Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru (Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels)
BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)

Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru (Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels)Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru (Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels)
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From:
BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
 
Switzerland
Style:
Bière de Garde
ABV:
11%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 9.95%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
22
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 10, 2018
Added:
Jan 31, 2009
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Nov 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.35 by desint from Belgium

Aug 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Feb 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Yabev15 from Massachusetts

Apr 09, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Feb 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by ILiveOffHops from New Hampshire

Sep 17, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 22, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by whartontallboy from New York

Jan 02, 2012
Photo of Pencible
Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

3.89/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Brewed 2006, blended and bottled 2007, reviewed December 2011. Labeled as Burgundy Cask.

A: This poured a nearly opaque murky copper with a bit of off-white head and lots of chunky sediment.
S: It smelled like sour oak and very tart vinegar, with some musky leather and clove and copper and cranberry.
T: It tasted like rusty copper and tart apple cider vinegar, with musky oak and clove and leather and cranberry. It had a dry and very tart aftertaste that was mostly clean.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. Very light and thin body.
D: This was a nice Flanders style sour, but I don't see how it's a Biere de Garde. It had good scent and taste, but it seems like this may have been past its peak. The body was pretty weak, but the alcohol was well hidden, although it should still be sipped. Not sure how this was fresh, but oxidization was fairly prevalent at this point. Enjoyable but not top of the class.
Jan 02, 2012
Photo of jnn4v
Reviewed by jnn4v from Virginia

3.94/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2006 vintage. Consumed 12/2011 in New Belgium globe glasses.

A: Hazy, murky orangeish brown color. Had ample amount of foamy off-white head. Tons of white / cream colored sediment suspended throughout and also gathered at the bottom of the glass.

S: Sweetart, cranberry, ginger ale, orange zest, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and musty oak.

T: Tart, slightly acidic, reminiscent of citrus zest and cranberry but with some barnyard funk thrown in for good measure and then some coppery oxidization notes as well.

M: First few sips were almost Metamucil-like before the sediment settled to the bottom. After 20 minutes of resting, it was more like a holiday punch texture (where you put the frozen punch mix in ginger ale).

O: Started out very difficult to drink, but it mellowed out nicely after 15-20 minutes. Good balance of texture and flavors, although it's probably a year or two past its peak.
Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Jspriest from Pennsylvania

Dec 01, 2011
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.02/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Magnum generously sent in the White Whale V BIF by soulforpeanuts. Bottle #95 out of an unknown (but small) amount.

A - Looks like pretty much every other BFM Grand Cru (other than the Spirit Barrel). Reddish, hazy body, some big bubbles. Bottled still.

S - Extremely vinous Pinot Noir nose, with musky grapes, other fruits, oak, spicy wood, a faint sulfuric note, some mild funk and earthiness, and lots more oak and wood.

T - Taste is a little more watery, with plenty of charred wood and barrel presence. Vinous character is lighter, and the finish is surprisingly clean.

M - As usual, it's flat. Medium-full body, smooth texture, and minimal alcohol presence. Some mild tannic character in the finish, but less than I anticipated from the aroma and taste.

D - Probably my least favorite of the 1.5L BFMs, but still relatively easy to drink. Not sure how we drank this after so many beers, but somehow we managed. I'd go after the Cabernet though, rather than this one, if I decide I need more BFM Grand Cru in my life.
Jul 31, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Magnum generously shared by ygtbsm. Thanks again Brad! Sampled alongside the bourbon and Cabernet versions.

Pours a dark golden orange/copper color that's completely   opaque with a thin off-white head that immediately disapears leaving no lacing.

Vinous aroma with lots of vanilla, dark fruit and subtle oak.  The red wine presence is very prominent with lots of dark grape, cherry and other berries.  

Flat but the sweet red wine notes help.  Very vinous with subtle oak dryness.  Lots of grape, cherry, currant and other dark fruit.  Again, the barrel presence is very strong, dominating the other flavors and nakingthis beer a bit one dimensional.    
Jul 07, 2011
Photo of OldPenguinHunter
Reviewed by OldPenguinHunter from California

4.95/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
12/9/12: Might I add that I reviewed is a beer is a bier de garde and not a grand cru

It's not often that I say this, but wow...What a beer. 2006 Vintage, poured into a tall tulip.

A: A little oxidized in color, sort of a brown-burgundy color. A thin white head that dissipated pretty quick.

S: Awesome. There's an abundance of brett here, but the fruit of the malt still pulls through, the oak is in balance and has lended a softness to the beer as well as adding some vinous undertones.

T: Awesome-er. A very pleasant sourness, sweet malt and wine red apples, cranberry juice, and tons of earth. I'm paraphrasing here, I could go on all day, buy a bottle, it's like a conversation with the Man upstairs.

M: Not very full bodied, but full flavored, easy carbonation, Prosecco-like. I don't know why I keep reading that there is no carbonation, of the few that I have had of this vintage, they've all had a light fizz to 'em.

