Ten FIDY - Oskar Blues Brewing Company

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

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: pours a black color with a long lasting and creamy 3" tan colored head.

Smell: roasted malt aromas are big and easy to pull out of the glass.

Taste: big roasted malts, prunes, raisins, molasses, and a nice bitterness makes a great RIS. The toasted tones linger throughout the swallow. Alcohol provides some mild warming.

Mouthfeel: smooth at the start with it becoming almost syrupy and dry at the finish. Heavy in body. Super long aftertaste as the flavors glue themselves to your tongue.

Drinkability: a totally satisfying RIS. Having this style available in a can is great. Easy to drink and enjoyable despite the high cost for it.

Serving type: can

04-16-2008 11:29:54 | More by Gavage

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

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

Wow, it does pour like oil from a can. It's sitting pitch black and viscus in my glass with a short tan head.

The aroma is hoppy at first then I'm pulling out cracker and toasted biscuit with a light note of dark roasted grains. It tastes a lot like slightly watered down chocolate syrup in that its got a lot of cocoa with sweet sugary feel. The aftertaste has a hit of roasted brley along with citrus rind and grapefruit hops.

Overall, the flavor profile and aroma are different than the average RIS. And for a 10% beer, it's pretty drinkable and the alcohol is well hidden. However, for such a big beer, I'd expect bigger flavor.

Serving type: can

05-02-2008 01:47:42 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

A 12 oz can from a recent trade with mmtmatrix.

A: The stout poured the darkest head I've ever seen. It was a dark ruddy brown color, brilliant in its depth. The stout is dark and black, its event horizon absorbs all light.

S: The nose is an intense amalgum of chocolate, burnt toast, coffee, molasses and dark alefruits. All this from a can? Awesome!

T: The stout packs a big hoppy bite up front. Somewhat surprising because it really didn't register in the nose. The citrus is in contrast to the dark roasted stout body. Coffee and chocolate, mixed with dark fruits and molasses, nicely define the post-hops body. A sugary sweet chocolate flavor lingers in the palate long after the sip is gone.

M: The mouthfeel, despite the abundance of different flavors, really comes together nicely. The acrid burnt flavor is a nice sendoff.

D: At 10% this is a whopper. One can is more than enough at one sitting.

Serving type: can

02-24-2008 02:01:00 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Thanks to Jeff at Fathead's for getting this one to the Burgh, only four 1/2 barrels but damn that's good enough for me. 3 went to Fathead's and 1 made it's way to Mad Mex Robinson keep your eyes peeled. I love the name and it happened to remind me of one of my favorite imperial stouts from Southern Tier their IS from the long long ago Blackwater Series. Appearance is opaque literally black eats all light with a two fingered sized dark moccha tan head leaving behind fine lacing unevenly around the glass. Aroma is full of deep dark chocolate mild butterscotch undertones, cocoa, and an espresso coffee barrage. Other subtle notes found were some soft edges a touch of vanilla and oat grains maybe some molassess and the herbal pine hop bite definitely expresses itself with a bang. The flavor brings huge hop bitterness among waves of dark roast espresso bursts, dark chocolate, herbal pine hop flavors and succulently sweet butterscotch, molasses, and oatmeal with vanilla notes. Huge impy stout worthy of any hype this low distributed beer may bring, I hope it makes it on the canning line. Mouthfeel is huge engulfs the palate even slow chugging carbonation barely can handle all this malt with a sticky mildly chewy character about it also noted were some streaks of hop oils. Drinkability was amazing I savored every drop definitely a conversation sipping beer complex and tasty, I want some more of this stuff, damn.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2007 00:05:47 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours like motor oil out of the can. Dark tan/brown head. Nose is malts and coffee, but nothing crazy. Flavor is amazing. Thick and robust. Loads of coffee tones married with malts. Noticeable alcohol. Feel has a decent liquid feel and a good level of carbonation. Nice. Very nice. And gee. I have 22 left of this case. Whatever shall I do.

