Oskar Blues Ten FIDY

Um, can. Complex aroma that offers milk chocolate and coffee. I’ve held over 1,000 beers up to light and this is one of perhaps less than a handful where absolutely no light gets through. As I was pouring it, it literally looked like engine oil coming out of a can of penzoil. A can vs. a bottle accentuated that visual, but I can’t remember seeing a beer this dark, this black. Light brown head, thin, but leaves an extensive maze-like coating on the glass. Tastes quite a bit like it smells. Very good although there’s something about it, an off aroma/flavor that I detect. I think I have identified it as pine nut. I’m not sure I like Oskar Blues’ Whoppers analogy, since that cheapens the stature that this brew could command. I’d have to say, though that, like their Dale’s Pale ale, there’s a considerable amount of quality and complexity in this brew, but also something subtle that keeps it from being even better. Is it the can? I doubt it. 98 IBUs reveal themselves as the palate recovers from the initial shock. Another outstanding brew from Oskar Blues.

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.

Many thanks to dchmela for the can! Finally tried this one. It was clear from the start why this is called Ten-Fidy: this poured oily black, taking a few seconds for a rich brown head to form. Thick and viscous. Roasty chocolate malt on the nose and a bit of hop presence. Overall, I just didn’t see much complexity in this beer. Was kind of a bitter roasty over-the-top stout. Not that that’s a bad thing, for sure. But it certainly didn’t blow me away. Think I’ll age my other can and see what happens.

This dark brown ale pouerd from a can with a modest brown head and a chocolate and alcohol aroma. This is a big and complex brew with all the dark flavors in the palette. They must have used all the ingredients in the stockroom for this brew. Drink it if you can find it. Tnanks to bhensonb for providing this one.

Wow. Absolutly amazing stout. Solid black pour at first head big bubbles then calms down to solid brown head. Nose is harsh charcole dark roasted malts. Flavors of raisins, dark chocolate, milk, coffee, toffee, sweet candy, and dark fruits. A nice alc burn as it warms in the snifter. So complex love it.

Tap @ Pizza Port SB. Pours midnight black with a 1 cm cap of tiny brown cascading bubbles. Lovely rich aroma of coffee, baker’s chocolate, brownies, and tobacco. Earthy. Full, velvety mouthfeel. Taste is unbelievably good. Loads of dark and milk chocolate blended perfectly with strong, black coffee. Its tempered by the sweeter caramel malt and roasted oats. Its like eating a rich chocolate cake, while having a strong coffee and finishing it with a nice single-malt. I’m in love with this beer. If they don’t get cans of it in San Diego soon, there may be civil unrest.

Can from Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Black color with a multifinger, really dark, tan head. Aromas of coffee, chocolate and smooth burnt malt. Full bodied with creamy carbonation. Flavor is sweet burnt malt, coffee, and dark chocolate. Maybe the sweet part suggests treacle. There is a light freshness that suggests fruit, but it has bitter burnt malt as a primary. Whoa. This is an extreme amount of flavor. Finish is just great tastes.

A superb dark molasse stout with a thick speckled lacing dark moka head. A surprising hoppy aroma with notes of dark chocolate, and peaty finale. In mouth, visocus dark burned toast, bitter chocolate, good floral hops and grapefruits, very sustained bitterness, agressive yet welcoming, and a warm alcohol final! A superb example. Bought at Half Time, June 2008.