Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout

Since Spring doesn't seem to ever want to arrive, we'll continue with the winter brews, focusing on those delectable imperial stouts. Oskar Blues Brewery produced this spot-on version of the Russian Imperial Stout, beloved of the czars. It poured a muddy dark brown, with a viscosity 10W30 would kill for. The head never seemed to go away, and was so thick you could make brown snowballs out of it. What was pleasantly surprising was the 65 IBUs, giving it the hop kick of a strong pale ale, but hidden behind the malty sweetness. All the flavors you'd expect from a good stout make an appearance: coffee and cocoa especially, but bit parts by vanilla and caramel, and walk-ons by the dark fruit players - figs, dates & black cherries. Overall, worth whatever they charged you for it.