BFM La Dragonne

Brewed by BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Saignelégier, Switzerland

Serve in Lager glass, Tumbler

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01-Apr-07 (750 ml bottle: Purchased 10-Jan-07 for $16.99 at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) Since the brewers recommend mulling this beer, I will drink half the bottle at about 50 degrees F and mull the rest. While the beer mulls in a creatively designed approximation of a double boiler, let’s see how this beer fares when cold. Aromas of licorice and sweet spice cake are pleasant, but not very beerlike. Taking the first sip, a cornucopia of flavors explode in the mouth, but all seem closely related rather than offering a wide spectrum of disparate flavors. Strong notes throughout of licorice, dark rum, cloves, prunes, molasses, and brown sugar, with a mild, citric tartness soon joining in at mid-palate, and a hint of smoke emerging in the finish. Frankly, this tastes and smells like a half-shot of Jägermeister was dropped in the glass. It doesn’t give the warming sensation of high alcohol, but because it reminds me of Jäger, I’m fighting the false impression of booziness. This is a very sweet beer and it’s a fairly sugary sweetness, so it does get a bit cloying after awhile, but that obviously isn’t bothering me as I’m surely going to finish off the entire bottle without assistance from friends. The heavy sweetness gives the impression of full body, but on closer reflection, it’s more syrupy than full-bodied. Carbonation is extremely light for a nearly flat mouthfeel, so this further suggests mulling might be appropriate. Extremely dark-brown in color and fully opaque, there is a slight translucence only at the extreme edge, but not a significant lightening of the color. Tilting the glass leaves a slight residue on the sides. Of course, there is no head, even when first poured, so not only does it smell and taste like Jägermeister, it looks like it too. Okay, the beer has finished mulling, so it’s time to compare.

When mulled, the beer really shows its true potential: it’s still wonderfully spicy and very sweet, but it’s considerably less sugary and more malty and chocolaty, the tartness is more cherry-like and is more prominent, and the finish is roasty and quite smoky. In some ways, I feel like I’m drinking a spiced version of a Scotch Ale. Another important difference is the tartness is actually mildly acidic from attack to finish, so not only is the flavor more balanced, but so is the palate, and that translates into a sweet beer that isn’t cloying. Acidity is imperative in a well-balanced wine, and it works just the same here. I still have the impression of a warm alcoholic drink, vaguely like those Hot Toddies my parents gave me when I was ill, but certainly doesn’t taste boozy. The beer has also lost the opaque quality it had when cold: it’s a lighter-colored brown and is translucent at a depth of one inch. I enjoyed this beer when cool, but mulled is definitely the way to go. I know $17 is rather pricy (for beer), but I would absolutely love to share a mulled bottle on a cold evening with friends who aren’t beer drinkers. I think it would be a huge hit.

Dark brown with lighter edges. Gingerbread, sinnamon, toffee--like a good Yorkshire sticky parkin. Interesting flavor, good richness. Not especially thick in the mouth for palate. Interesting!

Sampled at the RBSG 07 Grand Tasting. Dark brown color but holy smokes, this thing tastes and smells like a Christmas medley of spices.

Bottle from State Line. The pour was a deep burnt umberish blackberry winish color with very little head that disiipated quickly. The aroma was great, a big mix of apple, pear, blackberry, honey, cinnamon, cardamom, juniper, and slight dark chocolate hints. The palate had very little carbonation, and was pretty sweet, providing flavor notes that reminded me of a half and half mixture of apple and blackberry wines, with some cinnamon, cardamom, plum, and honey braggot thrown in for good measure. As a beer, this one is unique and very good; as a wine, I think it is even better.

Sampled May 2007
Well I did not serve this hot as I was supposed to, so as a compromise I have served it at a warm room temperature of about 72ºF (22ºC). As advertised the beer is quite still, it pours with a dark, opaque, blackened purple amber color. The aroma has a woody spice character to it reminiscent of a root beer or spruce beer. Notes of orange syrup, cinnamon, anise, allspice, sassafras and some cola-like cardamom are noticeable as are a lot of other spice notes that one would generally associate with a dark, sweet, rich spice cake / bread. Concentrated fruit notes that smell quite berry like, perhaps similar to blueberries, touches of cherry brandy, and figs, but ultimately probably a product of the juniper berries. The aroma of this must absolutely explode when heated up as it is incredibly aromatic already.

Only lightly sweet, but it is enough to accentuate the juniper berry flavors up front. There is actually very little, it any bitterness here at all and this tends to accentuate the natural sweetness of this brew. Cola-like flavors of cardamom mix with something that reminds me of Dr. Pepper; in fact Dr. Pepper flavors are quite an apt descriptor for the character of this brew. Without any carbonation this beer is fairly light feeling, it has the same heft as a lightly sweet port does, it even has some flavors reminiscent of port. Orange peel is noticeable as well, but it seems muddy, perhaps caramelized or even approaching a browned orange character, if that makes sense.

An interesting beer, it certainly would be appropriate as a mulled beverage after a long day on the slopes, but I am not sure if it really fits in to my lackluster lifestyle. Still it is enjoyable and is certainly worth trying.

750. Thanks Dave. The beer pours to a dark cola colored body with a non-existent head. The aroma is sick! Like some dude poured and entire spice rack into a small mash. Cinnamon, anise, more cinnamon, gingerbread, allspice, and cardamom. The flavor is extremely spicy. Cinnamon, cardamom, stale coffee, cloves. Very strange. The bitterness is strong and the palate is sweet.

Sampled cold and hot. Black body. Big spicy aroma - cinnamon, molasses, chocolate, apple, and white pepper. The flavor has a strong cinnamon apple vibe with molasses, nutmeg and cinnamon on top. Sweet finish. Weird stuff, a bit over the top.

Pours a flat-looking root beer color. Fully spiced aroma of mostly gingerbread cookies. Is this allspice in the flavor. Dry allspice or something and sweet cinnamon... and something that reminds me of the dentist. Maybe cinnamon Act. Now that someone mentions cardamom... that’s what I get too. A little sweet.... interesting idea.

Deep cloudy brown color not much head and no lacing. Very well spiced ale sweet gingerbread house aroma first touches of cinamon a hint of anise and some coriander and clove. Interesting. Avg to light palate coated alright and finished warm. Flavor is very well spiced lots of ginger and pie crust some apple and pumpki, cinnamon, cloves some thick syrups and a touch of alcohol to boot. Interesting and nice.

This is most assuredly one of those beers you want to do a little research on before randomly grabbing a bottle and cracking it open on a warm spring morning. I’ve had other "winter ales" and big stouts on warm days, but none struck me as being so out of place as today’s choice.

No hiss upon lifting the crown and the scent that greeted me was intensely that of apple pie. A pour brought forth what appeared to be a port wine, deep, dark and still with such a minimal head as to go unnoticed. Spiced dark fruits abound in the aroma with raisin and molasses, cinnamon and ginger with a strong anise presence blanketing all. Thick, sticky, syrupy palate... soothing and coating my not-so-chilly throat and gullet in a sugary glaze. Sweet and richly spiced with a savory quality that causes me to salivate. At times, this is like Jagermiester with honey and a splash of prune juice. And while I rather enjoyed it, La Dragonne is most definitely a drink to be enjoyed on cold, blustery days... days very much unlike today.

<font size=-4>750ml bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/chicag Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL 60618</font>