Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Can opened on 1.10.13.
Canned 09.24.12 Haulin' Oats

A - Pours a very dark brown with a thin dark brown head that sticks around.

S - Roasted malt up front, then some chocolate, subtle coffee and a bit of booze.

T - Very chocolatey, bitter coffee and then the booze.

D - Velvety smooth, low carbonation with a heavy body.

O - Great balanced and chocolate, in a can.

Serving type: can

01-22-2013 06:42:01 | More by HuskyinPDX

57md

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a dark brown, not quite black with a thick finger and a half of fluffy tan head. Surprisingly, there is little retention in the head and only a trace of lacing on the glass. Nice roast in the nose and a modest sweet note as well. Stout bitterness combines with the smooth and silky body of a classic RIS. There is definitely some mild chocolate notes present as well as a hint of raisins and other dark fruits. The finish is roasty and bitter with only a trace of alcohol present. This is a complex offering that hides its powerful 10.50% ABV very well. Tasty and dangerous!

Serving type: can

01-22-2013 05:25:58 | More by 57md

SaxmanRick

Minnesota

4.46/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

WOW!!! Poured black as tar with a beautiful two-finger milk chocolate head, which receded quickly. Smells of sweet malt and a bit of chocolate. Taste is fairly complex, much like the aroma. Subtle chocolate, some molasses, maybe pumpkin skin bitterness. Not as extreme as BCBS and such, but definitely not a “standard” stout. Nice medium mouthfeel for a stout, but somewhat creamy. Very balanced…a real winner.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 02:38:48 | More by SaxmanRick

--Dom--

Missouri

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

All I can say is, I now believe the hype. Wow.

Poured from a 12 oz can into a snifter. Pours like motor oil, short dark brown head. Smells of rich chocolate, dark roasted malt sweetness.

Opens up with sweet rich chocolatey goodness. Dark deep roasted malt. The taste just keeps on going for what seems like forever. Slight alcohol heat, but it's definitely held in check. The finish is long and sweet. Some slight hop bitterness creeps in toward the very end.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth malty syrup. Carbonation is just right. Overall.... all I can say is just wow, this beer really lives up to the hype. By far the best Imperial stout I've had in this price range so far. I'm sure it's not the best in the world, but I picked up a 4 pack for $13. So it get's my vote based on value. Once again, well done oskar blues, well done.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 01:49:17 | More by --Dom--

bmwats

Louisiana

4.26/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz can, into my Surly Darkness mini-snifter.

A: Black. Pours about a half finger, bubbly, brown head. Settles quickly, but leaves a lingering smattering of carbonation of the surface. No real lacing.

S: Dark roasted espresso, with hints of molasses, dark chocolate, and peat.

T: Hearty malt serves as the base. Charred coffee beans, unsweetened bitter dark chocolate, pungent peaty moss, and just a hint of maple syrup or molasses. A little bitter pecan shell in there and tea leaves, too.

M: Thick and syrupy (...where's my spoon?). Lightly diluted sweetness in the start. Pungent, bitter, dry finish. High alcohol content is apparent.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is good. Dark and intimidating appearance. Fair head, but no lacing. Nose is a collection of coffee, chocolate, and molasses. Flavor even more so, a great combination of coffee, malt, sweet and bitter notes. Very well-balanced. Heavy alcohol content is deceiving. Overall, this is a great quaff.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 05:37:08 | More by bmwats

DesertRat

North Carolina

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

God damn this beer is thick! It is like pouring motor oil into a glass. At $15 for a 4 pack you would hope it stands out. It does, everytime I pour it I get excited. It's the first Oskar Blues beer I have had and it lives up to the hype the brewery gets.

I place this beer above; SN Narwal, Old Rasputin and Founders Imperial Stout.

Serving type: can

01-20-2013 02:29:57 | More by DesertRat

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Canned 10/19/12, poured into my Founders snifter. First time reviewing this, but I have had it in the past before.

