Oskar Blues Brewery Ten Fidy (2015 Vintage) Review by: @Robyn_Seto

Welcome to a new month and a new beer! To kick off March, I chose a very mature beer that’s been hiding in the beer fridge for quite a while: a 2015 vintage Ten Fidy by Oskar Blues. Ten Fidy is a 10.5% ABV Imperial Stout that Oskar Blues releases annually. This beer takes its name from 1050 motor oil used in cars because the beer has a thick viscosity and deep dark brown in color.

What does five years of aging do to a beer like this? In that time, the alcohol taste will virtually disappear but the warmth from it will remind you of the higher ABV. Strangely, the aging appears to have thinned the viscosity quite a bit and creates a more silky smooth mouthfeel. The aroma upon pour is almost savory like a dark green olive, and becomes more chocolatey sweet smelling as it warms. Typically Imperial Stouts feature dark chocolate and coffee flavors, but in the five years of aging the sweetness and strong coffee notes have faded quite a bit. They are faint, but become more pronounced as the beer warms. The flavor that remains is dark, roasty, and bittersweet. There is a touch of chocolate sweetness as the beverage warms, but overall it has a very sophisticated dark roasted cacao taste.

Aging beer can be an interesting adventure, especially when you compare an aged beer to a fresh version. Should you see Ten Fidy in the wild, try it fresh! And grab an extra can to hang onto for a while too! (Though a whole five years of aging may not be totally necessary)

5/5 Burps

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