BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2007

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Sampled July 2009
A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three-finger thick, amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a muddied amber color that, when held up to the light, shows an almost brilliantly clear, amber hue that is brightened by deep orange notes. The aroma has a light tartness to it up front and also has lots of spicy, woody oak notes. The tartness couples with a jam-like plum character and red wine like berry notes. This also has a nice tannic wine spiciness to it, a touch of chlorine flavor, and also a certain toastiness that seem boosted by both malt character and oak; this toastiness seems to get an aromatic boost as the beer warms up. In the end though, the aroma seems to just dissapate, with no real staying power.

The beer tastes lightly tart up front, as it rolls across the tongue it picks up a biting tannic note and then more tartness as it moves to the finish. This is definitely light bodied for its alcohol level, but does have a certain viscous fullness to it. Woody oak flavors combine with the fruitiness to contribute a character that is quite similar to the berry character that is found in a rich red wine. Flavors of tamarind, dry prune and fermented raisin are all found here and are all more tart leaning than sweet in character. The oak plays a big role here with lots of spiciness and warming character, this also has a tannic mouthfeel and body that keeps this from being any where near watery in texture; in fact the oak really makes the texture of this beer. There is just a touch of sweetness to this dry beer that is more noticeable as a balancing effect for the more dominant tartness and spicy oak notes (i.e. it is not really noticed as a sweet taste).

This is a very well integrated beer and despite the big oak influence this ends up fairly well balanced if you drink it at 60ºF / 16ºC plus. The oak was certainly a bit strong at first, but this really warms into a well melded beer that balances the oak, the rich fruit character and a solid level of tartness quite well. The mix of flavors in this beer also seem to make this pair quite well with food quite well. The expressive aroma that was so noticeable at first did seem to disappear pretty quickly; I am not sure where it went, but the aroma is much reduced after the first few minutes and it hasn’t regained it over the couple of hours it takes to work my way through this beer.

Bottle with friends. Great amber pour with slight head. Smell is a nice mix of tropic fruits with vinegary sourness. Taste is vinegarish on the mouth, but not too much. Mixes well with the fruity sourness. Pretty dry. Nice sour.

Bottle shared with friends. Pours a deep Brownish red body with no head, minor lacing. Aroma is cherry, vinegar, citrus fruits, and wood. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy with notes of vinegar and sour cherries upfront with dark fruits, prune and raisins , wood.

potent, bitter aroma, bitter citrusy flavor, amber appearance, lightly carbonated, sampled in a pint glass

Bottle #276. 750ml. $26.99 at Premier Gourmet, Buffalo. I’ve been sitting on this bottle a long while now, I hope it’s been worth it. Pours a deep amber with little to no head. Aromas of sour fruit, some funk, very pleasant. The taste is much more sour than I had imagined it would be - this is almost a lambic level sourness. Very tart. Deep and complex. Very little carbonation, and I can’t detect any alcohol... 11%??? Smooth, sour, funky fruit balanced out with just a hint of sweetness. This is an amazing beer, and one for the ages.

[4196-20111216] Bottle. Wood smoke cherry aroma has a cheesy foot note to it. Hazy, dark pink red body with a foamy off-white head. Mildly sour flavour has a long cherry aftertaste. Medium body. Really good, drinkable. (7/3/8+/4/16) 3.8
(Vintage 2007; w/ Bobsy, jerc)

Bottle at home, out of my Hennepin glass. Pours cloudy russet-tawny, thin off-white head, spotty lacing. Nose is cranberry, sweat, funk, oak, vinous notes, some light spice. Flavours are leathery, with dried berries, oak tannin, and stale red wine. A very well-balanced sour that left me wanting just a bit more...

750 ml green bottle poured a clear reddish brown with a small lingering tan head. Aromas of alcohol, plum, oak, pepper and light apple. Palate was medium bodied and crisp with a dry tart finish. Flavors of oak, red wine, spice, barnyard and plum with a crisp dry tart lingering fruity finish.

Bottle @ ratman’s, courtesy of ratman. Huge thanks! Cloudy, reddish orange appearance with an off white head and some sediment. Tangy, tart, red vinous, dark berry, acetic aroma. Vinous, tart berry, cherry, acetic, funky flavor. Moderate warmth. Fun sour. Thanks Ratman!

Bottle shared by Ratman. Pours clear tawny with a small, fizzy off-white head, short retention with light lacing. Aroma is caramel and cookie malt, alcohol, dark fruity esters, lactic and acetic with oak notes. Flavor is malt, lactic and acetic, fruity esters, low hops with a dry finish. Medium body, warmth and carbonation.

2011-12-16. Ruby red brown body with a small beige head. 3+ quite fruity flavour, sour cherry with mild wood character, pleasant modest sourness throughout, light cherry pit like touches. Modest aroma of cherry pits, light wood and alcohol that grows as you go, muted cherry. Smooth average plus palate. is lightly carbonated. Rather good, and less boozy than other vintages I have had - the alcohol is barely noticeable on the palate. 2007 Vintage Bottle From Premier Gourmet, Buffalo