“Ten FIDY Imperial Stout – This titanic, immensely viscous stout is loaded with inimitable flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee and hide a hefty 65 IBUs underneath the smooth blanket of malt. Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Ten FIDY is the ultimate celebration of dark malts and boundary-stretching beer.”
Served in a beer tulip. We’re met with a glass full of black with a big showing of frothy brown foam forming over the top. As it recedes it deposits a messy lace on the walls of the glass.
The aroma is aggressive and boozy with big impressions of molasses, cocoa, espresso, medicinal notes, herbal hops, vanilla and raw tobacco. The rich aromas emanating here are absolutely incredible. It’s tough to ignore the lovely burnt undertones of brown sugar, oats and toffee as well. Such impressive depth.
It flows over the tongue with incredible ease and fluidity. At 10.5% ABV it shouldn’t be! Nicely centred body with a surprisingly silky smooth texture. It’s way too easy to drink!
It really shapes up with warming booze, rich malts and molasses, burnt sugar, treacle and leathery notes. Backing down definitely isn’t in this beers nature as it keeps coming with this prickly heat across the mid. It slightly softens in to a coffee accent that reveals a subtle creamy vanilla note, finishing on an earthy espresso bitterness. Maybe a hint of aniseed on the rear.
This stout packs an almighty punch. One of those belly warmers we would reach for in the middle of winter. It’s a damn fine stout but be ready for the burn…It definitely doesn’t try and hide. Solid drop.