BFM La Salamandre

Brewed by BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Saignelégier, Switzerland

Serve in Tumbler, Weizen

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Ølfestival Horsens 2006. Straw, modest head. The aroma is very acidic and citrussy with notes of yeast and spice, just like the flavour, where several kinds of citrus are found. I think it’s edgy and too acidic in a harsh way. 1654

Soapy lavender and chamomile in the strong, floral, perfumey aroma. Opaque yellow body is topped by a fine bubbled white head that recedes to cover with some lace. Soapy, floral flavours are joined by a strong wheat character with rather light bitterness. Medium light body with somewhat low carbonation but pleasing texture. Sampled at Mondial 2006.

The pour reveals a hazy blonde color with a thick, frothy white head. Good aroma and flavor of lemon, spices and yeast with a dry finish. A very competent and refreshing witbier.

Hazy pale yellow, big foamy, generous white head looks like meringue. Mild aromas offer a light lactic component that reminds of cream. Soft bananas and dough caress the yeast, all in softness. Soaped up lemon slices and pineapple chunks show up if you dig deeper. All the elements appear gradually, shyly displayed parsimoniously, but the house character shines through, a diplomatic approach with a characteristic fluffy body. Expanding bubbles boost the fruitiness, making for a pleasant fruit salad and a supporting sourness. Finishing quite dry. A fun witbier.

Sample from the bottle (750 ml) at the Mondial de la Bière in Montreal, 2006. Murky-pale yellow gold with a fine large lasting head and lacing....intensely spicy aroma, of cardamom and lemongrass, orangepeel and, later, honey-vanilla and increasingly strong ginger....the mouthfeel belies the sweetness and spiciness, much drier with dominant dry fruitiness (orange and lemonpeel), chewy but subdued pale malt and a strong dried hoppy character throughout....beautiful bitter-sweet-spicy balance, lovely use of herbs, smooth and oh so drinkable....one of the best witbiers I’ve had and like the other beers from BFM, very distinctive.

Hazy light golden ale with a creamy white head. Light lactic acid and barnyard notes, with light skunkyness. Good refreshing malt, with light coriander, mint and good acidity. A good summer wit, original. At the Mondiale, June 2006.

Verre de dégustation, provenant d’une bouteille de 330 ml, dégusté au Mondial de la Bière 2006 (Montréal, QC). Arôme: Odeur d’agrumes et de pins. Apparence: La couleur est blonde pâle voilé avec une moyenne densité de bulle. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de pamplemousse et d’épices. Courte durée de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est mince avec une texture minérale. Forte effervescence en bouche. Présence d’agrumes pétillantes en arrière goût. (Rating #511)

UPDATED: DEC 6, 2007 In short: A bland spicy (coriander mainly) empty witbier
How: Most recent: 330ml bottle through private importation, consumed fresh with a week of receiving it.
The look: Ugly very cloudy dirty yellow body with almost no head
In long: Nose of coriander and banana juice. Very yeasty beer with a very thin body. Lame mouthfeel. Coriander and other salty spices try to hide the fact that there’s not much underneath besides some dry wheat. Light banana/orange juice flavour. Dry without being very tart. Fizzy. Finish leaves a dry salty feeling. The Swiss make very good wristwatches.

At the mondial, hazy yellow white hue, with a rocky white head, yeasty, wheat malt accent, spicy notes, of coriander, ginger, touch of citrus fruits, lemon, grapefruit, and a lactic hint in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with yeasty wheaty character, with a good spicy accent of coriander, ginger, event a hint of vanilla, nice citrus fruits fruitiness, juicy lemon and grapefruit, leading towards a faint dry hops bittering finish.

UPDATED: JAN 14, 2008 Multifaceted herbs pierce the milky dough with their spicy, cakey, floral notes...Bitter citrus fruit process an almost funky, drying finish...Full of personality, complex, drinkable, this one has much to say, and I love listening to it...This eccentric Witbier is ridiculously underrated, imho...