Serving type: can

02-06-2008 03:38:21 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a murky dark brown with a medium brown head.

S: Nose is deep roasted malts with cocoa, coffee.

T: Taste followed the nose pretty close with the deep roasted malts, coffee, cocoa. Loads of cocoa.

M: Mouthfeel is very good. A very full RIS with a well hidden ABV that makes this beer very drinkable.

Serving type: can

12-28-2010 14:05:10 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's shocking to see such a dark liquid to come from a can. Nearly no had. And what is there dies to ring of bubbles on the edge. Virtually spotless lace. Near black, no lace.

Mild black patent malt aromas. Not as potent as I expected.

The flavor is an improvement on the smell. Oily body of a high-alcohol beer. Black patent malt flavors with notes of cherry and strawberry. Some hoppiness is present. Overall, this is a syrupy and malty beer where the bitterness comes from the burnt grains.

Serving type: can

05-04-2009 01:11:32 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.72/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks goes out to ArrogantB for this brew.

Pours a deep black color, very nice carbonation, huge two finger creamy tan head, which leave some awesome sticky lacing. The nose is big on malts, toffee, chocolate, nice slight vanilla, and caramel. The taste is absolutly delicious, malty/toffee/chocolate, nice little bit of sweetness, and some caramel. The alcohol is hidden extremely well, could drink a few of these easy. Full-Medium body, a well rounded brew. Very drinkable, very smooth, this is an exceptional brew, highly recommended.

Serving type: can

01-17-2008 01:34:36 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a two finger brown head that fades slowly to thin layer leaving a good lace. Black color, no highlights. Light-medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Malty nose, flavor is similar, malts and burnt chocolate. High ABV is hidden, decent IS, close to a RIS. $4.95 for a 12oz black can (yes a can and it is very drinkable) from Bert’s Better Beers Hooksett, NH. Canned 9/21/2011.

Serving type: can

04-26-2012 22:03:05 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a dimple mug)
It just seemed wrong to pour from a can to a chalice.

A- This beer pours an obsidian black body that looks almost like a nitrogen pour. There is a thick chocolate milkshake head that is creamy and could be spread like frosting. It last for much of the beer. There are a few odd, tiny bubbles stuck to the glass but no light exited.

S- The smell of black roasted malt has a slight sweet dark chocolate smell and a hint of creamy that came through when it warmed.

T- The big taste of black diesel exhaust quickly gave way to a black roasted malt flavor with a soft fusel taste and some dark prune notes. There was a bit of cream flavor to the prunes as the beer warmed and the finish was a nice black malt bitterness. There was a soft spicy note that came through the roasted finish aswell.

M- This beer had a full mouthfeel with a creamy texture but no real alcohol heat.

D- This is a big engine oil body with a dark roast smooth and creamy flavor. Not really complex but enough depth to keep this monster interesting.

Serving type: can

07-25-2008 20:42:17 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

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

On tap at the Hop Devil Grill in NYC, this large and tasty RIS poured an enticing shade of oily black with a forceful looking dark tan head, leaving behind messy lacing. Nose of dark grains and strong coffee. Soft in the mouth, overload of flavors, more coffee, dark burnt grains, rich,complex, heady brew, well worth a try if you are lucky enough to see in your area.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2007 23:45:48 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

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

Poured from a 12 oz. can into a pint glass. Not my first time having but first time reviewing.

a - Pours a very dark, thick black with about 2 inches of brown head and little carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sweet malts and chocolate, as well as some dark fruits. Small hints of alcohola and coffee are evident.

t - Bakers chocolate is defintiely the best comparison I can think of for this taste. It's a bittersweet chocolate taste that jumps out at you at first, followed by a little fruit and roasted malts, and finishes off with a tiny bit of coffee. Great stuff.

m - Thick, full bodied, moderate carbonation. Little hot from the alochol taste but still enjoyable

d - Overall I really enjoyed Ten FIDY. I thought the bittersweet chocolate smell/taste was great and the only small knock I'd have against it would be a small amount of heat from the alcohol smell/taste. I will definitely be buying more of this and will be putting a few cans in the cellar to see how it develops.

