Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru (Aged In Rhum Barrels) - BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to Chris Lively for breaking this out.

Pours no head with a maple brown color.

Nose is light tart sour malts, rum, toasted oak and vanilla, sweet candy, bit of malt vinegar and touch of fruit.

Taste has dark malts, light sweet sour malts, light tart fruit, hint of malt vinegar, light tart acidic, some light oak and vanilla, some rum barrel taste with woody barrel and light sweet rummy taste, light reddish fruit, great fruits, and a light buttery oak.

Mouth is lighter bodied but no carbonation.

Overall its a good beer, its fairly old and lacking carbonation, but great tart fruits and nice darker malts, despite that I'm not a huge rum fan it has some nice buttery rum and barrel flavors. Not sure on the date but it was a fairly old dusty bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 22:17:32 | More by jlindros

Dirty25

Arkansas

3/5  rDev -16.2%

01-29-2013 19:39:12 | More by Dirty25

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Sampled some a couple months ago from a bottle of the same collection - that was better than this, but still well short of amazing...

A: very cloudy/murky, dark amber or red-orange - no head, scant big bubbles pouring from a height - couldn't help some sediment falling in, fairly big flakes/chunks - totally looks bad/infected - not appealing at all...what is this supposed to be?

S: at first, it smells vaguely like an oud bruin or, better, an extra malty gueuze - certainly vinous (red) - little bit of a diaper scent - somehow, the alcohol doesn't poke through much at all

T: not good - no malt, just dull, vaguely estery flavors - near complete absence of depth or complexity - comes off as malt-wine blend that's just starting to turn awful - bordering on vinegar - ironically, not bad enough to spit out, but no enjoyment

M: like the taste, noticeably watery, primarily up front - a mellow honey-like (yet watery) roll in the finish - dry, but with a silky film coating the mouth - late alcohol warmth

O: maybe this could have been saved had they corked it? a lil méthode champenoise in this shit - I'll take the regular Bon-Chien any day over this

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 18:35:26 | More by Bouleboubier

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle picked up at Vintage Estate in Boardman, Ohio. After a poor experience with the Spirit Barrel version, I'm really hoping this is a serious step up. Served in a BFM goblet. Nose has a distinct rum presence. Flavor is moderately acidic with some cherry and white rum. Alcohol. Medium body.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:55:13 | More by Thorpe429

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

12-02-2012 03:37:59 | More by djrn2

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

12-02-2012 03:37:37 | More by acurtis

SPRichard

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

11-07-2012 02:21:44 | More by SPRichard

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

375 ml bottle, 2010 vintage. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a cloudy brown color with pretty much no head at all. Not much lacing, either. The brew smells like sweet and tart dark fruit, oak, vinegar and some rum. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's the addition of some apple. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick with very low carbonation. I think this is an OK brew, but it's nowhere near worth the price ($18.99 a bottle). Still, it was nice to try it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 22:55:38 | More by bluejacket74

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

08-22-2012 01:42:45 | More by t0rin0

fortierv

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +25.7%

08-09-2012 20:23:59 | More by fortierv

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. I love spelling rum as "rhum." Brewed in 2010, bottled in 2011. Big thanks to SteveFinny for this. This will be my third of the series (vin jaune, merlot).

2.5 A: Pours a completely still murky plum color. No evidence of carbonation.

4.5 S: Smelling this after having two grape barrel versions is not as different as I imagined it would be. The major aromas in this beer come from the base beer itself and not the barrel treatments. Big tart cherry fruitiness. I'll say it again because it's that apparent. Huge tart cherry fruitiness. Somehow this has a good bit more cherry than the other variants. Sherry next followed by apple, melon, plum, and lemon meringue. Big tangy lactic acid. The rum, or rhum, is complementary and diverts the aroma enough from the other variants to justify the different treatments. Oh, and it works really well. Vanilla and oak to round things out.

4.5 T: I like this one just as much as the merlot barrel, which is saying something. The rum works extremely well in this adding a sweetness that is entirely complementary to the otherwise dry fruitiness and funk. Again, there's an insane amount of cherry which is easily on pace with what you'd find in a kriek. Some sherry with a subtle cardboard oxidation. This is probably the sour-est of what I've had so far offering a good pucker to it. Apple is probably the next strongest fruit, with plum, melon, lemon, and grape. Rotting wood and musty basement type funk. Vanilla and oak.

