Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien - BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes

DaveHS

California

5/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of my all time favorite beers.
Pours a hazy burgundy, with lots of creamy, lingering head.
Lots of lacing. The nose is packed with earthy brettanomyces funk,
tart fruit, banana and oak. The overall effect is vinous, almost similar
to a cabernet. Mouthfeel is full and sticky. Prickly and tart on the back of the throat. Cherry sweetness and oaky vanilla flavors are first and foremost, followed by light, grainy malts and green grape sweetness. The finish is a fantastic mess of boozy, funky, sour flavors. Totally worth the high price tag.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2010 21:21:08 | More by DaveHS

RixBeer

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

pours a murky brown orange with 2 fingers of head. lots of little yeasties floating around.

Raisin and maybe some plum smells overwhelm with a hint of cocoa. Yeah I said it Cocoa.

Tatses like heaven. Thank you BFM! Sweet raisiny and plum flavors. MMM...this is so damn good. God I wish I had more of these [but for less money].

It's very smooth but has a little kick of alcohol. I love this beer. I can't stop praising its' glory

Very drinkable. But you can only have 1 bottle. Otherwise you'll fall right over! No serious it'll hurt you or someone you love if you don't watch it...

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2008 04:08:01 | More by RixBeer

phisig137

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle number 00276 from the 2004 Vintage, found this on "the list", for those of you that know it.

The incredibly heavy bottle with a nice label pours a murky hazy deep brown mahogany color. Ruby highlights around the edges, and a one finger head make this nice to look at when held to the light. Little retention and no lacing.

Aroma is quite incredible. Outrageously complex vinous notes, roasty chocolate aromas, toffee, alcohol, caramel, dark fruits, and a bit of alcohol. Amazing.

The flavor is everything that the nose is, and more. Hugely complex malt flavors, with slight toffee notes, burnt sugars, tobacco, and leather. Behind that are fruity flavors of overripe plums and figs, backed by an almost tannic wine quality. Every now and then you'll get a little warming surge of vanilla notes that blend in perfectly. Grappa flavors are apparent on the finish... especially as this coasts to room temp from 60°F. Finish is slightly tart and dry, with a long lingering flavor that you can taste a few minutes after your last sip. Without a doubt one of the most complex interesting beers I've had. Mouthfeel is creamy, heavy and smooth. Drinkability is decent, but you're forced to sip it slow... you just don't want it to go away.

Without question, this is one of the highest quality beers that I have ever had the pleasure to drink. But don't buy this thinking that you're getting a standard biere de Garde.... it's much more than that. If you have any wino friends that you're trying to advocate good beer to, this is the one. Supposedly this was one of only twelve bottles that made it into VA. Personally, I feel that it was worth every penny of the $48 that I paid for it. Thanks to Jacob for getting this in.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2007 02:13:23 | More by phisig137

generallee

New York

4.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Presentation: It was poured from a capped green 1pint 9.4oz bottle. The bottle reads hand crafted in 2006 at 11%abv. aged in oak and blended October 07. Also there is what I think is a bottle number or batch number on the neck label that reads 00276.

Appearance: The body has a dark and murky appearance with a dark brownish burgundy color and some lighter reddish high lights. Near the edges of the glass there are some tine bubbles of carbonation. The head is a small, creamy off white layer of foam that slowly fades to just a small ring of tiny bubbles. Lacing is slick and minimal.

Smell: Its aroma has nice tart fruit, funky earthy yeast notes with a hint of oak.

Taste/Mouth: The flavor starts with a semi-sweet malty base with a wonderfully complex mix of dry tart fruit, funky earthy east and wood. Some fruit notes that pop out are sour cherries, dry wine like grapes, and tart apple skins. All these flavors work in perfect harmony and its 11%abv is well hidden. It adds another layer of complexity and mellow warmth to the palate. It has a medium body with a silky light texture and soft carbonation.

