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

Jonada

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12.68oz bottle brewed in 2011. Blend 6

Appearance: Murky red-brown color with almost no head. Large off white colored bubbles form a colar around the edges of the glass.

Smell: Tart, acidic, sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, grape. This smells more like a Flanders Red.

Taste: Tart cherries, oak, lactic sourness. Booze is hidden extremely well at 11%.

Mouthfeel: Light, dry, low carbonation. Gentile warming sensation in the back of the throat.

Overall: Excellent sour. Extremely complex and flavorful. I would consider this more of a Flanders Red than a Biére de Garde though. Glad I got the chance to try this.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:48:20 | More by Jonada

Immortale25

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at The Local Miami. Served in a Palm snifter.

A- A rubyish light brown with a 1/4 inch off-white head that doesn't retain much before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small patch of surface foam.

S- Very sweet and boozy with a sharp fume of cleaner-like astringency. Sour cherry notes.

T- Swift kick of booze that mellows out into notes of dark fruit and toasty malts. A lot of sweetness that seems to be cooperatively attributed to the high alcohol, yeast and fruitiness. Also some notes of oak and a tartness that's very welcome among the myriad of flavors and strength of the booze.

M- Very thin and dry but also sticky. Medium-low carbonation and a fullish body.

O- Wowee. This'll put hair on your chest. Not high on the drinkability scale, but it's good for when you want a slow sipper to contemplate with or enjoy while having a one-on-one intimate conversation with a friend.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 03:19:46 | More by Immortale25

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2006 Vintage poured from a 750ml bottle into tulip glass

A - Beautiful light ruby red color with a very small head that dissipates quickly. There is actually some really nice carbonation on this bottle for it being over 6 years old too...

S - Tart cherries, vinegar, spices, herbs

T - Nice sour cherry flavor up front. Followed by some earthy oak-like flavors, and it finishes with some herbal / spices that are hard to identify. TONS of flavors going on and very complex. On a sourness scale of 1 to 10 I would give this a 6 too.

M - Light, dry, crisp mouthfeel which complements the flavors well.

O - The price tag was a little steep (I think it was $27), but this is a world class beer that I would suggest giving a go if you are looking for something unique and complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 14:28:45 | More by cnbrown313

sbauer

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a 37.5cl bottle. Brewed in 2011, bottled in 2012. Aged in white wine oak barrels.

A: Beautiful ruby, amber appearance. Minimal lacing and head.

S: Cherry, vanilla, herbal.

T: Young cherry tart, oak vanilla, herbal bitters balanced nicely with the tartness. Green bell pepper. Long-lasting flavor sticks around.

M: Full bodied. Coats the mouth.

O: Very complex oak-aged ale, lots to taste, would avoid pairing with food given the complexity and stand-alone qualities.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 19:29:05 | More by sbauer

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brewed 2010, Blended 2011. Poured from a 750 ml into a Lost Abbey chalice.

A- pours a dark pink with a 1 finger tan head. Some bubbles and dripping lacing remain on the glass.

S- cherries, deep vinous notes, earthy.

T- tart cherries, bitter and earthy vinous notes, orange peel, alcohol.

M- medium body and carbonation. Smooth start with a dry, boozy finish.

O- 5/10 sourness. More bitter, vinous notes than tart or sour notes. Not sure ifi would spend the money for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 03:47:23 | More by kawilliams81

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at holy grale Louisville ky. 2009 vintage. Not sure if this is the correct listing...menu says this was aged in a mixture of 11 diff wine barrels...
Look is a deep brown amber with thin rim of head. Aromas of raison, grape vine, oak and dried fruity earth. Taste is superb...raisony dried fruit, cherry fruit, oak and wine. Wow.
It is just superb bitter and sweet mellow. This is fantastic!

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 23:16:18 | More by DrinkSlurm

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Birch.

A - A dark amber color and cloudy.

S - Rich, sour, orange smells. Very robust.

T - Powerful and explosive flavors.

