Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

FoundersFanatic

Ohio

4.66/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Smell is great. Taste is dark and is very balanced between coffee, normal stout flavors, and a hint of sweet/chocolate. Incredibly smooth. Easy to drink a lot. Hits pretty hard with the high ABV. One of the better Stouts I've ever had (and Stouts are my favorite type of beers)! Only thing better I've had so far is Founders CBS + KBS, Bolt Cutter, and maybe 1 or 2 others I can't remember off the top of my head. It's REALLY GOOD! But the one thing I noticed is that it doesn't have anything unique or that stands out, just really really solid, smooth, great tasting stout! Get SOME!!!

Serving type: growler

03-13-2013 20:25:26 | More by FoundersFanatic

Bills453

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance - poured from a growler into a Duvel tulip glass. This beer looks amazing. Black with a light chocolate looking 2 finger frothy and creamy head of deliciousness!

Smell - chocolate, malt.

Taste - this is a very delicious stout.

Mouthfeel - thick and creamy the way a RIS should be.

Overall - an amazing stout, top 5 that I have ever tried.

Serving type: growler

11-13-2012 23:08:16 | More by Bills453

Durge

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This brew is a dark black color with a respectable light brown head and fantastic lacing. The aroma says beautiful licorice malt, so deep it nearly suggests a minty grass hop with a slight bubblegum sweetness. Very nice. The flavor just brings more of the same with juniper malt licorice, smooth as silk and nearly as thick as motor oil. Goes down easy and feels like such a velvetty masterpiece you have to just savor it’s malty splendor. Not much more to say. Classy stuff.

Serving type: growler

06-25-2012 18:17:54 | More by Durge

TheDinger

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at GBX on the growler station. Serious stuff here. The pour was just what you would think. Dark and thick, it look more like 10w 30 than a beer. Motor oil dark with a nice 2 finger mocca head. Good spotting and lacing throughout. Looked great in the new snifter. Smell is a chocolate bomb with some coffee notes. Very inviting on the nose and couldn't stop enjoying the aroma. Taste follows the nose with initial chocolate followed by some coffee and sweet dark fruits. Thought it would taste more bitter chocolate or over the top, but it was a nice blend and a true RIS. Feel is creramy/silk with adequate carbonation and full bodied. Overall- A great RIS with just the right amount of chocolate/coffee/figs/fruits/malts and hops. It hides the 10.5% ABV well, but it's a sipper for a chilly evening. Not over the top which is a nice touch. Top notch-

Serving type: growler

04-07-2012 15:17:47 | More by TheDinger

SLeffler27

New York

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A Dogfish Head snifter showcases this black to very dark walnut beer. A dense, chestnut brown head raises about a half inch before settling to a thin layer leaving patchy lace. A viscous film washes over the glass with each sip. A swirl produces lots of regenerative carbonation.

The rich, roasted malts are more prominent from the growler than they were on draft. Dark chocolate fudge with espresso and bourbon dominate the olfactory. The nuances of these aromas suffer from time in the growler. Notes of cedar are revealed with warmth.

It is intriguing how significantly the growler impacted this beer. The flavors are all still there and similar to the nose, but muddier than on draft. Accents include fig and cigar tobacco. The finish is long with roasted and bitter notes all the way through.

Ten FIDY is a full bodied beer with soft carbonation and syrupy texture. It is dry with warming alcohol, a real mouthful, highly satisfying.

Definitely a must-have whenever found on draft, but the growler is still great. I look forward to comparing the canned version of Ten FIDY once I find it. Sip and enjoy. This one pairs perfectly with a wood fire on a cold winter’s day.

Had this on draft 06.Feb.2010 and it was amazing.

Serving type: growler

01-21-2012 23:25:43 | More by SLeffler27

One2Remeber

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Unibroue snifter.

A: Looks like black liquorice, syrup as poured. Extremely frothy, dense, creamy mocha head that stays around. Body is pitch black. Looks inviting like cake for dessert.