Notes: This beer shows outstanding complexity, balance and sophistication. I could sip this all night paired up with a nice plate of fine cheese and fruit.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2009 01:54:27 | More by generallee

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle, 8 oz sample. This one pours a deep burgundy color with a very light head that settles at a ring around the top of the brew. This one has ruby highlites, with no carbonation and is fairly clear. Nice looker. The aroma on this one is big in tanniny oak, light puffs of alcohol, wine-like vinous fruits. Lots of wine character here. The flavor is even more divine. Huge Shiraz spiceyness and oak tannin character. It has a slight sourness, and a mild alcohol. This one is definately barrel aged first, with the beer being secondary to it. Definate notes of light mustyness as well. I really like this a lot. The feel is moderate, with no carbonation. It is pretty dry as well. I am very impressed with this one. It has a lot of really nice red wine character, with enough of the musty and sour character I like from a farmhouse beer. With the 10% ABV, it is detectable, but not at all obtrusive. I think it even adds a nice complexity here. This one was worth the big price tag.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2006 01:27:31 | More by kmpitz2

jmc44

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia. This is the 2005 vintage that clocks in at 15.5% ABV.

Poured a deep ruby color with virtually no head; just a ring of tannish bubbles that quickly dissipated. A nice pleasant color that is attractive but not particularly "beery" looking.

Complex, funky aroma, with a pronounced tartness, some woody notes, earthy, and a bit of alcohol. You can note the aroma of Grappa (from being aged in Grappa barrels), but it is not overwhelming.

Wonderful, complex taste that does a good job hiding the alcohol. Definitely a bit tart, with flavors similar to the aroma; a bit like a saison. Full flavored; a very long lingering finish that is pleasant, coupled with a nice alcohol warming. There are some hints of the grappa in the flavor but it is really quite minimal. I would say the flavors pick up quite a bit from aging in the wine barrels though. Nicely done.

Velvety smooth, and surprisingly easy drinking given its ABV.

Definitely, improves as it warms - bottle says to be served 61-64 degrees. It is certainly best as it nears room temperature. One of the best beers I have ever had, and definitely worth the $35.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2007 13:30:16 | More by jmc44

ccrida

Oregon

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on draft at the Portland International beer fest. While I normally don't review fest samples, this was my 1st tasting on the second day (it went fast on friday and I missed it), I had two 4 oz. tasters, and took good notes. 2005 vintage, at 15.5%.

The appearance was a cloudy dark garnett, with a slight khaki collar. Nice color, but flat looking.

The aroma is great, with lots of depth. Vinous, with sour cherries, oaky vanilla and a bit of must. Very intriguing and appetizing.

The taste is fantastic. My first impression is that I can't believe this is 15.5% alcohol! The flavors are so complex that the booze is completely masked. Vinous and semi sweet, a nice BSPA like grape flavor, some sour cherry tartness, woody with a musty, funky bite that fades to a remarkably clean, dry finish. This one's a real mind blower, it has all my favorite belgian atributes rolled up into one fantastic beer .

The mouthfeel is light and luscious. Once again, I can't believe this is 15.5% ABV.

This was super drinkable for me, as it is one of the best beers I've had the fortunate opportunity to try, ever! Of course, since it's very strong and rich, you sip it slow and savor ever drop. But drinkability is not the same as chugability to me, but the enjoyableness of the experience, as well as how approachable it is. In this case, it was supremely enjoyable and a brew that I can't imagine any wine or beer drinking not being impressed with. Oh what I wouldn't do to have a big ol' stockpile of this down in the cellar to crack into at will!

I alway try to score to style, but this one is in a category of it's on, so I just went on general impression. To me it was a cross between a BSDA and a Flanders Red, certainly not a Bière de Garde.