M - Terroir? You bet.

Overall - If you love sour beers, you will love this. If you don't, you will likely still appreciate it. Sours are an acquired taste, and this one is well done. Not my favorite stylew, but wow.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 23:26:29 | More by Beer-A-Lot

CloudStrife

New York

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle split and poured into a snifter. 2007 vintage. Bottle 00276

A: Pours a hazy copper ruby with a 1 finger off white head. Quick to dissipate it doesn't leave any real lacing.

S: Port wine like smell with a sour twist. Very fruity, oaky and boozy. Fruits are like a fermented dark cherry.

T: Like the smell this is very much like a port in flavor with a great sour twist. Has really had a chance to age gracefully. Very complex beer here. Goes down with one flavor and has an intense tartness after swallowing. Love it.

M: Not a lot of carbonation left in this one. Still a very dry finish. Very warming and certainly a sipper. Real nice feel, makes you want to sip on it all night.

Overall an amazing beer I am very glad I could try. One of the most complex things I have ever tasted. Sweet like a great oak aged beer yet still very sour and tart.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 00:48:17 | More by CloudStrife

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter at Local Option.

2011 vintage. I've been eying this beer (at least mentally) for years, so I'm pouncing on it here at LO while I can. It pours a hazy copper-amber topped by a half-finger of glowing lightly off-cream-white foam. The nose comprises red wine vinegar, buttery toffee, light walnut, almond, and spicy greens. There's a lot going on here in the aroma, including a few things I can't quite put into words properly. Suffice it to say it's sour, lightly buttery, lightly nutty, and lightly spicy. The taste brings in more of the same (with the same sort of complexity), with the vinegar coming through as more of a citric-ish sourness. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda lightly gooey feel. Overall, a very nice, highly complex beer, one that's a struggle to wrap my brain around, and I'm all the happier for it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2012 18:18:51 | More by TMoney2591

Durge

Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A rare gem once again procured from The Lion's Pride in Brunswick, Maine. This vintage 2010 brew has a hazy brown color with rusty edges, a polite scattering of off-white bubbles that surround an inner island on top, leaving a respectable lace. The aroma offers a beautiful blend of tart red wine and deep, woodsy malt and intense yeast. A beer you can enjoy just smelling. Wow. The flavor follows with a deliberate lemon sweet tart and briney brown bread malt. Absolutely to be savored! Suggestions of a nice chianti tempered by the deep earthy malt and lemony sweetness. This is so divinely balanced: sweet, tart, seaweed, mellow, sharp. And goes down so easy but you don't want to rush these flavors. There's an underlying vanilla that pushes the malt and other complexities tease the senses. Body is medium-plus, with a somewhat heavy feel, with low carbonation, but just right for this brew. I'm highly pleased and would say this was one of the best flavorfests I've enjoyed for many months. Don't pass on this if you are a fan of the sour/Flanders side of beer love!

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 03:34:06 | More by Durge

marlinsfan4

Maryland

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

Had on tap at Max's in Baltimore. Saw it advertised on the beer list as a "Swiss sour/wild ale"... never heard of that style, so felt I just had to try it. I was not disappointed in the least bit, this was one the best tasting beers I may have had in my life. High alcohol, but completely hidden, superb balance and mouthfeel, fantastic sour and cherry flavors, goes down way too smooth. Was a struggle to just drink it slowly, this one packed a flavor punch and was dangerously good.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2012 18:54:55 | More by marlinsfan4

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this 2007 edition up in Buffalo. First glass pours a semi-clear dark brown/amber with little head. Second pour was a murky amber/brown with little head again. Tastes sour, with dark fruits, and slight oak coming through in the finish. You can't taste the booze, but you can tell its there with each sip. Not a bad beer overall consider its quite a few years old. Its a sipper, but its not harsh. Would love to try it fresh.