O: Buy a bottle if you can find it, don't ask any questions, don't balk at the price, just buy it. Nike that shit (just do it.).
Apr 09, 2011
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Magnum consumed on 8/31/2009 and poured into a snifter. 2007 vintage. Thanks Torry! Pours sun-kissed dark orange, nearly copper, with no head or visible carbonation - still.

The nose is a burst of grapes, plums, raspberries, and dark cherries. Some vinegar is evident, as well as wood and earthy character. The nose is tart with a little fruity sweetness. Tannins are noticeable, as well as sherry-like oxidation.

The flavor opens up tannic, though not as tannic as the Cabernet barrel I had recently, with notes of acetic acid and wood. Tartness is at an upper medium level. The great berry fruit component is present, and the beer is sweeter than the other Bon-Chien Grand Crus that I've had, with some noticeable caramel malt. The sherry-like oxidation is present, but it doesn't detract in the flavor like it did in the aroma. Alcohol is also more evident in this incarnation. The finish is tart with some sweetness and lingering plum and grape notes. The finish is quite boozy.

The beer is medium bodied with absolutely no carbonation, and as always with the Bon-Chiens it works very well. The oxidation was interesting since it wasn't present in any of the other 2007 Grand Crus. Honestly, not the best of the Bon-Chiens but still enjoyable.
Sep 09, 2009
Photo of GeezLynn
Reviewed by GeezLynn from Colorado

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served in a tulip glass at The Porter 6-3-09.

Appearance - dark brown, with negligible head.
Strong fruit packed aroma - sour apple, vinegar, cherry smells.
Taste similar to the smell, with forward fruit flavors and little malt. Slight vanilla and coffee, but wine and alcohol flavors dominate.
Mouthfeel leans toward thinner as you'd expect from this style.
This was a fun one to get my hands and tongue on, but I think it is more of a sipper - more of a wine than a beer as far as I'm concerned. I definitely had to concentrate to pick up the beer characteristics.
I think I would enjoy the bourbon-aged one better. Still, I enjoyed this and hope I'll come across it again.
Jun 06, 2009
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.71/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Many thanks to Dyan for seeking this beer out and then (best of all) sharing it with me.

The beer pours an almost glowing beautiful tawny port color, with essentially no head retention and lacing. The color is impressive, with sort of a reddish amber color to the beer. As with the bourbon barrel aged version, the beer is completely still.

Like the bourbon barrel aged version, the nose on this beer is impressive. I get watermelon, cherry vanilla and horse blanket again, though it's not as funky and intense as in the bourbon version. I also get a hint of camel sweat (or what I imagine camel sweat to smell like). There really is just nothing quite like the aroma in this beer. The flavors replicate the nose, except there's not quite so much funk, and the tartness and sour components are dialed down a bit when compared to the bourbon version. Nevertheless, this is still one extremely flavorful beer. Love the slight "zinginess" on the finish. The mouthfeel is just like spun silk, and is oh so soft, smooth and silky. The finish is very long with no more then a hint of alcohol. As with the bourbon barrel version, it's kind of silly to talk about this beer's drinkability. In any event, this beer is not at all heavy or tiring on the palate, with the alcohol not the least bit intrusive or obtrusive.

It occurs to me that this version (as opposed to the bourbon barrel version) would probably pair well with food. Probably a nice plate of pasta would draw out a bit more of the flavor, and would marry well with this beer's acidity. In any event, this beer is an absolute tour de force in brewing, literally what DRC is to burgundy in wine. Superb and very well done.
May 15, 2009
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

4.57/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Thanks are due to BFM for this fine beer. Really. Everytime one of these comes out, John and I have a glorious night drinking 'em.

A: Still gorgeous garnet with no head or lacing. Vinous and thick, with a semblance of nice legs. Ruby highlights. Gorgeous

S: Opens up sour, vinegary and vinous. Hysterically good, with exceptional balance. Sour in an acetic way with mild, deep, rich and complex sweetness featuring toffee, caramel and maple syrup. Vinous and rich, more so than the Bourbon version of this beer

T: Opens up sour, rich and vinous. The wine is a lot more noticeable in this version, with a rich and complex sweetness present. Mild tannic character, beaten out by the sweetness that's got maple, plums and raisins. Sourness is present, relatively clean with some acidity. Finishes with a zing and mild hint of alcohol

M: Flat as hell, but this really works with this "beer". It accentuates the sourness, the sweetness and the clean, acetic finish

D: Another magnum, another liter for my liver to chew through, and another beer I want more of.
May 13, 2009
Photo of JohnQVegas
Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours hazy light red, hints of brown, no real head, just a white ring of bottles round the outside.

Nose is sweet, fruity, and softly tart, notes of berries and red fruit (strawberries, cherries) alongside a soft, vinous sourness, tannic. A very subtle oak note.

Taste is sour cherries, vinous. Sourness is light and mild, soft - clean, light notes of vinegar and acidic astringency. The fruity notes - cherries, rasberries, strawberry - are the star in this one, with the smooth wood softening the tartness and letting the fruit notes shine through. Sophisticated, no hint of alcohol.

Light in body, crisply carbonated. Tasting this side by side with the Bourbon version, the differences are not profound.
Feb 27, 2009
Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru (Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels) from BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 22 ratings