Glug, glug, glugs out of the can, resulting in a towering three-finger dark mocha head; bubbly and foamy. Head falls to a thin layer of a slightly lighter color, with chunks of lacing sticking behind. Almost black in color, motor oil black. Looks like a delicious Imperial Stout, I would say nearly perfect.

Full-bodied roasted malt aroma dominates at first, and throughout the drinking experience, though it does mellow along the way. I do not smell coffee or chocolate.

Taste is similar, but I do get hints of chocolate. Obviously severely roasted malt dominates, but I do get a dark chocolate flavor in there as well. It's also slightly bitter/hopped up a bit. Very enjoyable.

Feel is incredibly smooth until the end when the bitterness is noticeable. Perhaps most impressive, Ten Fidy somehow masks the 10.5% ABV incredibly well, where with others in the style there is a considerable amount of heat that goes hand in hand.
Here, there is no such "heat" accompanied by high ABV.

Overall, this is an amazing, unique imperial stout that I would love to get more of, even a case, maybe? It's very thick and heavy, but smooth and easy to drink at the same time. Cheers.

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 21:52:00 | More by rodlavers

BierJager89

California

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into a St. Bernardus Goblet

A: Pours thick and black, like motor oil with a dark brown head.

S: Vanilla (God I want to try the whiskey aged version), roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee in the nose.

T: Tons of dark chocolate, some coffee, some vanilla, roasted malt, yet not bitter.

M: Very full bodied and quite smooth.

O: If you can try it, do so. It's cheep and absolutely delicious. One of the best values out there, too.

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 20:05:51 | More by BierJager89

erikshewmaker

Iowa

4.63/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Can that was cellared for a year, poured into a snifter.

A- black with a medium expresso colored head
S- vanilla, coffee, malty notes
T- flavors that mirror the nose, with a slight molasses finish
M- very lively in the mouth with medium carbonation. The taste continues to evolve in your mouth and has a great lingering finish
D- This is so good that it is hard to save the time to savor each sip. The high ABV doesn't appear in the taste as an alcohol burn.
O- One of my favorite beers, period. This is what I look forward to after a long day! I have never been disappointed by anything from Oscar Blues.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 22:45:51 | More by erikshewmaker

stonermouse

Massachusetts

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

I have hesitated for years on this one because of the price point. Finally went for it.

Poured into a Sam Adams glass.

During the pour, it splashes into the glass with a deep brown/purple color that I've never seen in a beer before. The head is a smooth, chocolate brown color of its own.

The aroma has a boozy, slightly cocoa flavor, with a touch of plum and sweetness.

The flavor is fantastic overall. There's just the right amount of heat, which compliments the slight, dry chocolate primary flavor. Sweetness comes from a touch of vanilla, with some nice sweet raisin and a touch of fruitiness. Finishes dry and slightly bitter, but clean. For as big and bad as the can and pour look, this beer is like a big, soft pillow in the flavor. Pleasant and delightful all around.

Mouthfeel is just right; not too syrupy, not too thin.

Just a great beer all around. This is easily one of the best widely-available big ABV stouts, and certainly the best one in a can. Dare I say, it's worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:14:45 | More by stonermouse

codysjb

Florida

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Ten fidy
A: pours a black motor oil with no head.
S: coffee, caramel and some minor vanilla notes. What a mouth full.
T: Coffee and chocolate coat the palate as a nice chocolate flavor balances out the end with a slight alcohol burn.
M: Lots of vanilla notes intertwine with chocolate.
O: Wow, pretty good especially for a stout that can be found everyday.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 05:25:24 | More by codysjb

TBoneJones

Texas

4.44/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pitch black pour with a caramel/tan head.
Malty cocoa smell. Light smokiness.
Tastes great for this style. A lot going on. Chocolaty cream, burnt cocoa, toasted malts, and surely anise.
Thick, smooth drinking initially then a thick, sticky finish.
Overall this is one I pick up every so often (you do pay a premium). While I really like licorice in the form of the candy, I never enjoy that flavor profile so much when it's part of a beer...but Ten Fidy is the exception for me, as the variety of other flavors complement the anise aspect so it doesn't overpower. That make this a greatly unique imperial stout.