One of the best beers of all time. I've got to find bottles of this!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2007 20:25:17 | More by ccrida

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 2006 bottle...The color burgundy, could be confused for a glass of wine if it wasnt for all of the haze, with active, bubbly off-white head. Smell is of a high quality red wine, american oak, backed by some tart, sour and funky notes... wonderful. The scent is done right by the taste, a pronounced, but delicate acidic and tart wine charachter backed by the touches of hay, oak, earth, grain and funk. Amazing taste. Medium bodied, dry, better as the carbonation settles. A very wonderful beer... easliy comparably to RR Consecration, a bit more mild without the added currants. Would love to experience other years.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 13:30:25 | More by rfgetz

blackie

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: served in a small thistle style glass, the beer is a deep amber in color, opaque, with a well retained layer of carbonation and some lace

s: gorgeous aroma, listed on the menu as a sour and that side really shows here - lots of tart/sour both bacterial and fruity, some dark vinous tannins and boozy spirits, woody oak, a sweet grainy malt side, rich and powerful but artfully balanced

m: carbonation low, light-medium body, smooth

t: loads of sweet-sour fruits, vinous tannic flavors, fruity/sweet malts well offset by a rich funk, solidly oaky, bacterial tart and sour cherry edges, benign aged hops, lightly sweet booze, complex and delicious

d: love this - loads of rich barrel and fruit character with a solid sour/funk throughout, drinks incredibly well for an 11 percent beer

consumed at Thirsty Monk, Asheville

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2011 03:04:53 | More by blackie

YankChef

Louisiana

4.8/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle poured into a tulip glass

Appearance: hazy ruby red with a rust like haze in it. Foamy white head that unfortunately dissipates very quickly.

Aroma: Funky cheese is the first thing that comes to mind like some really stinky brie rind, there is also some fruit such as cherry

Taste: Well I would say this tastes like a flemish sour actually, strong sourness although not on the same level as rodenbach GC with some fruit in there as well, oh so very complex why does this beer have to be so damn expensive...

Overall: This is an amazing beer that is ideal to put in front of a wine snob and say oh yea? beer can't be as complex as wine can it. I thank the beer gods (along with the brewer) for crafting this delicious liquid

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 06:31:50 | More by YankChef

champ103

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A 2007 bottle.

A: Pours a dark reddish brown color. A two finger beige head forms at first, but recedes after a minute. Lace is left in patches around the glass.
S: At first tart fruits are strong and up front. Apples and cherries are great. Toasted malt, bread, and biscuit. A lingering Oak aroma finishes everything off. Excellent.
T: Lots of tart fruits that are amazing. Apples, and chocolate covered cherries. There is a spiciness here as well. Toasted malt, bread, and oak finishes everything off again. Lots of layers that are just awesome.
M/D: A medium to full body. Fairly effervescent. Perfectly crisp, dry, and clean. So easy to drink for the high alcohol. About as easy as it gets for 11%. Beyond no alcohol presents, this is just a treat to drink. I don't want the bottle to end.

An amazing beer. BFM always makes something exceptional. Add one more to their list of awesomeness. An experience and a treat. Pick some up if you ever see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 00:44:10 | More by champ103

Risser09

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

2005 vintage shared graviously by mughugger. Thanks Karen.

Appearance: The first pour reveals some head but my taset was left with hardly any at all. The beer itself is dark copper in color with lace lingering around the miniscus.

Smell: Oaky and full of an alcohol aroma. I can already tell this is going to be a treat. Raisins, plums, orange marmalade and fresh ground pepper smack me in the face.

Taste: Outstanding. Initially oak and sour funk. I soon realize that the sour funk is probably the grapes/wine aged in the barrels previously before bottling. Raisins, old plum and berries, cabernet and other complex wine-like flavors.

Mouthfeel: Awesome. Plenty of oaky dryness and alcohol tingle. Quite sweet and watery in the mouthfeel. Begs to be paired with a savory meat like lamb.

Drinkability: This reminds me of a big, bold cabernet. The drinkability is great. I can't see myself refusing something so complex and bold. This was probably an expensive bottle, but seek it out if you wish.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2007 13:00:02 | More by Risser09

