Spike & Jérôme’s Cuvée Délirante (Collaboration Ale) - BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes

DCon

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a 11.4 FL. OZ. - 33cl bottle of this from the Thirsty Monk in Asheville, NC for $14.99. Poured from the Swingtop Corked bottle w/ both the Terrapin Turtle & BFM Lizard on the front of the label into a Shaker Glass. Has no bottled on date or lot # but does say "BREWED IN 2011" on the front. Lets see what this Barley Ryne has to offer!

Aroma- Has a big time sour cherry aroma from the beginning to the finish. Rye, light hops, and Belgian malts come through also. Not sure this is very "true to style" for a Barleywine... Will give an average because it is like BFM to include belgian/sour notes in every aroma.

Appearance- Pours no head at all and leaves no lace afterwards. Deep reddish colored body with semi-hazing.

Flavor- Has a huge acidic beginning and then pomegranate and fruit continue from the middle of the drink til the end. Has hardly any bitterness at the finish but very sweet.

Mouthfeel- Medium Bodied, Light-Medium Carbonation, Smooth, has a ton of sweet and sour tastes that remain on the palate.

Overall Impression- Like many BFM beers, there is always going to be funk and completely different characteristics than what the style really should be. I would say you should DEFINITELY go out of your way to get a bottle of this. Not too much rye included and not sure why this was. A English Barleywine? Probably not. A Sour Barleywine we can call this!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 20:11:38 | More by DCon

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Belgian Cafe in Philly, poured into a tulip.

Dark brown, slightly red, finger of tan foam.

Caramel, earthy rye with hint of spice, cherries!, bourbon not very noticeable but touches of vanilla, ABV totally hidden, hints of raisin sweetness and barleywine in the body behind, more Flanders than barleywine, touch of booze in the nose, the more it warms the more barleywine comes out & the more confused you are...

Really fantastic beer, one of the highlights of my trip.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2012 04:22:59 | More by ritzkiss

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had some really high hopes for this brew. The pour was a little disappointing, the color was brown and there was basically no head on it at all. The smell of the beer was funky, there was a spicy note to it also but nothing overly appealing to me. The taste of the beer was tart with some really strange flavors of wood and other herbs. The flavors to me just weren't working together at all. The mouthfeel was hardly carbonated with did nothing for me really. The feel was semi-thick and it really doesn't have the best drinkablity to me. Overall I wouldn't buy it again. I would maybe try a vintage bottle a few years from now if I came across one... But I would hope it's would be much more enjoyable after some cellaring time.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 04:30:07 | More by Knapp85

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Mugs Alehouse in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours a slightly cloudy/hazy deep red, almost purple in color which is very similar to wine. The beer had absolutely no head and no lacing was observed.

S: The aroma was all very intense sourness and funk with just the most subtle spicy hints (from the rye).

T: There was a surprising sourness that I did not expect from this style of beer. The beer had some hints of spice and some pretty intense vinous notes (bordering on the wine/vinegar boundry). Very tart in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Very surprising beer - did not expect the sourness, funkiness, or the tartness but I enjoyed all three in this. There was no alcohol presence that I could detect but it was not a real easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 02:25:19 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is dark reddish brown in color and poured without any head.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of sour fruit in the nose.
T: The taste has a light amount of sourness that makes your lips pucker a bit and has some grapey red wine flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat tart on the palate and has a low amount of carbonation.
O: This beer does not taste anything like a typical barleywine but is rather interesting. Any traces of alcohol are well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 02:03:16 | More by metter98

b3shine

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle to snifter. Looks decent; dark in color and little to no head/lacing. Smells good; molasses. Then it gets disappointing quickly. Taste is disappointing; vinegar - like an oxidized wine. Tastes like a bad sour that's been uncapped for a week (or two). Mouthfeel is average - for a bad tasting beer. Overall, average at best (and that's because categories other than taste pulled it up). Never buying again.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 19:52:30 | More by b3shine

Kromes

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A hazy brown color with no head and legs that just stick to the glass and don't move. The carbonation is struggling to get to the top of the beer.

S: Caramel malt, sour plum, port, and a very boozy quality to the aroma.

T: The acidic/sour flavors hit right up front and continue into a citric acid puckering finish. Initially there are some fruity plum, cherry and caramel flavors underneath the sourness. The cherry flavor continues into the finish and eventually (30 seconds or so later) a slight clove spice comes through the sourness.

M: A heavier feel that is sugary sticky. The finish is impressive. Dry and sour with the flavors actually changing long after the beer is swallowed.

