Tasting: October 8, 2011
Style: Imperial Stout
Ten Fidy

In a broad brush statement, men are great at re-quoting clever lines from movies or TV shows and interjecting them in normal conversation. I’m not sure where the phrase “fidy” originated – but I recall it was notably used in an episode of South Park. If I remember correctly, it was Chef’s father who kept saying that the Loch Ness monster wanted to borrow three-fidy. It left an impression and I’ve re-purposed “fidy” on many occasions since.

I guess I wasn’t the only one. With Ten Fidy, the fidy does stand for fifty and represents the alcohol by volume (ABV) of 10.50%. Therefore, Ten Fidy. Also worth mentioning, I love the slogan for this beer, “cross-eyed, cyclopean concupiscent”. This basically calls this stout a lusting oaf that can’t see straight. Sounds like 2:00 a.m. at any club. This imperial stout also boasts an IBU of 98. As mentioned in previous posts — sometimes IBU doesn’t solely come hops. With stout, the bitterness comes from the roasted grain — like coffee.

Pouring it out of the twelve ounce can is pretty cool, looks like very dirty motor oil. Alcohol, chocolate and coffee on the nose in that order. Really nice thick mouthfeel. Creamy dark chocolate dominates chicory, roasted malt and raisin. It finishes a little funky with a lingering chicory and fizzy alcohol burn. Up front — world class, on the back end — third class. On the whole, still worthy of 88 points.