Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

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

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

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

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

Tyrawlings

Ohio

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

On tap and poured into a pint glass.

A: Near pitch black. The head pours a half finger thick and dissipates almost immediately. Thin sticky lacing.

S: Dark chocolate. Roasted malts. Roasted coffee bean. Oatmeal.

T: Big flavors of dark bitter chocolate and deep roasted coffee are followed by a soft hop presence. Roasted caramel malts give off a pleasant astrigent bite. The sweetness of oats with a warming alcohol sensation.

M: Slick and slightly thin for an RIS. Minimal carbination. Dry and warming.

D: Given the high ABV this brew is dangerous. Well balanced with alot of flavor. I would like to revisit this beer again but next time out of the can. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2008 01:49:21 | More by Tyrawlings

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Black with a dark tan head, very little retention (not surprising for its strength), leaves a nice leg on the glass.

S: Dark molasses, booze, dark bread and a light fruitiness.

T: Dark molasses, rye bread, booze, coffee, dark chocolate, plenty of hop bitterness, light roasted acidity (undoubtedly smoothed by some oats).

M: Thick with a dry alcohol finish.

D: Remarkably drinkable for something this big & bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2008 17:10:48 | More by Derek

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

On-tap 4/5/08 at Pitcher's Pub in Cumberland, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, short head that almost the same color as the beer itself, it fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark chocolate, roasted malts and black coffee.

T: The taste has very strong malty flavors of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. The dark chocolate flavor brings a bitter bite as well. There's a very mild hops presence as you would expect from a big stout. The after-taste is bitter-sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, heavy body, medium carbonation, sticky finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easy, pretty filling, strong kick, very good representation of style, this is a good stout to drink for a while until you get too full, but I think it's very over-hyped. There are definitely other RIS's out there that I like better.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2008 00:12:45 | More by TheManiacalOne

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Had on-tap at the Gingerman in Manhatten:

Pours pitch-black with a thick light brown, creamy head. Awesome retention, esp. for abv level.

The smell is of dark roasted maltiness - chocolate and coffee. A bit milder than expected, but nice.

The taste is almost explosive. Chocolate and deep roasted coffee with a hint of citric/piney hop support. Beautiful balance of sweet, bitter and roast. Warming alcohol is present, but fairly soft on the palate and non-interfering. It has a very long, roasty finish.

Just about hits full-bodied, it is rich and creamy without being too sticky or syrupy.

Good drinkability for such a high abv. Very rich and tasty - a work of brewing art!

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2008 21:22:53 | More by jwc215

Hoppington

New York

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

Wow. What a rich, syrupy Stout! Even the head was brown! This stuff is deep - if you spill it, you might stain your shirt.

Delicious coffee and wine notes, complimented by a smooth but strong mouthfeel.

This is a sipping stout by all means. All-in-all, a superb imperial stout.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2008 01:31:28 | More by Hoppington

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

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

A: Dark, dark brown/black... thin mocha head..

S: Mostly coffee and chocolate.. delicate yet fragrant.

T: Strong coffee, chocolate, caramel, and black licorice malt tastes... soft hops... smooth and balanced play between the flavors..

M: Fullbodied... smooth and oily..

D: The alcohol, while well hidden starts to get on you by halfway through the second glass...

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2008 16:00:05 | More by callmemickey

psinderson

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on-tap in a 12 oz snifter glass.

Appearance: Like motor oil. Totally blind to light. Thin, toffee-colored head.

Smell: All roast and meaty. Not much malt detected in the nose.

Taste: Strong roasty flavor with minor tastes of dark fruits. The finish is dry and roasty. No detectable alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation.

Drinkability: Cmplex flavor lowers the drinkabilityof this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2008 01:37:14 | More by psinderson

cichief

Virginia

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

Had on draft at the Frisco Grille, Columbia, MD.

A- Pours a deep brown, almost black, with a nice brown layer of thick foam.

S- Strong smell of coffee and chocolate, very inviting.

T- Very powerful taste of thick coffee, chocolate, and licorice. Hops are muted, but balance the flavor nicely.

M- Very thick on the tongue, almost oily. Velvety smooth, the alcohol is muted, but cannot be missed.

D- At 10% alcohol I wouldn't drink many, but the sweet, thickness of this beer would fill me before I had too awful many.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2008 05:01:52 | More by cichief

sinistrsam

Maryland

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

Had this (as the last little bit able to be squeezed out of the tap) at MaHaffey's, thanks to Stace the wonderful bartender; she could see the sadness in my eys when I heard it was all out, so she somehow coerced the tap to pour one last bit of beer for me to drink.
Absolutely opaque, black body with a huge soapy tan head and excellent retention. Lacing was extraordinary.
The aroma was excellent as well, with coffee and chocolate leading the way but dark fruits and toffee in there as well. Very comlpex.
The taste was much of the same; coffee and espresso, chocolate and caramel malts. Very good.
The mouthfeel was a little on the bitter side for my tastes; the coffee acidity came out, as did the feel/taste of alcohol (no surprise since its 10%). The bitterness seemed to be at odds with the sweet and ultimately overtook that feling. Very full bodied and almost chewy. This is a meal.
Overall this was a fantastic beer and worth the hype. Hats off to OB.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2008 20:08:03 | More by sinistrsam

Deuane

Pennsylvania

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

Lucky to have this one on tap at Zeno's...thanks Dave!

A-Deep, light absorbing black with a ridiculous dark tan head that looked like a living creature. Left heavy lacing throughout. One of the best looking beers I have seen.

