Oskar Blues Ten FIDY with Cherries

Formerly brewed at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
Style: Imperial Stout
Lyons, Colorado USA

Bottle, provided by TAR during GABF 2008. Pours opaque with an average, frothy, dark brown head, somewhat diminishing with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (molasses, chocolate, roasted), average hops (grass), average yeast (leather) with notes of plum, cherries, and wood. Full bodied, creamy texture, average carbonation, and an astringent finish. Long duration, moderate sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

Thanks to Jimbowood for the bottle. Color is dark as midnight. Smell of malt, chocolate, caramel, smoke, prunes and cherries. At first, the cherries were not noticeable, but as it warmed up, you could smell the cherries. Taste of Chocolate cake, tart cherries, malt, caramel, toffee and hops. What a wonderful stout. It got better and better as it warmed.

Mothwatering aroma of cocoa and baker’s chocolate,caramel ,some smoke,and just the faintest hint of cherries, you can tell by the aroma that it will be milky smooth,and it sure is all of that,rich velvety chocolate malt,with a touch of caramelachio, I’m taking someone’s word that there is cherry in here,I taste the tartness of the fruit,just seemed really hard to nail down,a pleasing finishing bitterness , utterly spectacular,imagine what it would taste like right from the tap. thanks Kingpin

1 liter hand bottle sample acquired in trade with jimbowood (thanks!). Tasted side x side with the regular Ten FIDY version. Poured a dark black color with an averaged sized brown head. Aromas of chocolate covered cherries, raisins, and had an all around general fruitiness to it. Tastes of chocolate, lightly tart cherries, cherry pie, and roast. The cherries where there but not overpowering and done very well. Started out sweet and ended in a nice light tartness. Creamy smooth body with the alcohol content well hidden. I liked this version better than the ’regular’ version.

Pours pitch black with a thin foamy mocha head. Aroma of plums, raisins, and cherry, chocolate. Taste of cherry, dark chocolate, plums, and dark toffee. This beer has it all, zen balanced. Mouthfeel is full bodied without seeming heavy, and has lively carbonation. A very nice dessert or nightcap beer, although I had it with lunch... Definitely a winner! Brew more please, I want some at home!

On tap at the Brick Store: Pours a viscous opaque with a dense, pillowy dark tan/light brown head. Aroma flowing with sweet caramel malt hint notes of tart cherries and dark chocolate. Palate starts full, malty and sticky sweet with nice, semi-tart dark cherry character with a slight hint of nutmeg. Balance is incredible! Cherry flavor meshes quite well with the dark chocolate and roasty coffee notes, with just the perfect amount of tartness to balance the sweet body, without the slightest hint of alcoholic warmth. A very nice beer. Just wish it came in bottles or cans so I could buy a case.

On tap at OB. Deep black brown in color with an off white head. Malty caramel chocolatety aroma. Fruity cherry notes. Nice use of cherries. Fruity cherry chocolatety flavor. Wow. Full bodied. Finish is malty. Great tasting. Very drinkable.

Poured an opaque black color with a medium sized, dark tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet cherries, roasted malts, light chocolate, and some smoke. Taste of sticky dark chocolate, tobacco, sweet cherries, roasted malts, caramel, mocha, and dried fruits, with some alcohol in the finish.