BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2005

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

Pours a very clear amber with very little head or evidence of lively carbonation. Good amount of Brett on the nose, along with apples, pears, oak, and a strong dose of alcohol on top. Tart fruity blast of sourness gives way to a mild sweetness, alcoholic warmth, and dry oaky finish. A good, unique brew like all the Bon Chiens, but the alcoholic strength and deadish mouthfeel kept this one from bring great.

Rating # 4300. Chestnut colour with a white head. Malty, fruity and yeasty aroma with a vague tart note. Fruity, yeasty flavor with a light floral note. Light dry finish with notes of an alcohol sweetness.

Had at Logan’s Oceanside beer tasting with AlohaC, and Hair, and Matt, and Ken, Jeff, Colleen, Bill, and others. Bottle from john_adam2002 I think. Wow, a little sour Brett aroma. Very nice. I wasn’t expecting any sour. It’s great. Red amber color. A little sweet and malty.

Poured dark red with no head. Aroma of sour fruit, spice, and alcohol. Taste was about the same with a quite abit of alcohol in the finish. Sour apple flavor with some spice hints. Not bad but definately a punch in the face with alcohol.

Cloudy copper, slowly fading off-white head. A rich and highly toasty concoction with an appealing underlying spiciness reminiscent of thyme. Potent and alcoholic, but bready and grappa-like, though with a strong bready foundation. The malt bill, at times, reminds of sesam grains. Quite a complex product, but the alcohol shows up in mouth and warms the spirit considerably. Nicely sour and as usual, this pairs well with the apparently abundant munich malts. Neglectable hoppiness, but its advanced toasty nature leaves the sweetness level under control. Unique, certainly not delicate and perhaps not the best integrated beer, but special and a pleasure to try.

25.4 oz bottle. Murky crimson brown, gold edges. Leaves a rough ring of bubbles. Sensuous, funky peach and honey. Deeper notes of caramel, cinnamon and cloves. Smooth, satiny, almost vinous body with a tiny carb tingle. Lighty sour, lightly sweet, balanced perfectly. Yeasty green apple morphs into spiced caramel. Oaky drying. Very soft considering the ABV. In a few years this could be amazing.

Bottle was an ’05 drank in late ’07. Can barely taste any of the 15% alcohol content. Starts sour but finishes extremely smooth. Not a light beer but light on the palate for its kind.

Bottle @ Montreal Crew Tasting with glouglouburp, MartinT, beerbuzzmontreal, and others. Pours orange and amber with a tan ring. Sweet yeasty sour, fruity, high alc nose. Overall nice and complex though. Sweet taste, sour ruddy full of nice strong flavors, lots of variety, pretty nice.