Serving type: can

01-13-2013 22:40:51 | More by TBoneJones

ckollias

Maryland

4.36/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this beer on tap at Old Line Bistro in Greenbelt, MD out of an 8 oz pint glass.

A: Pours a dark black hue with a tan 1-finger head that quickly dissipates into a thin lace that disappears rather quickly

S: Great dark fruity aroma with hints of chocolate malt and caramel on the nose.

T: Chocolate malts, coffee, and deep dark fruits flavors make up this complex offering.

M: Heavy body and medium carbonation.

O: Wow – excellent imperial stout. Great flavors and aromas.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 21:05:10 | More by ckollias

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

2012 vintage...

A: Pours perfectly pitch black with about a half finger of dark mocha head. The foam settles fairly quickly, but a thing rings remains on the top of the beer until it the beer is gone.

S: The nose is malt, roasted nuts, slight burnt toast and raisin, and big milk chocolate.

T: The taste follows the nose exactly. I get a huge amount of milk chocolate, some malt, big roast, slight burnt toast, and minimal raisin. It really is excellent. I like my stouts with more burnt/roast than raisin.

M: Full bodied beer. It's sticky and sweet, coating and smooth.

O: Great beer. It's well balanced, and the flavors blend nicely between bitter and sweet. It's a wonderful stout... in a can or out.

Serving type: can

01-13-2013 20:54:12 | More by trxxpaxxs

joshbrink

Alabama

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Bloodhound in Auburn, AL. Good find.

A: Extremely dark. Larger head that remains for a while. Begs for a sip.

S: Inviting. Expresso, dark chocolates, some coffee, maybe a fruity sweetness to it.

T: Tastes like you would think from the nose. Roasted malts, dark chocolates. Hops are present but by no means overpowering. Some bit of fruity sweetness.

M: Extremely smooth, like silk. Thick.

O: Exceptional beer. Quickly became one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2013 21:04:14 | More by joshbrink

fmccormi

New York

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

Straight pour from a 12oz can to my trusty Cigar City snifter; canning date of October 18, 2012 printed in black ink on the can’s kick-up (“CANNED ON 10-18-12 @ 12:30 BLACK HOLE, SON!!”). Black hole, indeed.

Appearance (4.25): One fat finger of milk chocolate-colored foam caps a body that is as black hole-ish as was alluded to in the canning date information. It’s black, nothing else. The had shows a surprising amount of retention and lace: fat, broad legs of foam stick to the sides of the glass just below wherever you’ve taken a sip.

Smell (4.0): Iced coffee with a little cream in it, dark chocolate (like 70% cocoa +), mocha ice cream, double chocolate chip cookies—you get the picture. Roasty coffee, dark chocolate, and some sweet, doughy undertones fill out the nose very, very nicely.

Taste (4.5): Whoa, even richer than the nose—way richer, and just great. Roasty coffee bitterness without any of the soy sauce potential you get in lesser imperial stouts mixes with a rich, deeply earthy, creamy chocolate character. There’s actually a bit of grapefruit rind bitterness in the finish, but it’s relatively subtle and melds well with the mix of coffee bitterness and chocolate aftertaste that comes across in the malt body. And amazingly, there’s really minimal alcohol detected—just a bit of that warming, vaporous feel toward the end, just before the swallow and then again right after it. Very, very smooth for how big, bitter, and rich this beer. More of that earthy character, which I love.

Mouthfeel (4.25): As mentioned above, smooth. It’s full-bodied and somewhat viscous, but not quite syrupy. The alcohol and maybe a bit of hop oil character helps to dry out the finish, but I certainly wouldn’t call this a “dry” beer. Just a very addictive sipper.