S: Smells like malt bomb, really fresh like I'm in the brewhouse. A distinct toasty, bready grain aroma. Fruity notes and heavy oats on the undertones. Black liquorice candy smell covers any alcohol presence.

T: Creamy smooth oatmeal taste off the bat then goes to a bite of black liquorice. Fruity hops sit on the palate making me want to swish the beer around instead letting it go down. So much rich, smooth, pleasantly enjoyable flavor going on. Nothing is over bearable. The end taste is a malt bomb, like 7 different malt taste trying to fight for dominance at the end, yet they all go down in unison before a winner is announced.

M: Way to drinkable for its strength. A strong oatmeal presence makes all the flavors not TOO dominant so one can hold on palate and really savor each sip. Great beer:)

O: I feel like I'm finishing a bowl of coco puffs with chocolate milk; fresh bready grain flavor with an intense amount of malt flavor. The oatmeal reminds me of breakfast and the fruity presence makes it over the top. Reminds me of Expedition from Bells brewery, just not as potent. Would love to have side by side.

Serving type: growler

12-29-2011 05:06:36 | More by One2Remeber

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

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

Fresh from a growler.

A - Motor oil black with a 1/4 inch dark chocolate brown head that forms a partial cap.

S - Roasted molasses, rich toasted caramel, caramelized brown sugar, sticky raisins, smokey bread aroma.

T - Roasted dark malts, creamy rich chocolate, brownie batter, toasted brown sugar, tart dried fruit, charred espresso, faint anise in the background, toasted/charred brown bread, finishes dry with a smokey bitterness on the end.

M - Silky rich viscous liquid coats the entire mouth with flavor.

This is the second time I've had this beer, both times from a growler. This is truly an amazing beer! Thanks to my buddy Matt S. for hauling this back for me.

Serving type: growler

05-13-2011 23:10:21 | More by StaveHooks

mwNMT

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler poured into a snifter

this is definitely one of the darkest beers i have seen and its head resembles chocolate ice cream in appearance and density.

the smell is complex like dark malts licorice coco and dark fruits all roasted together.

it tasted even better than it smelled with a hoppy earthyness and coffee thrown into the mix and its sweetness seems to mask just enough of the alcohol

mouthfeel is pretty heavy as it should be in this big imperial stout

the drinkability in this is about as good as it can be with this kind of a beer. definite sipper but that's a good thing so you can enjoy it

Serving type: growler

12-07-2010 05:09:50 | More by mwNMT

jhp40219

Kentucky

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

Amazing, top of the line Imperial Stout here! Pours a dark black with the look and consistancy of used motor oil. Rich chocolate-colored two-fingered head. Smells of roasted coffee and chocolate. Normally I am not a fan of imperial stouts. Generally they taste like burnt coffee with alcohol added. This isn't like that. This is strong, as an imperial stout should be, but extremely tasty and drinkable. Not something a frat boy is going to chug. Instead it is a very savory sipping beer. Huge delicious chocolate taste with hints of coffee and malts. A slight alcohol burn on the back of the throat after a drink, but not something you are going to taste. Left a dark brown lace on the glass after each drink that required the pint glass to have a second quick rinse afterwards. Generally the imperial stouts I have tried have a very up-front alcohol taste. Not this one at all. Works extremely well after a nice meal as a dessert. I would not give any beer a perfect rating unless it absolutely deserved it. This one does. I have had top-rated imperial stout DarkLord by 3 Floyds Brewery at three seperate beer festivals, and I have to say I prefer Ten Fidy to it. Ten Fidy should be every bit as celebrated as DarkLord! Ten Fidy should be the gold standard that all imperial stouts aspire to.