O: Very unique and complex beer. One of the better sour beers I've had

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 01:27:12 | More by Kromes

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 02/11/12 notes. Thanks to yourefragile for sharing this one.

a - Pours a hazy reddish brown color with once inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour fruits, a little bit funky, dark fruits, alcohol. Nice mix of sour and sweet dark fruits.

t - Tastes of dark fruits, rum, spices, tannic, oak. Taste is not as sour as the nose.

m - Medium body and no real carbonation. A bit undercarbonated.

o - Overall a good barleywine, and pretty interesting. I liked the nose quite a bit; it was a nice mix of sweet and sour dark fruits. Would have liked more carbonation, but would like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 01:50:24 | More by mdfb79

champ103

Texas

1.7/5  rDev -52.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A: Pours a murky, dirty looking reddish/brown color. A tiny bubbly beige head forms, but recedes in a second. Not lace, and looks lifeless.
S: Buttery diacetyl and acidic fruits intermingle which makes the nose unattractive.
T: Follows the nose, but much more revved up. Full on buttery malt/popcorn/diacetyl. Mix that with a cringing sourness/acidic quality. Plenty of alcohol as well. Blah.
M/D: Syrupy, flat, and lifeless. To much alcohol, and just plan hard to drink.

Wow, this is plain bad. Most everything else I have had from BFM is amazing. This is a drain pour though. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 03:17:16 | More by champ103

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.85/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

33cl swingtop into a medium-sized Duvel tulip. Thanks to Chris for sharing this oddity.

A: Cloudy mahogany body; only a few bubbles. Meh.

S: Intense. Heavy acetic acid, as well as some vanilla, rum, and rye. Sourness dominated, but it's still pretty complex. Weird, but not unappealing.

T: Sourness absolutely destroys everything else, with some weir, bitter, almost bile-like grossness along with it. Not good at all.

M: Medium body, light carbonation. Average at best.

O: This one sounded like it had great potential, but the vinegar funk just obliterated everything else in the end. Not recommended.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 01:16:21 | More by woosterbill

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.8/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had this beer twice now thanks to Darrell and Michael.

The beer appears murky and dark brown / ruby in color. The head is nonexistent. The beer appears still. The aroma offers booze, wood, sour cherries, malt, yeast,a bit of funk. I like the flavor. Complex and tasty, with sour, funky cherries and oak leading the charge. A nice mix of sweet and sour. Light in body and devoid of carbonation, though it fits this beer pretty well. Tannic in nature with a bit of a sharp, harsh alcohol burn in the throat at the conclusion of every sip. Still, overall, this was intriguing and enjoyable, albeit in small quantities.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:46:16 | More by Huhzubendah

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to yoruefragile for sharing this bottle. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a slightly-hazed ruby color with no real head or much of lacing. The nose has some rum and buttery oak, along with a bit of dark fruit and cherry. There's some light vinegar there, though that is subdued in the flavor and aroma.

The flavor is more typical BFM. There's some of the rum in there and a bit of spice, but mostly some fairly-brisk acidity plus light red-fruit notes. Light body and nearly flat. Dry and acidic finish. Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 15:37:49 | More by Thorpe429

ism

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Flip-top bottles poured into a snifter and pint glass. Murky red-hued amber body. No real head, even trying to induce it with an aggressive pour.

Tart, dark fruit and sweet rum and malt in the nose, like cranberry and figs. Low carbonation but nice density helped by the original gravity and casking. Faint sweet vanilla note on top of rum and malt, wild lambic yeast character (but really the conditioning), and a slight tartness. The finish is amazing, with a dry sourness characteristic of cask-conditioned (sorry, there's nothing else to compare it to) and Flemish ales. It keeps going on and you can't help but smack your lips.

It's the closest thing to a cask-conditioned experience, in a bottle, that I've had. The ABV is well hidden, if not for the lack of head. It's pretty hard to compare this with other English Barleywines, and unfair to do so with Flemish sours. Definitely a unique and enjoyable brew and treatment.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 02:25:20 | More by ism

gford217

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

375ml flip top bottle.

Pours a murky reddish amber with very little head, just some bubbles around the edges which recede quickly.

Aroma is tart cherries and rum with some spicy rye and more than a dose of lactic acid in the nose. I don't get much barleywine notes, more like a sour.

I'm a little unsure how to review this with reference to barleywines. It's got lots of vinegar sourness and some tart cherries up front with lots of rum and oak.