Overall (4.25): This is a great beer—and imperial stout that’s full-bodied, full-flavored, and still something of a crowd pleaser. I would definitely recommend this to someone interested in getting into the style, because it’s not too sweet or syrupy but it’s also not so distastefully charred and bitter as some can be. But the earthiness mentioned above, which is like the intersection of the chocolate flavor and the hop component of the beer, is what really gets me—it adds a very nice depth to the experience. Really, really tasty.

Serving type: can

01-10-2013 02:56:19 | More by fmccormi

CommanderOfAwesome

California

4.73/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

10-29-12 can poured into a snifter.

A: Pours black motor oil. DARK khaki brown 1 finger head. Alcohol legs present.

S: Whoa nelly. Coffee, creamy milk chocolate, Molasses follows suit back up but a nice albeit a bit surprising hop presence. .

T: Slight caramel, creamy smooth chocolate and a coffee bitter finish.

M: THICK viscous creamy mouthfeel with a bitter slightly finish finish.

O: A fantastic beer, my favorite from Oskar Blues. Huge beer, probably the best canned beer available ATM that is a staple in my house. Big huge smooth creamy chocolate/coffee bomb.

Serving type: can

01-09-2013 18:03:26 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

Puddleduck

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

WOW TEN FIDY is the best beer ever, can not get enough of this great beer. This is worth every penny.

Serving type: can

01-09-2013 01:22:13 | More by Puddleduck

richj1970

Alabama

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 12 oz can into Stone Brewing pint glass.

A: Pitch black with brown creamy three finger head that seemed to last forever. Nice lacing.

S: Amazing. Dark chocolates, Expresso, maybe some dark fruits, roasted malts.

T: Creamy, following nose with chocolates and coffe notes. Big flavors that I enjoy with an imperial stout.

M: Full bodied. Thick but not overly so. Creamy and coats the palette nicely.

O: Easily one of the best stouts. One of my goto choices.

Serving type: can

01-08-2013 03:24:16 | More by richj1970

circus_cat

Virginia

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

A: Motor oil black with a light brown, almost maroonish creamy head leaving pretty nice lacing. Looks very rich and inviting.

S: Roasted malts, espresso, baker's chocolate, just a hint of vanilla, and some dark fruits in the background. The smell is incredible.

T: Mirrors the nose in many ways which is a very good thing. Lots of dark chocolate, plums, strong espresso, and roastiness. Wow.

M: Thick, creamy, smooth. What I imagine most stouts to be, only this time I'm not disappointed.

O: One of the few beers I've had where I find no flaws.

Serving type: can

01-05-2013 03:00:58 | More by circus_cat

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 ounce can poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a black color with a half finger head and decent lacing.

S: This smells amazing!! Roasted malts, dark chocolate, a little coffee as well as some nice sweet fruity aromas.

T: Lots of roasted malts, espresso, dark chocolate, smoke, and a little fruit. There are hops in there somewhere, but hard to find with all the other strong flavors. The alcohol is very well hidden.

M: Full bodied with just enough carbonation. Super smooth...almost perfect.

O: There's nothing bad I can say about this beer. It's damn near perfect.

Serving type: can

01-05-2013 00:18:41 | More by nUgZ

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at a local bottle shop for $16/4 x 12oz cans.

Poured into a room temp nonic.

A - A somewhat viscous black beer. Pours like chocolate milk. Head is a rich medium brown, almost like moose. 2 fingers high. Average lacing.

S - Roasted malt, chocolate, some hint of nuts, reminds me a little of a chocolate milkshake.

T - Dark chocolate. Roasted malt. Some hops. Ends with some slight bitterness of burnt/roasted malt and hops. Its taste easily hides the 10.5% ABV!

M - Smooth and silky, but not like a nitro-tapped Guiness. Chewy.

O - An excellent beer. Easy to drink. In my top ten. Will always be available in my house.