Serving type: growler

10-08-2009 01:59:30 | More by jhp40219

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

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

hoppymeal

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark black, thick, with a pumpkin pie colored thick head that slowly recedes. A nice bourbony alcohol aroma, some swirling produces a ripe fruitiness, cherries, with a mild chocolate in the background. Roastiness come through much stronger in the taste, silky and smooth chocolate slides behind the acidic roasty tanginess. The roastiness hits up front then briefly subsides to the sweet and soft chocolate maltiness, then comes back stronger and smokier in the finish and blends with a burnt bitter hoppiness in a drying finish. A small amount of alcohol hits the back of the throat and gives a nice warming feeling. Definitely big in body, this beer is fairly thick and chewy, but is also cut nicely by the alcohol as well as a very good amount of hop bitterness. If only this beer were available in bottles it would be a great cellar candidate with these big hoppy qualities and alc content but it drinks very well fresh.
This review is from a counter pressure filled hand bottled sample. Thanks pugman for the opportunity.

Serving type: growler

02-21-2007 02:40:13 | More by hoppymeal

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

Michigan

Michigan

4.54/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured from a can into a 22oz snifter. Used motor oil in both viscosity and color. No light at all is passing through. 1.5" frothy dark head that slowly emerges from the depths of the beer. It was actually pretty cool to watch! Leaves good lacing and caps the beer with a thin layer of foam

S- Roasty chocolate. Slight alcohol presence and more as it warms. This is going to be good!

T- Very much like the nose. Roasted bitterness. Malty. Dark chocolate-like bittersweetness.

M- Medium full. Smooth and mouth-coating. Just like a stout should be. Slight alcohol warming after a bit.

O- Great stout! Something I would like to pick up in multiples on the next release. Possible candidate for aging, but I don't know where it would go, flavor wise ....

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 02:09:17 | More by Michigan

beergoot

Colorado

4.69/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Pitch-black body with a decent, rich, thick light brown head. Currants, deep roasted grains, bitter chocolate aroma. Powerfully rich malt flavors; deep and robust; milk chocolate; really nice alcohol warmth throughout; lightly perceptible bitterness near the finish. Heavy body; silky smooth.

An incredibly well-made stout. Immense balance and complexity throughout and a real joy to sip.

Serving type: can

05-16-2013 23:24:30 | More by beergoot

Fireslayer

Wisconsin

4.29/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Jet black with two finger mocha head that quickly fades. Mild lacing

S- Roasted malt and chocolate with mild alcohol notes

T- Dark chocolate, coffee hints, toffee and fruit like qualities. Upfront alcohol smell is well hidden in the taste and sweetness. Great malt flavor on the backside.

M- Thick and creamy but not cloying. Great bodied beer

O- Great beer overall, lots of refined character and great mouthfeel. Definitely a winner.

Serving type: can

05-16-2013 19:16:25 | More by Fireslayer

gr0g

New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Can dated "09-24-12." Viscous and black, looking like a proper Imperial stout. One-finger head and no lacing. Mocha at the forefront on the nose, with alcohol not too far behind. Sniff harder to try and find more complexity, but more of a solvent-like note comes out. Some nice roasty, dark chocolate notes are there, but they get squashed.

Creamy texture with a restrained sweetness upfront. The silky mouthfeel is noticeable and appreciated. Dark roasted malts evoke the flavors of dark chocolate, toffee, and a hint of raisin-like fruit. Slight hop bitterness, more of a roast astringency. The alcohol is more well-hidden than on the nose but still present. Good balance with all the right flavor notes for a big stout.

Ten Fidy is a very good Imperial stout, but the fuel note on the aroma and the high price tag are major negatives. There are better alternatives at better price points.

Serving type: can

05-14-2013 01:26:29 | More by gr0g

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

A - Jet black, no light shall pass. Two fingers of head billow and collapse into a sandy cap.

S - Dutch process cocoa powder, chocolate malt, roasty, bourbon, vanilla, ancho chiles

T - Dark chocolate, espresso crema bigtime, cinnamon, currant/prune, coconut cream. Sweet, but not cloying. Malty, but hoppy enough to keep it grounded

M - Absolutely luscious and viscous without being syrupy. Light carbonation. Big body.

This is definitely the best IS that seems to always be available somewhere in Nashville

Serving type: can

05-09-2013 23:07:14 | More by hopoilcrazy

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.44/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Tried Fidy for the first time fresh at Oskar Blues on a snowy Colorado afternoon. This was almost perfect!
Had it again in March after a day of Spring skiing in Steamboat Springs and it was almost as good as getting it right from OB!
To date this is my favorite Imperial Stout and my beer of choice now from late Fall through ski season! I look forward to having this again next Fall!