The mouthfeel is flat with no carbonation and typical of other BFM beers I've had. Lots of wood and more port-like than beer-like in terms of feel.

Well, this is one of the more unique examples of a barleywine I've ever tasted and it tastes much more like a sour brown than any barleywine I've had. In that respect I think it's a solid beer just not comparable to a barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 04:12:16 | More by gford217

Dope

Massachusetts

2.2/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Interesting beer. A "Barley Ryne" according to the bottle. 1/3 aged in rum barrels too. This is definitely a first.

A: A rusty dark brown/red color. Literally no head, just a smattering of bubbles around the edges. No lacing or retention of course.

S: Pretty boozy rum up front. Some heavy molasses in there. I don't really know how to describe what I'm smelling, this is totally unique. It's similar to dark vermouth in a way, a sort of herbal aroma but almost wine-ish. Maybe some sherry? Very strong, sharp and boozy but not altogether unpleasant. I'm honestly scared to taste this one.

T: Tastes like red wine with a little bit of rum added. And there's just a touch of rye. Then some old apple cider. Very sour at the same time. What the?

M: Almost totally flat, otherwise thick, borderline syrupy. Drying.

O: I'm not really sure what to say here. The complete lack of carbonation really hurts it for sure. Tastes more like a wine or a mead than a beer. A bad one at that. I had a stomach ache after just drinking a few ounces and poured it out. Hard to say if it's infected or intentional, the other reviews all point to it not being an accident though. Definitely wins the award for the craziest beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 06:31:26 | More by Dope

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

33cl swing-top bottle poured into a snifter glass.

Pours a glazey, syrupy, translucent dark reddish-brown. Absolutely no head. None. Two or three bubbles along the edge hint that this might have once been carbonated. Looks stagnant and thick. Absolutely coats the inside of the glass when agitating, but no legs form. Pretty ridiculous.

Big sour nose with smacks of vinegar, oakiness from the barrel aging, sour apple/pucker, sweetness of alcohol (perhaps the rum?), a little funky; aromas not dissimilar to an American Wild--aromas unbecoming of any kind of a barleywine (I'm sure that big malt backbone will come through in the taste). No need to fret, I saw this coming; the descriptions said so, and I can read. And, to be honest, it smells pretty delicious.

Okay, either I have an infected bottle, or this is one of the top three strangest beers I have ever had in my life. Alright, check this out... very thin taste with an emphasis on the rye malts used. The barrel aging is there, sort of, but strangely enough the alcohol is not. Like, at all. It's almost gone. I know that seems impossible. It's extremely smooth, but thin. Okay, I'm going back and smelling it again and I'm getting a lot of bitter liqueur, like Campari or Bitter Kas (for those who know what I mean by that). Back to the taste, again. It's warming up. The malt is getting bigger, and there is glimpses of the alcohol. Very vinous, like a full-bodied uber-dry red wine. I want to give it at least a 3.0, but... I just can't. I'm seriously speechless. I kind of like the way this tastes. I wonder if my other bottle is different.

Way thick, not sticky, but glossy and thick. It doesn't feel bad for being full-bodied, but very strange for having no carbonation. This is off in some sort of way.

Overall, I'm enjoying drinking something so off-balance and wacky. I don't like calling this a barleywine or a 'barleyryne' or whatever. For a different style, I'd rate it higher. It's not that I dislike this beer, it's just way off-style and... just off (still not counting out the possibility of infection here). Not a drain-pour by any means, actually I like working on this one. I just can't put this one at average.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 02:40:53 | More by thecheapies

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.18/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - A dark brown, not much head or any sticy lace

S - Sour, with prevalent alcohol.

T - Sweet and sour! Mostly sour. Not very well balanced

M - Medium bodied, low carbonation.

O - A non-carbonated sour. Not very good. Hopefully their next collaboration is better.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 07:11:37 | More by BeerDawgs

oberon

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a tulip glass a murky russett brown with no head to speak of at all,not the most glamerous pour by any means here.A mix of sour and dark fruits dipped in rum in the nose,a little underlying cake to it as well.In some ways its like an English barleywine with its deep dark frutiness and cakey notes,but the rye gives a lactic somewhat spicey finish that doesnt seem to match well with other elements of the beer.Not my cup of tea here but its not really bad,I just dont care for the finished product much.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 21:45:52 | More by oberon

avalon07

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a brownish color and a thick, murky consistency. There wasn't really any head to speak of. Same with the lacing.

S: A sharp, surprisingly sour smell of hops, malt, caramel and a vinegary quality.