Picked up a coule 2007 vintage bottles. The first bottle caught me by suprise with the big alcohol percentage, so I wasn't quite prepared. The second bottle a few months later however, was tasting delicious. Pours a slightly cleark, murky amber brownish colour. The last pour was hazy with sediment at the bottom. Got about 3 glasses from each bottle. Tastes tart, with cherries and oak coming through with a nice sour mouthfeel. I love licking my lips after each drink of this. This beer aged incredibly well. can't believe I am drinking almost 6 year old beer! Good stuff, a bit pricey though.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 23:58:37 | More by WeedKing4

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle labeled 2010 bottled 2011 #00276
purchased from Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont MA.
Served in Chouffe Tulip

No sound to cap. Beer poured completely still and viscous. They do mention low carbonation on the bottle. Really bizarre looking - no head, murky amber color. I am a little alarmed by the appearance. There is a lot of yeast at the bottom even though it has no carbonation.

Smells fantastic. Dark fruit yeast and a kick of acidity to the nose. Barrel and barrel aged yeast are very present in the aroma. Spicy yeast aroma. I am now less discouraged.

Rich flavor. Nice acid touch at the end. Odd to have sweetness in a sour beer. Works nicely though. Lots of caramel malt, spicey yeast mixed with souring agents, aged in tasty wood barrels. I would have enjoyed a little carbonation. It tastes like it was sugared but didn't bottle condition. The 11% ABV hides that well though.

I am very surprised I enjoyed this beer after watching it pour. Different beer than most. Reminds me of what I imagine ancient beer tasting like. Full of yeast complexity (& yeast), lots of ingredients and low carbonation. However the ABV is probably something proto-beer drinkers didn't experience.

Flavor profile reminds me more of a Flanders Red or a Bruin rather than a Beer De Guard.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 22:05:25 | More by mlazzaro

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle, 2009 vintage. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a reddish/brown color with a very thin light tan head that fizzed away immediately. There's a small amount of lacing. The aroma is nice and tart, it smells like vinegar, red wine, oak, tart cherries and some plums. Taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, but with the addition of some lemon. Mouthfeel/body is medium, with low/moderate carbonation. I think this is a good overall brew, but I wouldn't buy it again anytime soon because it's pricey ($22.99 a bottle). With that being said, it's worth trying if you've never had it before.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 21:46:20 | More by bluejacket74

beer2day

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Single most expensive beer I have ever purchased ... by a wide margin. Purchased at River City Cellars in Richmond.

2006 vintage. Blended October, 2007. Stamped with 00276 on cap seal, but that seems to be a common number in other reviews and years so I'm not sure exactly what that number means.

Hazy Flemish red pour with 2 fingers of fizzy reddish cream head. Disappears fairly quickly, though, and I'm getting very little lace in my glass. Active carbonation. Very active.

Nose is complex. Oak, red wine, red wine vinegar, aged red meat (I'm stuck on red), sweet cherries and grapes all combine to draw you in. Very nice.

Flavor mimics the nose, with the red wine vinegar and oak taking center stage. Very tart and sour. The sweet cherries from the nose get very tart and dry on the tongue. An arid finish rounds things out. Very sour and very dry.

Feel is hard to describe. Very active, audible carbonation does not translate to a fizzy feel. Not syrupy, but still thick. Slightly resiny, but understated. Compliments the flavors well.

Not my favorite style, but this one was very nice. Still not sure it was worth the money, but a very nice treat.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 02:21:33 | More by beer2day

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. Brewed in 2009 by Jérôme Rebetez, blended in October 2010. Stamped 00276.

A: No head tops this tawny, red-amber, translucent, murky beer, but there are traces of lacing. Pretty!

S: A scent in which it is a pleasure to indulge. Deep, oaken vinegars remind me of the finest balsamics. Slightly spicy and very pleasant. Bright fruit and red wine. It reminds me the Rodenbach Grand Cru, a bit.

