Oskar Blues Brewery Ten FIDY
What the brewers say
This viscous stout is loaded with flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee … Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats, and hops.
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Strong roast and peppercorn aromas with slight dark fruit esters. Chocolate and coffee are prominent. Some nice dark malt sweetness of caramel adds to the nose. Dark and exotic.”
Flavor: “Complex blend of roast, biscuit, cherry, peppercorn, and alcohol. Hops bitterness lingers but is not prominent. Balance is on the malt side, and this is definitely a heavy example of an imperial stout—rich and roasty. Nice earthy character and some lemon sweetness with slight bitterness which helps to cut the sweetness. Coffee roast character is buoyed by the bright, peppery alcohol. Rich, dense, and extreme.”
Overall: “Heavy and thick makes this a sipper. The roast and peppercorn create a complex blend with the high level of alcohol. Very enjoyable—sweet and chocolaty and balanced well. Very smooth and very approachable.”