BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2004

Formerly brewed at BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Saignelégier, Switzerland

Cloudy chocolate brown pour displaying a mostly lasting beige head. The barrel comes across strong in the nose, though obviously original types are used, supposedly grappa amongst them? And it makes sense from the smell. Grapes and chocolate are multi-faceted, covering themselves with nuances of anise, peat, rye bread. The malt is gently toasty, yet cloaks a vast fruity range, if they’re hard to pinpoint individually, there’re certainly berries suggestions in there. Alcohol comes across with strength, luckily the BFM soft house acidity keeps it from being annoying. After swallowing, a certain astringence leaves a souvenir on the mouth sides, but it’s not unpleasant, potentially a side effect from the various barrels. Salty, meaty, boney richness. Cocoa and exotic fruits abound as it warms (kiwi, pomegranate). Bubblegummy yeastiness is bursting with esters. Moderate carbonation helps to attune the sweetness down, while the medium body suffices to give it the authority it deserves. Craftmanship at work.

Bottled. Hazy brown colour, minor white head. Strong alcohol, fruit and plum in the aroma. Flavour is alcoholic and plummy with hints of pepper and some other spices. Interesting beer, which has clear strong hints of alcohol, but not disturbing at all.

Dark hazy brown with a thin white head. Rosewood and lactic acid, horseblanket and cherries in aroma. In mouth, a Grand Cru with kick, cerry, tannins, alcohol. Rich bodied and pleasnt. But this isnt a flemmish sour???Mondial 2006.

"Hmmmm this one was good but very very different.Poured a dark dark brown, with small head. Aroma was like wine graps and very oaky. The flavor was so much oak and some wine that i am not sure any beer flavors came out to play at all. Smell and mouthfeel were very flemish sourish."

Verre de dégustation, provenant d’une bouteille de 750 ml, dégusté au Mondial de la Bière 2006 (Montréal, QC). Arôme: Odeur de petits fruits foncés, de caramel et de porto. Apparence: La couleur est brune opaque. Saveur: Goût de petits fruits foncés, de caramel et de chocolat. Longue durée de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est plein avec une texture vineuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence de raisins en arrière goût. (Rating #513)

Brown body with a small tan head. Very vinous (a lot of grapes and dried grapes) and a bit sour (black cherries). Soft carbonation. I liked its earthy flavours but overall a bit too port-wine-ish for my taste to be considered a masterpiece. Champaign-like finale. A Nice Doggy indeed. Sampled at Mondial 2006.

Sampled at the mondial, hazy brownish hue, with a frothy tan-colored head, vineous fruitiness of plums, raisins, caramelized malt, port wine aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a winey acidic fruitiness, of dark fruits, plums, raisins, caramelized malt, brown sugar, hint of oakiness, leading towards a sweet winey aloholic finish.

Bottled. Cloudy brown with a low firm white foam. Interesting aroma of oak, white pepper and red fruit with a balsamic undertone. Oaky flavour of red wine, juniper, currant leaves and spices. Dry and slightly tart peppery aftertaste. Interesting beer.