T/M: Wow! Quite tart and unexpectedly puckery. For such a mild nose, this taste packs a lot of funk. Sour fruit, intense esters, and not much malt base. Lemon juice, light oak, and an occasionally unpleasantly tannic quality. A touch of noticeable nobleish hops. It mellows as it warms -- or maybe my tongue just gets used to it -- but it becomes less mouth-puckering and more spicy.

O: Not quite as good as I remember it on tap, but still pretty exceptional. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys sour ales of any stripe. I might should have let this one age a while, but temptation got the best of me.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 04:13:21 | More by AgentMunky

claspada

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky, mahogany-hued color a slim, beige ring of foam that quickly recedes leaving minimal lacing.

Aroms begin with grainy pilsner maltiness with some lightly tart fruits, hint of lemon and plenty of strong phenolics.

The tastes follow the nose with the same crackery pilsner malts with some complementary light light toasted malt charcter. No real sweetness to it. As it warms the funky phenols are build up with various fruit flavors and tartness. Some cherries, non-identified berries and a small burst of lemon. Oak character throughout.

The mouthfeel is medium-plus bodied with medium-high carbonation. The lively effervescence gives a nice fluffiness with a dry, warming, phenolic tart finish.

Overall I enjoyed this beer but it did not wow me in any way shape or form. The flavors seemed mellowed and slighly muddled together and the aroma was less than impressive. For the cost I would seek something else.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 17:39:26 | More by claspada

metter98

New York

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is rather hazy brownish red in color and resembles apple cider a bit. It poured with a thin beige head that quickly died down, leaving lacing on the surface and a collar of large bubbles around the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of apples, grapes and oak in the nose; this becomes stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has complex and interesting flavors of fruity yeast—apples seem to stand out in particular. There are also some hints of oak and green grapes.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation. The finish is rather dry.
O: This is a very enjoyable biere de garde. The oak barrel aging definitely adds some complexity to the flavors.

Note: 2010 vintage

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 20:12:18 | More by metter98

GilGarp

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brewed in 2006, blended in April 2007. Bottle #00276.

Served slightly chilled into a chalice, Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a deep, murky, redish brown ale with thin long-lasting head.

The aroma of this beer is not far from that of a Zinfandel. It has subtle, fruit, spice, and oak characteristics. The yeast also contributes greatly here.

Flavor is intense and impressive in equal measure. Sweet, sour, tart, and funky. There are cherries, red grapes, and black pepper. The oak barrels used for aging I imagine would have to have been previously used for a red wine. Lots of oak, tannins, and winey elements. Complex and unique for sure.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated. It doesn't have the feeling of an 11% ABV beer, probably because it has been aged for so long. Very mellow and fairly well balanced. It finishs dry with a long tart aftertaste.

Overall an amazing and memorable beer. One that certainly bridges the gap between fine beer and wine.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 01:13:34 | More by GilGarp

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 2006 bottle split with oglmcdgl at the compound served in a wine glass.

This was a beauty in the glass, dark brown with some plum red when struck towards the light. A nice half inch of faded tan with no sticking on the sides. It dies leaving a small skim around the glass and some sediment seen in the glass. Smell is very big and bold with a wine characteristic, berries, apple and some underlining funk. About the farthest thing from beer I've tasted. Not getting a whole lot of the base biere de garde, but berries, wine, oak, grape and a hint of balsamic vinegar make for a great bouquet. Acidity is at about medium with some tang on the end, about medium build, light carb within a half hour. Pretty great stuff and something to sip on for an hour or so.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 18:05:04 | More by onix1agr

EnemyWithin

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Abbaue de Saint Bon Chien Bottle # 00276 from 2007

Appearance: 3.5
Semi opaque caramel brown with tinge of red. Poured with 1/2 an inch of thin off-white head that almost immediately dissipated into a thin incomplete rim of covering.

Smell: 4.5
In the nose, predominantly a moderate tart sourness with notes of tart candy, with lemon/citrus. Berry fruits (cherry?). Slight perfume/floral notes from the yeast. Also a faint spiciness and dark fruit from the yeast. As beer warms, this becomes more distinguishable. Overall, a few layers that work well and leave me the impression that is it a sour beer.