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2013 13:41:20 | More by DenverHopHead

emyers

Illinois

4.31/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

12 ox. can poured into a Founders snifter. Canned on date 12/02/10.

Appearance: Pours thick, jet black color. No real head to speakof, but a thin dark brown lacing.

Smell: Molasses, milk chocolate, caramel, with a touch of dark fruit. Smell is very rich and sweet.

Taste: Similar to the smell - Rich chocolate and molasses take the forefront, some caramel/toffee and dark fruit come through. Alcohol is hidden well. This beer is very rich and finishes pretty sweet. The only thing I would add is more bittering hops to balance out the sweetness on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thick, rich, and velvety smooth. Appropriately low carbonation. Stays true to the motor oil name. Pretty much spot on for what I'm looking for in an imperial stout.

Overall: Phenomenal beer. As far as "straight" imperial stouts go (no flavor adjuncts, barrel treatment, etc), this is one of the best.

Serving type: can

04-30-2013 02:17:13 | More by emyers

danieelol

Australia

4.15/5  rDev -5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark black with massive, massive tanned head. Great head/lacing.

Smell is nuttiness, soy and minerals a la Old Chub. A nice green apple. Would like a little more roast to this but it definitely has a presence regardless.

Taste is green apple, caramel, and soy. A little bit of roast in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is, as expected, huge. So thick.

Worth drinking for the thickness alone. If this had more roast it would be spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 11:45:00 | More by danieelol

Hendry

Vermont

4.63/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

You don't just DRINK a can of Ten FIDY, you COMMIT to it!

Opaque obsidian appearance with a slight head from an aggressive pour. The nose brings back childhood memories of opening the cap on a bottle of Brer Rabbit molasses: notes of espresso and black Australian licorice also.

Not much in the way of carbonation, but an RIS isn't supposed to be effervescent. Taste is exceptionally rich, deep, and creamy. There is a wave of full force flavors that coat your palate like roofing tar: dark roasted espresso, dark heavy molasses with a dose of black licorice. Full bodied and drinks like a can of beef stew.

Lasting aftertaste of roasted espresso, Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup, Brer Rabbit dark molasses with a touch o' booze and intense black licorice.

A must try for any serious beer fan, Ten FIDY delivers a meal in a can! Flavors intensify and change up slightly as it warms, a good idea to have a bottle of spring water to go with this bad boy.

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 03:30:13 | More by Hendry

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.71/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oskar Blues Brewing Company - Ten FIDY - 12oz can

Haha! RIS in a can! Love it!

Look - Pours oil black with a negligible fizzy head that dissipates quickly. Great creamy lacing.

Smell - Rich molasses and hearty malts, dark chocolate and sweet espresso. A tinge of fennel or black licorice.

Taste - Wow.. Fennel or black licorice followed by sweet creamy chocolate and then hearty roasted molasses, smoked and sweet. If you are into RIS style then this is most definitely your bag.

Mouthfeel - Rugged, a bit boozy here but otherwise quite enjoyable. Sticky and creamy and it sits like a meal.

Overall - Amazing brew, full of depth and character. Evolves as it warms and has a few tricks up its sleeve. Definitely not a brew for the weak!

Serving type: can

04-23-2013 22:20:15 | More by JMScowcroft

beerbully

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into tulip glass

A-Black w/ 3/4 inch mocha head. Thick lacing

S-Chocolate, dark fruits, raisins, sweet coffee, slight anise

T-notice the anise at first then fades as chocolate takes over. Alcohol is present but not over powering given the 10% ABV, roasty, sligthly smoky, some vanilla flavors are well balanced

M-Thick, thick full bodied beer that is full of flavor

O-Great tasting thick balanced beer with great mouthfeel exectly what one would expect from a well made RIS

Serving type: can

04-19-2013 22:50:17 | More by beerbully