Serving type: can

01-04-2013 15:42:28 | More by Sludgeman

Nugganooch

California

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

12oz can to my FW snifter glass
Canned 10-15-12 Peanuts Envy

A: Pours a dark coffee brown with the complimentary finger thick of mocha chocolate whip atop. Damn near motor oil status as the name suggests. Definitely dark and lovely in the glass. Persistent head with curtains of etched lace all the way down.

S: The nose carries rich chocolates with some firm roast barley and notes of dry roast coffee. Has a real earthy toasted grain aroma with some ash on it. Not all that intense but nice with some suggestive alcohol spice. Warming opens up a bit more of the roast with some stronger hints of cocoa.

T: Flavors are bold with rich chocolate. Much more than the nose suggests. Follows with additions of coffee bean and dark berry. Dark roasted grains are predominant throughout with a bit of charcoal, vanilla bean, dark licorice, and some earthy chicory or birch root likeness. The beer has a substantial bitter hop charge that brings out some ashy pine notes. There lies some hidden alcohol giving a mild spice kick towards the finish. Great balance considering the intensity of flavors here. Sweet with gobs of dark roast malts but not cloying. All around just a delicious beer.

M: Silken smooth feel with an overall lush cream like quality. Somewhat light on its feet all together. There is a puckering hop bite to the beer with a dry crisping towards the finish. After feel is sticky and sleek across the palate.

D: Deceptively drinkable for such a beast of a brew. Possibly the best beer that does come in a can. Tasting incredibly fresh and very hoppy even for imperial standards. Balanced with plenty of sweet chocolate and roast character followed by a firm alcohol presence. I do enjoy this stout greatly.

I really should be picking these up more often.

Serving type: can

01-03-2013 21:19:50 | More by Nugganooch

scootny

New York

4.85/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is one of the greats. Simple as that. Black liquid, dense brown head that leaves sticky spots and streaks. Smell is Godiva meets Starbucks. Taste is as good as it gets with a huge chocolate front that is followed by a heavy roasted grain coffee finish. Hops are plentiful but because of the huge sweetness of the malt they are balanced to the point of playing second fiddle leading into a coffee like finish. The wonderful blend of dark and chocolate malts just lays the floor on this one. A touch of licorice. Finish is surprisingly clean and dry with an extra bold coffee taste lingering. A touch of grapefruit skin as well. Feel is smooth and chewy while remaining light enough to drink way to fast. Satin on the tongue with a perfect and subtle carbonation. One of the best RIS I've ever had. No barrel needed, just vision and expert brewing. WOW!

Serving type: can

01-03-2013 05:36:20 | More by scootny

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

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

A- Pours black as night and thick as mud. Pretty large head forms, partly because of a violent pour, but I will also say the beer forms a large head by itself. Head is dense foam of a deeper chocolate color. Among the darkest colored heads I've seen. Lacing and retention is superb.

S- Heavy on the traditional dark malt roasts. Chocolate is the predominant flavor. A fair amount of sweet is there with the chocolate. Other malts are strong and dark in flavor. There is little to no detectable coffee profile in the scent.

T- Very similar to the scent, with the exception of chocolate being prominent. Starts with a big, dark, and somewhat bitter roast flavor profile. More coffee is present here before switching to the sweeter chocolate profile of the scent. Malts, slight coffee, and chocolate combine to present a solid flavor profile that isn't groundbreaking, but very good. This brew ends with a slight bite of the bitterness returning.

M- Creamy and thick, pretty much with an impy stout should feel like. Lower levels of carbonation provide the thick and creamy feel that I like in my big stouts. Towards the end of the drink the alcohol heat is detectable and can be felt down the throat.

Overall, this is an impressive impy stout. I've been looking forward to getting this one, and being near the Ohio border over break provided the opportunity to go get it. Nothing is too out of the ordinary as far as flavor goes, but the weight and feel of this one is pretty good. The only small drawback is the alcohol heat in the back of the throat.

Serving type: can

01-02-2013 01:49:06 | More by boilermakerbrew