BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2006

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

1000 bottles earmarked for the US. Bottle from Ledger’s in Berkeley (and there were 2 or 3 more there today). Aroma is sour, a little earthy, a little sweat, bit of wood. Color is a hazy garnet tinged amber with a beige head that left rapidly. Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. The flavor is astringent cherry and wood; goes towards dry sherry; lots of complexity besides all that. The finish is woody and dry, mild heat, slightly vinous, yet sourish cherry still comes to mind. Could be the merlot from the barrels. It becomes more like red wine as consumption progresses. Something to enjoy with good food or a good book or a good friend.

Bottle, from Julio’s Liquors. Poured hazy ruby-brown with a large tan head that diminished quickly. Complex aroma with malt, earth, wood, mild hops, spice and some tannins. Sweet at first, with spice, oak, earth, and mild smokiness. Some notes of brandy and sherry. Long finish with spice and alcohol. Another winner from BFM.

Dark copper pour over which lasts a gentle off-white ring. Quite yeasty and surprisingly mineral nose has a certain stoney feel. Cherry-like and grapey, both fruits contributing to a vinous feel. Slightly metallic and sulphury, but it does not detract from the enjoyment. Medium-full bodied, active medium carbonation. Grasping toastiness is the foundation, but a mild earthiness, leafiness can be perceived from the pleasurable hops and the beer feels drier than one would think from the nose. Another very special BFM that is an experience.

Bottle - big malty aroma with a distinct and sharp sourness. TONS of floaties in the medium brown body. A creamy beige head sits atop. Quite complex flavor - a bunch of the malt and sourness along with a bunch of oak. The sourness lingers long in the finish. A very big 11% - take your time with this one. Very nice!

Bottle. Dark amber colour with a little head. Aroma of oak, sourness and fruity. Sour flavour with notes of fruit. Not a beer for me, too sour.

Pours brown with a tan head. Smells of oak, some sourness, some hints of brett and funk, some sugary hints. Tastes sour along the lines of Duchesse in that it is there but not pronounced. Some hints of cherries and dark fruit are also present. This is well done, but doesn’t live up to my expectations given how amazing the 2004 and 2005 both are.

Thanx to Gumby for sharing this at Tampa gathering.Poured a dark amber with ivory head.A huge sour nose.flavor was sour but not overdone.i t was balanced quite well.sour cherry and yeasty. Finish was sour.

750 Bottle @ Montreal Crew Spaghetti Tasting. Pours brown amber with big islands of tan head. Nice big sour aroma. Taste is sour, sticky, very flemish with wild yeast and oak. Damn tasty.