3.0 M: Medium body. Flat, but it works well enough.

4.0 D: As evidenced by the merlot version, carbonation improves this beer and I think this would be better with some. Still, it's exceptionally complex and quite tasty as well. This is the least tannic-y of the three I've had and probably the best balanced as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 20:00:50 | More by DavoleBomb

Spartan213

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +18.7%

06-25-2012 01:54:04 | More by Spartan213

ithinkimasofa

Washington

4/5  rDev +11.7%

06-25-2012 00:26:32 | More by ithinkimasofa

jwat

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

06-09-2012 20:05:50 | More by jwat

Mora2000

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at bu11zeye's 10,000th rating tasting.

The beer pours a light yellow-orange color with a white head. The aroma is incredibly complex. I get a ton of lemons and tart cherries, as well as some yeast, oak, tobacco and brett. The flavor is also complex but for different reasons. I get a lot of rum and oak notes, as well as some vanilla and toffee malt. There is also a nice tart cherry quality as well as some alcohol burn. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 04:53:38 | More by Mora2000

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-04-01 in Columbia, PA

A - Hazy brown with no head and no lacing. Fine particulates. No lacing or alcohol legs.

S - Dried fruits like cherry, plum, fig with definite yeast funk and some malt.

T - Sour cherries, grape and oak tannins, hint of the rum flavor, alcohol, some grapefruit flesh, light spice. Very dry.

M - Light body and almost no carbonation. A bit thin.

O - A decent brew that I paid WAY too much for. I expected wonderfulness and got OK.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 18:59:42 | More by Tucquan

PthPndr

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

03-26-2012 23:19:43 | More by PthPndr

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.18/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle poured in a Hoegaarden Tumbler.

A: Pours a cloudy brown color with practically no head and no lacings left

S: Acid and strong ABV. Woody. Quite fruity, lots of grapes and plums in the nose

T: Taste is a bless, really. Tart and fruity with a malty backbone. Very woody too. Metallic notes. You can actually feel the rhum. Fantastic

M: Heavy creamy body. Very low carbonation. Tart aftertaste

O: Good drinkability. Quite tart but delicious. Another BFM masterpiece

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 11:19:46 | More by eduardolinhalis

pperez38

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

01-22-2012 17:33:14 | More by pperez38

MasterSki

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle purchased from West Lakeview Liquors. Served in a Bell's tulip.

A - A hard pour rouses...nothing. Seems even more still than the other BFM Grand Crus. Orange-brown body that's transparent until the last pour.

S - The expected aromas of light vinegar, oak, and sweet malts is largely overwhelmed by oak and grain alcohol. If you concentrate hard there's some spiced rum presence that's been masked. As it warms up there's a light solvent/acetone flavor as well.

T - Taste is significantly better here, with less of the harsh alcohol and more overt spiced rum and sugar cane/candi sugar flavors. Less oak, but only mild acetic tartness. Faint oxidation is also present.

M - Lightly dry and tannic texture, still, medium-full body, and surprisingly little alcohol heat considering how spirit-heavy the flavor and aroma are.

D - Drinks more like diluted rum than like a BFM Grand Cru. I think the 'double wood(ing)' was probably too much for the base beer. Without a doubt the most disappointing of the series.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 00:07:46 | More by MasterSki

AgentZero

Illinois

3/5  rDev -16.2%

01-21-2012 01:45:53 | More by AgentZero

Shaggy9356

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.7%

01-03-2012 05:10:36 | More by Shaggy9356

jh1982

Nevada

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

12-04-2011 02:32:53 | More by jh1982

DoctorB2B

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.7%

11-20-2011 16:07:05 | More by DoctorB2B

crossovert

Wisconsin

4.72/5  rDev +31.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I believe this is the beer I am reviewing. I believe it is the 2010 edition of this beer. I think this is the most expensive bottle i have purchased per ounce. Was gonna save it but it is my bday and i caved in.

It pours with little head, looks flat. It is a brownish grape juice color. Besides no head, not too bad.

The smell is great. There is grapes, tangy red fruits, lemon, sugar, oak, caramel, funk, and sourness. Funky berry scent seems to be the most noticeable and it is great.

The mouthfeel is flat but it doesn't matter, this beer is succulent and delicious. Much of the scents appear in the flavor, there is a bit more apple and a toned down level of sourness. The barrel aging becomes more apparent and there is a heightened level of sweetness. Rum comes thorugh a lot more in the flavor. Very vinous and winey, almost unsightly so. The flavor of this beer is just a beautiful symphony.

I have had quite a few uncarbonated (purposely) brews and this one is up there for the best.

Is it worth the price? Probably not, but this is a mindblowing brew if you can take the lack of carbonation. Maybe it was the Innis & Gunn rum cask last night that I had that is making this taste marvelous, or the Abyss I had before it, though I cleared my palate the best I could.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 00:43:38 | More by crossovert