T: Tasted of caramel, malt, hops, and a sour quality you don't normally find in this style of beer. An interesting flavor that is good, but not quite all there.

M: This beer needs some carbonation. It has a smooth finish and a medium body.

O: This wasn't my favorite beer, but it wasn't terrible either. An interesting little experiment.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 14:25:28 | More by avalon07

MasterSki

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Fountainhead. Served in a snifter.

A - A collection a big bubbles tops a dark red-brown body. Typical BFM in that it's pretty much still. Once the bubbles vanish this looks like a bit like semi-transparent blood.

S - Well, if this is supposed to be an English barleywine then I'm guessing they were shooting for historical accuracy. The initial aroma is lactic sourness, a kiss of rye and other toasted grains, oak, and vanilla. As the beer warms up I get more in the way of tart green apples and sour cherry vinegar. This actually seems more sour than the BFM Grand Cru variants.

T - The rum finally makes a brief appearance mid-palate imparting some sugary sweetness that complements the malt and oaky vanilla flavors. Not sure what rum barrels were used, but there isn't much, if any, spice character. Light oxidation and definitely sweeter and more sherry-like than the aroma. Finishes lightly tart and vinous, but not vinegary as previously suggested by the smell.

M - Medium-full body, tannic and dry texture, very low carbonation, and the typical deceptive BFM alcohol. There's no way I'd guess this was anywhere near 12%.

D - A very strange beer, and not at all what I was expecting from the description. The rum presence is quite mild, and the souring bacteria have really taken hold here. Quite easy to drink considering the ABV, but unfortunately not as easy to drink considering the price. I hope the Grand Cru - Rhum is somewhat similar, as I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 16:00:39 | More by MasterSki

atis

Finland

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330 ml bottle from the brewery. It says 10.02% ABV on the bottle, as opposed to 12% on kegged versions.

Pours oily dark brown, no head, no lacing. Aroma is balsamic vinegar, fruit, bits of rum, grain.

Taste starts with fruity sweetness, immediately followed by sour vinegar, sweet and sour balance each other out perfectly. There is a subtle presence of rum. Semi-dry finish and long lasting sourish boozy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium with very low carbonation.

Excellent. Certainly will go to the shop to buy a couple more bottles for ageing.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 20:56:44 | More by atis

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

a rye barleywine? aged in rum barrels? sounds unique. served on tap at pizzeria paradiso in old town alexandria. review from notes.

A: murky mahogany. very creamy looking head, however not great retention. good lacing.

S: this thing straight up smells like a shot of tequila. an oaky tequila. must be from the rye, booze, and being aged on rum barrels. spicy. black pepper. plums and raisins. a lot going on here.

T: a chewy caramel. booze, but not a hot, uncomfortable booze. more of an oak/rum/tequila all at once booze. some fruitiness that is straight up grape jam on the finish.

M: mild and silky. full body. delightfully done.

D: a little raw overall. good complexity, but i cant get over the tequila-ness. kinda weird aroma and flavor actually. hmmm cool concept but maybe rum barrels wernt the best aging mechanism.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2011 00:04:04 | More by Jimmys

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a reddish amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is complex and intriguing, showcasing apple cider, brown sugar and light vanilla. The flavor profile is incredibly complex, showcasing sugar daddy candy, light appple vinegar, light lavendar and pine. The beer is fairly sweet, but the vinegar and noticeable alcohol counter it pretty nicely. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the alcohol on the finish is pretty noticeble.

Not sure how much I'd want to drink of this, but this is a very interesting beer from the folks at BFM.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 21:05:19 | More by johnmichaelsen

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the tap an opaque warm mahogany with a thin, light tan, fine-bubbled head. Woody aroma has crisp, sour fruity and subtle malty tones. Flavor has strong woody and sour apple notes with an undertone of malt, banana and caramel. Texture has average body and a fair amount of fizz, leaving a fruity, tingly and slightly woody finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2011 18:59:49 | More by Cyberkedi

oline73

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on-tap at Max's. Poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours a reddish cloudy dark amber. Looks rather murky with no head to speak of.

Smell: Very vinegary, reminds me a bit of malt vinegar. Mildly sweet from the grain with some fruity notes as well.

Taste: Super vinegary with fruit notes and malt. The finish is extremely bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with hardly any carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: The fruit notes were good in this beer, but I thought the vinegar notes were a bit strong. A good sour, and very interesting, but I don't think I'd go back again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 02:14:01 | More by oline73