Serving type: can

02-18-2010 02:04:20 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Oh yeah, one of the best Imperial stouts, esp from a can. I've been excited to finally review this one, and now I can.

A: Pours with very thick and super dark head, that seems to fade quickly. Its super pitch black color puts black holes to shame, and I would lube up my car.

N: Nose of course is loaded with roasted malts and chocolate. A slight crisp beer like aroma shines through, but makes my heart sink into darkness and shame. I can smell the 10W-40000 eminating from this.

T: Super thick and rich, creamy, roasted malts up the wazoo, and chalky chocolate dance around in your mouth. A very slight carbonation and nice hop flavor and bitterness really nicely layer. Rich and feels like its full of vitamins, must be good for me. The dark stout feels like its pulling the color right from my tongue. I have a feeling my tooth brush will be black every day for the next two weeks now. It leaves a layer of thick syrup that never goes away, no matter how much I drink more of it, wait, that doesn't seem to work. And I can barely even detect the alcohol, except a slight warming and spice taste, so it hides the 10% very well!

M: Super thick and even thicker than that. Creamy and rich, flows down your throat slower than molasses. Layers your mouth and very low carbonation.

F: Finishes pretty stouty and dry, and like super bitter dark chocolate. A chocolate milk comes to mind, chocolate milk that would conjure up the depths of oblivion and demon spirits from beyond the gates of Grenach! I can feel the lost souls escaping from the thick syrup into my tongue and trying to run away and but getting swallowed by the richness.

Serving type: can

10-18-2009 23:19:05 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

12oz can obtained via trade with autumnaldave. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" dark brown (almost purply black) head above the opaque black brew. Head hangs on, with average lace, which actually is pretty good for the style. Aroma is surprisingly minimal, but what is present is the expected dark maltiness with ample hops. Taste starts with sweet darkness, but quickly goes almost acrid bitter, in a good way, then giving way to sharp hoppiness, and closing with gradual warmth. Mouthfeel smooth and creamy, but the acridness does hamper things a bit, and drinkability reflects the same, but still very good overall. I'm really being picky here, but that's just me. Regardless, way kudos for Oskar Blues for continuing to be on the cutting edge on putting new style in the can.

Serving type: can

12-16-2007 03:23:30 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Thanks to jasonmech77 for sharing this hand bottled version...
Appears an opaque, pitch black with a dark tan head that fades to a mild cap and collar after a moment. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of cocoa, light roastiness, mild vanilla, coffee, anise, and brown sugar.
Taste is of roasted nuts & grain, light anise, cocoa, and mild coffee coming through.
Mouthfeel is full bodied with anise, roasted nuts, and bitter coffee swirling around the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2007 20:18:31 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

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

Sampled through a trade with Northertimber.

Pours a thick black colored beer with a thin brown head.

Smell is sweet with a trace of hops giving it a scent best described as 'carrot sticks." Caramel candy and chocolate syrup aromas and a hint of smoke. Faint fig Newton cookie aroma.

The taste starts out thick chocolate with a lot of patent malt and smoke and roast flavor. Gets more bitter as you drink it with a long lasting roast malt and smoke aftertaste. Faint berry and vanilla flavors but this beer is all about the roast.

Mouthfeel is quite thick.

Not bad at all but I may have had my expectations a little to high for this beer based upon word of mouth. Nice and very smooth what it lacks it that extra layer of complexity that the best Russian Imperial Stouts posses. Still this is a good beer and no doubt the best RIS in a can.

Serving type: can

02-26-2008 04:18:29 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz can into a snifter.