S-Some liight chocolate and burnt malt. Not as intense as I would have expected.

T-Chocolate, burnt malts and a slight bourbonesque tatse. Really nice tatse throughout.

M-Smooth and creamy. This has a serious good mouthfeel. So big and rich....ends with an odd alcoholic finish...keeping this from getting a 5.

D-Very nice but a bit too big to have many of. Glad to have had it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2008 19:21:24 | More by Deuane

KiltedCulinarian

Georgia

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

Served in a smallish goblet, presented a dark black color with a finger of dark chocolate brown foam. Lacing splotched all over the glass, and lasted for as long as I nursed this drink. Rich smell, which carried over into the flavor. Almost a little too bitter, but in a good way; I would compare it to a really well made espresso. Thick on the tongue with a full body. Not an everyday beer, but nice as a dessert. Quintessential stout.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2008 06:11:50 | More by KiltedCulinarian

far333

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Plan B, Simsbury, CT. Served in a chalice. Inky black and opaque. Nearly no head, but I believe that's a result of a bad pour rather than a deficiency of the beer.

Low aroma of cocoa, smoke and molasses. Sharp initial flavor of burnt espresso, dark chocolate and molasses. Some bits of marshmallow come through, followed by a charred oak finish. The ABV is relatively hidden except for some warming of the mouth and cheeks mid sip, and some vapors that make their way slowly up the back of the nose.

Moderate to low carbonation, smooth mouthfeel but not too bubbly, not a great deal of body. This is a tasty beer and pretty drinkable, but IMO it's being elevated a bit by the hype it's been generating.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2008 12:51:35 | More by far333

naproxen

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

mmm!!!

Pours dark as night from the tap with an equally imposing dark milky head as accustomed to this style.

The overall taste is sweet and roasty upfront with a delicious lingering taste of chocolate or maybe coffee.

It is very drinkable if you are looking for a meal in a glass, this is by no means a light russian imp.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2008 03:39:02 | More by naproxen

kkipple

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at the legendary Brick Store Pub in Decatur. Thanks Dave & Co.

Served in a goblet. Ten Fidy is: deep. Black. Deep black. Spotty, red-dark small head. Low retention. No complaints here.

Wait till it warms and you'll be rewarded with a rich malt-heavy nose that sports dense roasted grain, coffee, loads of cocoa, tobacco, vanilla and earth. Delicious, but subdued compared to some in the style. Alcohol is easy to pick out.

Now we're talking! Bitter coffee and burnt grain up front, followed quickly by chocolate and even more espresso. Large amounts of earthy hops shine through all the black mess; it's all very intense and in your face. Booze is noticeable. A sipper for sure. Unreal that this comes in canned form.

Carbonation is medium-hi off the keg; all quite acceptable. Mouthfeel is dense and slick, finishes roasty and earthy with a big coffee and hop bitterness.

Ten Fidy isn't awfully drinkable, but then it's a 10% Russian Stout. In a can. A can I say! Goodness. Perhaps the most intense beer to ever see the inside of an aluminum cage, Ten Fidy is something you should seek out and release. I also proclaim this the ultimate cold weather camping beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 00:22:59 | More by kkipple

meechum

Georgia

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

On tap at the Brick Store

A - Came to the bar from downstairs in a chalice. A very dark black with no lights..no highlights..very viscous deep brown head that left a thick sticky lacing

S - Big espresso and chicory smell...no real hop presence

T/M - Much as the smell advertised..big espresso taste..a little hot from the alcohol but not bad..very rich..roasted malt tastes with a pronounced hop finish for the style..very good

D - Overall it's a very drinkable brew for one a night I think...it's high ABV certainly makes it something you don't want to try all night

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2008 17:09:04 | More by meechum

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Beer shared with Dave Blanchard at the Brick Store Pub. On-tap aged for a year firken. Good mouthfeel and much lace and dark het black. Rich coffee and chocolate, roast and great bitterness in the background well balanced by the other tastes. Half worth the trip to Atlanta.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2008 05:48:17 | More by northyorksammy

AndoBrew

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

*love it, would buy it*

app: dark with bloodmeal hues. not much head. scary.

smell: bloodmeal smell, roasty dark malts nice rich n bold. not amazing though. it lacks the WOW.

taste: yummy, rich wonderful stout. GO OSCAR! not much to say. its great.

mf: little on the water side.. maybe from the age.

drinkable?: it sure is. this is why i drinkablem, cause of beers like this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2008 23:07:14 | More by AndoBrew

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

From notes taken Friday night at The Front Door.. Draft into a Chimay goblet.. LOOKS THICK... Creamy brown 3/4" head... lacing lasts not really long... Aroma is Deep roasted malts and dark chocolate .. dark fruits and significant alcohol. Chocolate covered raisins and roasted barley.. smells great. Flavor is huge lingering roasted malts.. good sweetness.. This brew is thick for sure, but I am sipping and definately not complaining. Coffee and dark chocolate battle it out with the fruity notes.. ultimately it's a draw... chewy... lingers forever... hop bitterness ties perfectly to the black malts.. balanced alcohol and suprisingly smooth.

This in only the 5th time I've had this brew ... twice on tap at the Front Door (those were bourbon aged) ... latter two were from Younger35, Dan truly hooked me up and is an exceptional trader.. I give him the highest regards and suggest any trader check him out.

Edit: Why and the hell can I get Ten Fidy and Gordon (both wood aged) on tap yet not get a can of either in Boise? Distributors aren't giving Boise the credit it deserves ... we "should" be able to get them.. damn it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 09:02:28 | More by JohnGalt1