Taste: 4.5
Quite a few flavors to appreciate. Moderate sourness with notes of lemon and also dry cherry and pepper. Mild soft subdues spiciness initially. Midway get a slight warmth from the alcohol, although this is quite mild given the 11% content. Throughout the whole flavor profile there is a mild caramel backbone from the malt, which offers a balancing dynamic to the other more intense flavors. Finishes with a dry sour fruit finish.

Mouthfeel: 4
Mild to moderate thickness with low carbonation (as noted on bottle). A nice dry astringency as well as a moderate/prominent sourness. Finishes with a slippery acidic feeling on palate. Overall, the mouthfeel completely appropriate for the beer and seems spot on with all the other aspects.

Overall: 4.5
This is truly one of the better beers I ever had. It’s incredibly complex, but refined in its characteristics. It’s also of an at least moderate sourness level which makes it very enjoyable. This is what I expected from the 2007 vintage and it did not disappoint. Great aspects similar to a lambic with soft features typical of a Belgian ale (almost dubbel or strong dark like). It was an expensive purchase at $27, but I would not hesitate to buy it again. The only thing comparable is offerings from Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 12:58:47 | More by EnemyWithin

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien
BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes
Style: Bière de Garde
ABV: 11.00 %

Brewed 2006 Blended 2007 Batch #?

LOOK: 25oz bottle opens with a slight fizzy pop. Pours a ruddy brown color with a bit of hissing champagne like head. No lace, some floaters are along for the voyage.

SMELL: Oaky, slightly sour, malty, wine like, sweet, boozy goodness.

TASTE: Full flavored brew with a nice lactic tangyness at first, giving way to a full on sour as the beer warms. Dusty cocoa, musty basement, nutty, oaky, pretty tasty. Astringent and lightly bitter, with some warming alcoholic heat. Belgian yeast lends subtle fruit notes that agree with the sour and wine like barrel aged aspects.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium to full bodied, well carbonated, crisp, but falls flat as it warms.

OVERALL: A very impressive brew, reminds me alot of the regional sour browns of Belgium. Can hold a candle to alot of different brett/wild yeast beers, and has aged gracefully. Could hold up alot longer but drinking fine now.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 19:11:00 | More by Stinkypuss

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2007 vintage, on-cask, served in a tulip

Appears a deep red amber with a fluffy slightly off-white cap. Thick sip marks line the inside of the glass.

The nose is of tart cherries, oak, vanilla, red wine, band-aid funk, and some fusel alcohol. Very well-balanced and bold.

A clean malt backbone with balsamic notes. Oak, cherries, band-aid funk and some fusel alcohol through the middle. The finish is clean, a touch of sugar followed by a sweeping tartness.

The cask fluffs up the body a bit. Creamy and smooth, medium feel with little to no carbonation. The finish is tart and dry.

This guy delivers on all fronts. Smooth, easy drinking with loads of tart fruit and balsamic notes that deliver the sour you crave.

Serving type: cask

05-19-2012 14:02:41 | More by ColForbinBC

Spider889

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Unfiltered blood orange color. Very short head the color of antique lace.

Smells wonderfully sour and funky. Raspberry and dank oak.

The flavor is very sour and I found the high alcohol to drink very smoothly. The flavor shows some bitter strawberry green flavor. Also some nice funk reminiscent of dusty attic and old abandoned cobweb.

Overall an excellent beer, but sadly the price tag will edge me out of ordering this more often than I'd like.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2012 06:01:00 | More by Spider889

UCLABrewN84

California

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to jmgrub for sharing this one at his tasting.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy tan head that fades to nothing. No lacing on this one. Smell is of sour and tart fruit, slight vinegar, funk, and woody aromas. Taste is much the same with an acidic/drying quality on the finish. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a great sour presence in the aroma and taste. I just wish the carbonation level was better on this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 05:16:30 | More by UCLABrewN84