BFM Cuvée du 7ème

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

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

[Bottle] shared by guerde. Pours a hazy gold with a massive khaki head. Aroma is old, faded hops, sweetish malt, lots of florals, and some banana. Flavor is mild floral hops, somewhat spicy, mild, light, crackery malt, light alcohol, and a bit of brett. I don’t see how this is an IPA, more of a BdG, but it is very tasty and unique.

Au fût @ RedLight RedLight, Orlando, cuvée 2006. Quelle chance d’avoir pu déguster cette merveille à la pression et avec qcq années. Bizarre que elle soit référencée comme IPA, mais elle fut néanmoins un régal pour les papilles. Couleur est orange claire avec une palette de couleur allant vers l’orange sanguin / chair de pamplemousse. Mousse est épaisse et blanche. Arôme est aigre, note de vinaigre, fruité avec pas mal d’aromate sans pour cela trop noter le houblon. Palais garde cet aspect de vinaigre (moyen), pamplemousse, sec en bouche avec un fini mi-tropical qui est complémenter par cette aigreur. Possibilité d’y noter des traces de bois, peut être âgée en tonneaux de chêne? A déguster.

11.2 oz swingtop - very turbid, amber/brown pour, with a huge frothy head - very dry aroma, with hops present quite present up front, followed by other spices (cinnamon, perhaps some nutmeg), then some cocoa and musty, slightly tart, yeasty qualities - a very dry and spicy ale - cocoa and cookie/gingerbread flavors initially - then, lingering beneath the earthy, hoppy dryness, some hints of sweet caramel and toffee - then some smokey, peat/scotch-like flavors - an orange marmalade-like sweetness develops as the beer warms, balancing the spicier qualities - super dry throughout, but quite subtly complex - quite underrated so far.

UPDATED: DEC 19, 2006 First off, this beer really isn’t an IPA. But it is really good. Pours a rather nice deep orange color with a thick and lastning white head. Solid floral hop aroma with light yeast and perhaps a little allspice. Slightly bitter start gives way to an extremely bitter finish. Definitely a solidly hoppy beer but but in the end it has some earthy notes and a light spiciness that really prevents it from being IPA like. Still, I’m rather impressed with this new wave of extra hoppy European beers. Severely underrated. ***At the time of this rating, this beer was categorized as an IPA.

Sample provided by jasonp. Hazy amber body with a large beige head - lasting, nice lace. The nose is lightly sweet and earthy with caramel, berries and hints of darker fruits. The flavor is very vinous with hay, bread dough and cotton candy. Medium body is soft with moderate, gentle carbonation.

750ml bottle vintage dated 2006. Also the label refers to this beer as a Bier de Garde, not a Belgian Strong dark as it is currently listed in the BA database. Pours murky amber with orangy hues. A vibrant, off-white head of three inches swelled up before a slow retreat. Plenty of webbed lacework remains throughout the glass, as well as a solid skim coat on the surface. Aromatics lead off with pink grapefruit, peach skins, oaky tannins, and earthy undertones. Lemon pith, wet hay, and dusty boards follow through along with hints of wet sock and funky cheese. Plenty of acid, earth, and fruit. Light to medium bodied. A creamy and drying mouthfeel. Crispish. Peach pits, grapefruit pith, lemon spritzed grass, and pineapple skins lead off the pallet. Dried apricots, tannic wood, and bitter, dried greens follow through. Finishes with a lingering bitterness, drying oakiness, and peach skins. Very complex with a nice level of tartness. Plenty of acid without being overbearing or sour. Big ups to my SD connection for such a great extra in a trade!

A careful pour produces a clear golden amber colored elixir with a thin bubbly white head that dissipates quickly but leaves a cap on top and some lacing on the sides. Smells of citrus and phenolics, plums, spicy yeast and funk. Taste is tart and fruity with a barnyard edge. Finishes sweet with a bit of astringency and leaves a lingering tart bitterness on the tongue. Crisp carbonation, sticky mouthfeel, medium to thick body. Nice little saison, bier de garde. Tart and fruity I enjoyed this one. If only it wasn’t so pricey.

2006 750 ml bottle. IPA it’s not at all, but it is good, being a unique amalgam of Belgian blonde and saison tastes, with just a tiny hint of lambic sourness. Enjoyable and a bit lemony. If you like this, you’d also like Flemish Primitive.