WilliamD

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I got this bottle at Dennis Brothers, the only liquor store in MN I have ever seen it (the 2005 brew, that is).
I popped the cap off and poured it into a snifter. Looks quite nice- a copper color with a slight reddish hue. Poured flat- no head whatsoever. At this point, the run-of-the-mill meathead would spit and drive home somewhat sullen, his index finger rigid over the steering wheel, poised for the play button on his DVD player, wherein Girls Gone Wild awaited.
The smell was pleasant.
The first sip seemed a bit harsh, but after a few more sips, my palate warmed to the wonderfully exquisite taste of this great beer. This beer is much akin to a wine, in my opinion. At about the same ABV, it has the same pleasant warming sensation that a red wine has. The taste is slightly sour, with a warm, wonderully complex aftertaste. I think I served it to myself a bit too cold, but no worry- I bought another bottle yesterday, and will make sure to serve it properly in the future.
Mouthfeel is great. I hate this part. It feels like a liquid in my mouth, except it is slightly different because it contains alcohol, which my mouth particularly enjoys-or at least that is what I have coerced it into believing.
The drinkability is an exceptionally strong point. For how strong it is, it wasn't overwhelming. It drank like a good wine. As I said, I bought another bottle, which should say enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2009 05:19:14 | More by WilliamD

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2006 bottle (blended October 07), purchased for $22.99 cheap at Merchant's Fine Wines last year. The label has what turns out to be an excellent description of the beer on it, a rare touch: "Amazing nose of fruits & spices. Slightly sour with very long aftertaste. Low carbonation."

The beer is a murky brown color, turgid with loads of floaters and a thin film of foam. The fruit in the aroma tends towards apple, and I get spices and yeasty esters. The taste is earthy and spicy, with a sour aftertaste. I can taste a hint of alcohol but nothing objectionable. Low carbonation and light-medium body, very drinkable. A little burn in my stomache from the 11% ABV.

This beer is definitely worth the $23, not something to get too often but worth it once in a while. If I see it again that is.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 01:48:19 | More by TurdFurgison

olympuszymurgus

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A beautiful tulip at the Muddy Pig. Opaque red/brown with a driven snow head that drops fast into a ring of saintly white.

My nose is sticken with an assault of lactic acid, tart cherries, grapefruit, pineapple, an indescribably fruit cocktail of acid and sweet and sexy. Taste is deep caramel, a dry caramel, a decidedly robust and mature toffee coating deep acidic fruit.

Low carbonation for a tap brew fits perfectly, the brew appears nearly still but hits the mouth with a bright clarity of purpose. Why can't this be served everywhere? by the quart? for free?

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 18:35:49 | More by olympuszymurgus

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.73/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle served in a snifter glass.

2011 Edition.

A: Pours a light and bit fuzzy amber color forming a small yellow bubbled head witb small retention and only few spotty lacings left in the glass

S: Absolutely delicious in the nose. Sweet grains, wood, grapes, wild yeasts. A bit sour and vinegar but not agressive

T: Slightly sweet upfront. Fruity and woody. Notes of sweet malts, dark fruits, mainly grapes. Wild Lambic like yeasts. In overall a slightly sweet sour beer. Hops bitterness is also there to make it perfect

M: Medium molasses body. Low carbonation. Sour aftertaste

O: Excellent drinkability. Perfect beer. Close to a Flanders Red Ale, I would dare. Even better than the 2010 version

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 06:58:33 | More by eduardolinhalis

nkurz129

Washington

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I tried this yesterday at the Seattle International Beerfest. It is really hard to pin down what exactly was going on with it. First of all, it pours a translucent brown with a reddish tint to it. The tan head disappears almost instantly. Smelling it, one gets a wiff of fruit before beer, kind of an apple-grape mixture. There is no bite to it, the taste being incredibly smooth, and it feels almost like champagne on the tongue. Really toes the line between sparkling wine and beer. Aside from being exorbitantly pricey, manages to be a very drinkable beer despite the slight sourness and overall conglomerate of tastes.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2006 16:26:33 | More by nkurz129

MABZ

Nebraska

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2005 vintage, clocking in at 15.5% ABV. This is amazing. Drinks like it's about 4.

The beer pours to a slightly hazy, peachy amber color. No apparent carbonation and very small head. No retention. No lacing. With a beastly 15.5% ABV, I don't really expect these things, however.

The smell is great. Very light sour aroma bearing some great fruity esters. The oak aroma is intense. A light vanilla and coconut, but mostly saw dust.

