BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2006

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

I have had this a few times since it was released and most recently at a gathering at JoeMcPhee’s. This is probably the second best after the ’05 version, not quite as sour though. The beer sighs with strong light cherry maltiness and a light layer of barrel and aceto with musky funk. It’s easy to drink and the sourness counteracts anything syrupy or sweet that could come out of such a strong brew. Its very nice and I am surprised this is labeled as a "sour" ale while the more sour ’05 version is considered a BSA.

Bottle: Murky purple-ish amber with a light khaki head. Amazing aroma. Complex with raspberry, passion fruit, brett notes of cherry pit and leather with tons of soft oak. Sharp body with a nice brett presence. Tart with raspberry fruitiness and a sharp lemon-rind hint. Has a late hint of lactic sharp cheese and a horse blanket earthiness. Outstanding.

Bottle. Aroma is both funky grapes and cherries. Nice cherry tartnes along with a fresh barnyard grasiness. tons of funk, tons of grape, tons of awesomeness.

Pours dark reddish amber with a frothy fizzy tan head. The aroma has big earthy sour funk, dark cherries, oak, brett (or some sort of wild yeast), definite noticeable malt, but its nuances are hidden by the funk. Medium / full body that is rich, but not cloying at all. There is lots of gentle carbonation distributing the flavor throughout the mouth. The flavor starts heavy on the over the top funk, oak, pepper, coriander, yeast and some cherries lingering in the background. The finish is spicy, very tart and fruity ~ great. There is a lingering tart dryness that stays in the mouth forever that seems to keep you coming back for the next sip quickly. The 11% is very well hidden as well. Fantastic beer.

Bottle. Body-amber/orange/reddish body. Nose-medium funk backed up with some sweetness, light brett, some light metal, some fruit. Taste-low sweetness, dirt, very high prickly CO2, light metal, some apples, lots of fruity sweetness, sour isn’t as upfront as I would like, leather, light wheat, white grape, white pepper, drying on the finish, lightly cottony, good wood essence.

This was delicious!Nose remiscent of barrel aged wine fresh from the thief. Somewhat vinous and sour initiially, but has a rich mouthfeel, has kind of an Italian leather funkiness, and stays tart throughout, so well balanced, I would have never thought in a blind tasting this was 11 %. Very nicely done!

Wow, very nice. Pours reddish brown with a small tannish head. Sweet/sour/oaky vinous nose. The flavor is very complex; I caught cherries, carmel, leather and, notes of wine; there is some alcohol but everything else going on seems to over-ride it. It finishes dry and lingers but isn’t overwhelming. I bought the first bottle of this on a whim, since I have bought 4 more and consumed 3 of them (1 by myself on a very good day and 2 at tastings) and I’d buy more if I could. This beer is worth the price to me, I’ll love to see how it ages.

Very generously shared at DLD by dankman. Thanks dude!
Pours dark and cloudy maroon with light tan head. Smell is sweet and sour, funky and fruity. Some cherry in the nose. Taste is mildish, but of quite tart cherries and is somewhat vinuous in flavor too. Very smooth, yet tart red fruit was abundant. Really enjoyable. Thanks again!