Pours a motor oil black (which is what it looks like coming out of a can) with a 1/2 finger of burnt tan colored creamy head. It retains nicely into a thin layer that lies across the surface and leaves some pretty impressive lace behind but it unfortuantley doesn't stick around long, opting to leave a slick, brown coating down the sides of the glass. The aroma is burnt oats right off the bat, along with zippy coffee notes, a rich chocolate stickiness, and a fairly prominant presence of dark fruit tartness that shines through.

The taste is a dark roasted mix of malt and coffee bitterness to start things off with a generally overall feel of oats to it. That's balanced out by a big chocolate sweetness and hints of dark fruits. The finish is bitter, hot and sticky. The mouthfeel is full bodied with a wonderful creamy and sometimes slick texture to it. As full as the flavors are though, it seems like the body could go even a little deeper. A beefy heat is present but doesn't become stinging, more like adding some extra toughness to the overall feel.

A solid RIS from Oskar Blues and a decent deal at around $3 a can for what you get. It's not quite up there with some other top ones in the style but the uniqueness of a RIS out of a can has to earn it some brownie points too right?

Serving type: can

04-08-2008 16:34:48 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

12 oz can acquired from xmarcnolanx.

Pours black as night, brown head, very rich looking, tons of lace, nice legs as well, head settles to a thick layer. Smell is wicked, roast, chocolate, toffee, coffee, dark fruits, vanilla, biscuits, wood, alcohol, excellent. Taste is just as good, thick roastiness, chocolate, toffee, biscuits, vanilla, dark fruits and dates, alcohol but well hidden, solid roasty bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with silky low carbonation, way too easy to drink. Fantastic Impy Stout, one of my favourites. Thanks Marc!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2008 07:25:43 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Pitch black body. Thin creamy brown head. Lace is sporadic. Bubbly islands of brown cream form on the surface as I drink. The aroma is pretty thick, oily and greasy, and roasty. Also notice some hints of black licorice and dark currants. Oh, as I first taste this, I realize this thing's got some viscosity. This is some viscous shit. In a good way. I like it. Imp. stouts should have a very full and viscous body and mouthfeel. Carbonation is appropriately low. and the alcohol doesn't really surface much. I think it's hidden behind some of the bold flavors of this beer. I really like the flavors of anise and licorice and currants in this beer. It's got some of the requisite char and roasted malt bitterness. But the beauty is really in the dark fruitiness. Best imperial stout I've ever had from a can.

Serving type: can

02-24-2009 04:11:15 | More by Bighuge

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

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Great black pour, minimal head, great cherry cola look to what is there. Sticky. Aroma, very fresh feel to it.

Taste, wow, very similar to Abyss. Smooth. Velvety chocolate feel, few hops. Goes down so easily, but little nuance of cinnamon with it, yet not too sweet. Even a little vanilla.

I resisted trying this for so long, $16 for a 4 pack of cans just didn't seem right. I was wrong.

Serving type: can

05-27-2010 23:08:57 | More by Beerandraiderfan

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

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

0.355ml can of 9.5%ABV. Original review lost on site!

This beer was poured into a Westmalle Chalice for my review, it suited the beer and showed it off well.

Still have the can if not the review, liked it, dark, strong and moreish. Coffee, dark chocolate, burnt brown toast, etc, etc.

I promise to re-review if I ever get the chance to do so!

Serving type: can

10-28-2009 17:50:44 | More by BlackHaddock

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

During an imperial stout tasting for St. Paddy's day.

Ten Fidy out of the can pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. On the nose, this beer is once again quite impressive. The aroma profile includes coffee, wet tobacco, leather, vanilla and a hint of cherry. Flavors replicate the nose in this moderately sweet beer, and the mouthfeel is full, rich and quite long. Drinkabilty is pretty good, though you can tell this is a big beer, with alcohol that becomes increasingly noticeable over time.

Definitely a classic... and what a treat to get a beer of this quality in a can.

Serving type: can

03-17-2010 22:37:59 | More by johnmichaelsen