The taste is unbelievable. Very smooth. For such a huge beer, it seems fairly dry. It seems the bugs have been quite busy eating sugars over the past few years, though I would think it would have more of a pronounced sourness. The oak really rounded this one out very nicely. Not even a hint of alcohol. If I didn't know better, I would think this was alcohol free. Surely not 15.5% ABV! Light tart funk up front, very clean. No vinegar and low acidity. Light juicy sweetness with a dry oaky finish. The aftertaste drops off almost immediately. Doesn't have that warming effect that often comes hand in hand with beers over 10 percent.

The body is surprisingly thin. Silky smooth. Rounded out nicely in the oak. Little carbonation to speak of. Not even a hint of alcohol. Would be just as refreshing in the heat of summer as in the cold of winter. Highly recommended if you can get your mitts on this rare gem.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2007 04:30:11 | More by MABZ

Beerzebub

District of Columbia

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, "blended in October 2007", "00276", "11% alc./vol.", poured in a big wine glass at 56 F/ 13 C.

Brilliant red-amber color, small beige head. Very finely textured lace. Subsequent glasses are impenetrably hazy.

Powerful sour, sweet, savory, fruity, vegetal, funky aroma, like tart musty berries, mincemeat pie, barnyard, tomato, avocado, dried banana, and brown apple. Wild, complex, and captivating. Continuously changing aroma, very much like walking through a Vietnamese grocery store.

Tastes sour, sweet, savory, vegetal, and mineral, like tart, musty, sweet berries and dried apricot, with mincemeat, leather, and gravel. Oxidized flavor like brown apples emerges, along with a vegetal flavor, like the smell of a tomato plant. Bitterness associated with the vegetal and mineral elements, sweetness like fruit juice, and acid are all very well balanced. Fruit, gravel, and plant linger for a while, sweet, bitter and tart, with dry bitter gravel finishing last.

Smooth superfine carbonation, with some grippy acidity and minerality. Highly drinkable, over the course of an hour and a half.

Strange and wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 08:25:41 | More by Beerzebub

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle provided by the ever generous nchrist13 at a recent Madison BA tasting.

Sample size: perhaps 6-8 oz (I kind of helped myself to the lions share of this one, sorry other Madison BAs). I must get some more of this in a trade to try again and expand on this review. Poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Wine like Burgundy but displaying ruby/copper hues when held directly to light more reminiscent of beer. Thick off white head when agitated that settles to a thin skim. Easily reagitated to a healthy looking foam.

Nose: Upfront about the barrel aging aspect that brings forth a funky, acidic, tannin rich woodiness. Strongly vinous smells of dark fruits but equally aromatic amounts of sour/tart cherries, think Supplication meets NG Belgian Red. Also precent is a background spiciness that mixes with dirt and sawdust to give this dog a really nice solid base. I got teary eyed when I smell this beer (no joke).

Taste: Style limitations be damned, this is the Best Biere de Garde of all times. Bordeaux dark fruit vinous flavors. Cherry background sourness. Earth, moss, damp wood. Much less acidic then I would have guessed from the nose. Mild amounts of caramel and vanilla. Musty.

Mouthfeel: Sublime. Vinous with mild carbonation and acidity. Light but fulfilling sourness. Woody. Medium bodied. Dry finish.

Drinkability: Perfect.

I owe Nick big time for this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2007 16:46:35 | More by DaPeculierDane

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

gorgeous burgundy color, small, soon gone head...

aroma: port wine, sherry, sour and funky, sour cherries, nearly lambic-like, ...deep and lovely, urgin me to drink...

amazing! so many layers of flavor, there's the snap, there's the mellow fruit, lots of cherries, grape, ...there's the bitter twang, the sour smack, ...it's wine, it's whiskey, it's a liqueur, ...it's an ale. And when it hits, it's transformative, sends shudders throught the senses....once it hits the lips, it's sooo goood!

Ever since I first tasted this, never having heard of it, when Brad the Beerguy brought a bottle to Town Hall and I happened to be at the bar, he shared a little with me, another client, and Mike Hoops, ...I loved this amazing mix of gorgeous flavors. Sop few bottles, so expensive, showed up at so few stores, so far away from me. What was that, two years ago....or does it seem that long ago? And then there's the expense....$20+? Well, if this damn good, isn't it worth the expense? If there's nothing quite like...yes.

