:05:10 | More by WanderingFool

Atron67

Wisconsin

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

thanks wolfsblood for the trade

A- poured a dead black with a clear body with a big brown frothy head on top that rose slowly but stayed for awhile. light to decent lacing was left around the glass as it slowly fell down

S- very strong chocolate character with a bit of roasted body to it as well. smooth very light alcohol presence. malty character

t_ as the last review noted there is some pretty noticable hop character wihch i didnt notice in the nose, but was pretty evident at that point right before you taste it on your tongue. i woudlnt say it detracts all that much cuz to me it was swallowed pretty quickly by the malts and became really a malt machine where the hops were more balance than character. very creamy and smooth and I wouldnt expect a 10% to be like this. very smooth roasted body to it.

M- extremely creamy and very light carbonation, thick as hell body.

D- pretty damn good,

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2008 21:36:43 | More by Atron67

GPHarris

Alabama

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

thanks to tiger88

a - poured a three-fingers thick dark brown head into an imperial nonic. the head was thick and creamy and left sticky lacing and thick sheeting throughout. i know it's been said but it really does pour like motor oil out of a can, the body is black as night. beautiful looking beer.
s - burnt and roasted chocolate malts with a hint of hops.
t - same as the smell with a little coffee thrown in.
m - thick and creamy, this is as good as it gets.
d - wow! unbelievable beer and i could go crazy with this one as it is so drinkable. but i'll have to ration the three i have left...

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2008 14:27:00 | More by GPHarris

UnionMade

Colorado

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

Inky black, with a scarce, brown head. The head alone is darker than most beers, including craft ale. High marks on viscosity alone. It's intimidating to even look at. Despite the lack of a blooming head, lace sheets down the glass quite nicely. The head disappears, save a very thin collar clinging to the glass, before the beer starts to warm up.
The aroma is heavily roasty, but overall sweet. Jammy dark fruits, slabs of dark chocolate and heaps of coffee. Molasses sticking to the lot. Maybe a little tree bark and charcoal as the beer warms.
The flavor opens surprisingly mellow, given what my other senses are telling me. Rather than punishing my palate, I'm greeted with an extraordinarily silky smoothness that carries the bold flavors with elegance. Very round, without any sharp edges or angles. Very full bodied. Heavy roastiness comes across mostly as a dark chocolate with very high cocoa percentage. Lots of caramel providing an undercarraige of sweetness. Gummy molasses and berry flavors, leading into a balanced finish. Leans a bit towards bitter, evening out the oily sweetness up front. Strong, roasty bittersweetness, with pine-like hops maintaining a strong presence. A bit of alcohol to round things out. A very long, drawn out finish, roasty chocolate sticking around what seems like forever. Hi-test!
Very happy to spot this one on tap at the local watering hole. I hope to see it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2008 06:40:24 | More by UnionMade