BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2008

Pours a deep maroon red, with not much of a head, some bubles hug the edge of the glass. Smells somewhat acidic with traces of oak, wine, and dark fruits. The flavor was a little more sour and acidic than I was expecting, although last years was pretty similar. Very vinuous in its characters. Got hints of cherry, oak, and other dark fruits mixed in. Finish was acidic and sweet, lingered on the palate for a whiel. Pretty good, but not so dissimilar from last years vintage.

2008 bottle shared with the usual suspects at the Brick Store. Pours a very cloudy brownish orange with a small collection of bubbles on the to that recedes quickly to nothing. The aroma is fantastic with a hint of vinegar acidity up front with some cheese and tart fruits. There is some lightly toasted malts and dough in the background. There is some barnyard funk in the nose as well, though I think it’ll build more over time. The taste is noticeably sweeter than the aroma with the tart fruits taking on a more sugar-coated character with maybe some green apples as well as tart cherries. The vinegar is less pronounced and there is a slightly sugary malt backbone underneath it all. The finish is slightly dry but not extremely funky yet. The mouthfeel is slick with low carbonation and dry in the finish. The acidity is fairly light and doesn’t overpower the feel. I just take for granted that I can buy these around here but this is the first time I’ve tasted one. All I can say is I will definitely be buying more of these as this is an excellent beer - very complex and drinkable. Highly recommended.

Bottle from SL. Pour was amber/red-brownish blend, silent bottle opening but a small head yielded with the pour. The aroma was strong sour cherries and some grapes along with a bit of a brown malt base of caramel (think oud bruin style of sours). More subtle hints of oak were present and a sweet-tart type of character was there too. The flavor developed all of what the aroma had present, while also introducing a firm tart/sour bite that was pretty gentle once adjusting from the previous beer. This certainly was no Cantillon-disruptive product (in a very good way). Mouthfeel was full and smooth, some definite acidity. Pretty nice stuff except for the price.

Tap at the Diamond. Poured a clear mahogany with no head. Very interesting wine and vinous nose. Very lightly carbonated beer that is as close to a wine as a beer could, maybe. It’s fruity with some sweetness. But the finish has a nice sour edge. Massively sour? Not the keg we had. But very interesting and enjoyable.

Deep amber body with very little head; Very special flowery medical nose; Extremely special body very very velvet soft, hop bitter and extremely sour strange warm lactic; Very long finish where the acid grows to the extreme, lots of flower aromas, barrel too. Very very strange special and interesting beer.

Bottled. Cloudy brownish amber, no head. Barnyardy acidic nose. Vinous and full bodied, lightly oaky with well rounded mouthfeel. Mild, but concentratd flavours. Caramelly malt with notes of Tokaji Aszu covered in salty citric barnyard. <mildly warming finish. Complex and lovely!

Courtesy of Philippe. Beautiful slightly hazy pour. Souring oak and green apples are intense to smell. Slight touch of vanilla and cherry. A mouth wateringly juicy intensity that fires complexity like a laser beam, with my tastebuds seemingly picking up a whole range of flavors all at the same time. Wow huge flavor range with diverse adventures at each sip. very nice

Botella. Cloudy amber. Sweet and sour malty fruity wood pleasant aroma. The flavour is sour and fruity with a good maltiness, caramel and alcohol. Very nice.