Juicy, fruity, uplifting, ...lovely, lovely, lovely...break this out at dinner with wine loving friends, and see how they react when you tell them it's beer...from Switzerland...made by cats!

15.%...not that huge in wine circles, but for beer...not so scary, either...fairly even handed...relax, it's only beer...mmmm, beer...

how many barrels was this one in? Merlot, merlot cabernet, grappa, whiskey???....I don't know, but it's beautiful...absolutely...

the Swiss French Belgian beer like wine made by cats who are saints but are named after dogs! Gotta love it!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2007 07:28:08 | More by feloniousmonk

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Biergotter brewday beer drinking marathon, grub cracked this bottle!

Pours a hazy red/orange, thin white head forms, leaves some decent lace spots, settles to a solid ring, looks okay. Smell is great, sour, cherries, caramel and sweet malts, oak, bread, yeast, very complex and enjoyable aroma. Taste is earthy, lots of fruit, caramel, strawberries, sugars, oak, alcohol is superbly hidden, nice sour fruits, great. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with silky medium to low carbonation, super smooth, no way you can tell this is 15.5%. Fantastic beer, thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2008 05:04:06 | More by Viggo

Bananaman

Sweden

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to my friend Ljunkan for sharing! This has got to be one of the most interesting and inspring beers I've tried. I love sour ale/lambik/kriek and whatnot, but sometimes they may be a bit "single sided", but this is just brilliant!

The beer pours a deep brown/red color with a small and dissapearing white foam. Not too nice apperance actually, but hey, it's the taste that matters? Right?

Aroma holds lots of nice notes of sour berries, wine, oak and some nice hints of green apples. But also hints of other funky things, almost some aroma that feels like blue cheese. Amazing smell anyway!

The taste doesn't dissapoint either! Lots of thos earlier mentioned sour berries, but also unmature gooseberries and other nice things, also it is a bit oaky. The beer is extremely dry, but still well balanced. Amazing!

An extremely well-crafted and inspiring brew! More stuff like this, please!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 13:45:42 | More by Bananaman

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a review of the 2004 edition of L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien that I found on-tap at Sergio's World Beers.

A: Pours a relatively clear amber with a thin, minimal white mousse that does not stick around all that long.

S: Aromas of mixed fruit, oak, vinegar, and lactic yeast are very present on the nose. The powerful, vinegary scent of this beer reminds me of Flemish oud bruins and red ales.

T: Hugely complex on the palate with notes of oak, cider vinegar, sweet 'n' sour, lactic yeast, port, and a melange of fruits, hinting at gooseberries, elderberries, blueberries, tart cherries, blackberries, and pomegranate. The finish is warming, complex, and sour with notes of tart fruits, oak, and port.

M: Full bodied and very gently carbonated. It is a bit livelier than I would expect, but that is not a knock. There is no alcohol burn whatsoever. For such a complex, challenging ale, it is very satisfying and goes down smoothly.

O: This is not really a beer; it is more of an experience than anything else. If you ever have the opportunity to try any vintage of this beer on-tap, do so. The beer is much livelier and much more vibrant on-tap than out of the bottle, making it easier for the reviewer to separate all of the flavors. In the end, this was a great drinking experience, and one that every beer fan would do well to seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 13:41:09 | More by mrfrancis

Wadian

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this 2009 Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien in a 750c bottle from Les Halles in Zurich on April 13, 2012.

A: Amber with short-lived cream colored head. No obvious sediment.

S: The oak and tannins from the cask aging were evident, rich and funky. Dark fruits, wood, hints of sweet malt.

T: Rich malt gave way to sherry, hardwood, sour apple and stone fruit. As the beer warmed slightly, vanilla and spice appeared, mitigating the sourness. Really, really delicious.

M: Slightly carbonated, which was surprising. Bright on the tongue, but some body remained - not totally thin. Good complement to the fruit tang of the beer.

Overall: Excellent. The 2009 seems to be ideal right now. I'll save my bottle of 2010 until this time next year...

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 21:16:31 | More by Wadian