Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien
BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
- From:
- BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
- Switzerland
- Style:
- Flanders Red Ale
Ranked #6 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #1,124 - Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 10.19%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 338
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 01, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 07, 2006
- Wants:
- 158
- Gots:
- 248
SCORE
96
World-Class
96
World-Class
Strong Barrel aged Sour Ale.
The Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a strong sour ale of mixed fermentation, aged during a year in old wine oak barrels. The oak aging and the action of wild yeasts confer this beer’s astonishing wide range of aromas. Its outstanding komplexity, balance, roundness and long finish, are the fruit of the meticulous blend of selected barrels.
On the palate the blend reminds one of fruity red wines with a pronounced balsamic sourness. The best way to enjoy a Bon-Chien is to serve it in an elegant wine glass at 16°C or 60.6°F paired with a duck breast or some panned foie gras for example.
The Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a strong sour ale of mixed fermentation, aged during a year in old wine oak barrels. The oak aging and the action of wild yeasts confer this beer’s astonishing wide range of aromas. Its outstanding komplexity, balance, roundness and long finish, are the fruit of the meticulous blend of selected barrels.
On the palate the blend reminds one of fruity red wines with a pronounced balsamic sourness. The best way to enjoy a Bon-Chien is to serve it in an elegant wine glass at 16°C or 60.6°F paired with a duck breast or some panned foie gras for example.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Alieniloquium:
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
4.09/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Coffee District. Served in a Rodenbach flute.
Appearance - Reddish body. No head. Thin collar but surprising lacing. Cloudy verging on murky.
Smell - Low acidity. Big oak. Vanilla and nice barrel character. The acidity is acetic mostly.
Taste - Acetic acid tempered by sweet malts and vanilla barrel character. Oaky flavor is strong, but never overpowers the beer.
Mouthfeel - Heavy. Low carbonation. Difficult to drink, which is normal for BFM, but one of the easier BFM beers to drink
Overall - Complexity is the best aspect of this. Always a fascinating beer from BFM.
Feb 26, 2013Appearance - Reddish body. No head. Thin collar but surprising lacing. Cloudy verging on murky.
Smell - Low acidity. Big oak. Vanilla and nice barrel character. The acidity is acetic mostly.
Taste - Acetic acid tempered by sweet malts and vanilla barrel character. Oaky flavor is strong, but never overpowers the beer.
Mouthfeel - Heavy. Low carbonation. Difficult to drink, which is normal for BFM, but one of the easier BFM beers to drink
Overall - Complexity is the best aspect of this. Always a fascinating beer from BFM.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep, mahogany color. Big, off-white head. Dark fruits, grape,s and oak in the aroma. Moderately sour with some sweetness. Tastes like a young wine. Great!
Jan 16, 2025Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana
4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Quite nice sour.
Mar 17, 2024
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire
4.33/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2006 vintage.
Pours clear mahogany with crimson edging. Lively carbonation but a rather short- lived head and zero lacing. Dark fruit and red wine in the nose. Medium bodied with a slickish, oily mouthfeel. Dried plums, dark cherries, red apples on the palate. Finishes nicely tart with an acidity perfect for the depth of character.
May 06, 2023Pours clear mahogany with crimson edging. Lively carbonation but a rather short- lived head and zero lacing. Dark fruit and red wine in the nose. Medium bodied with a slickish, oily mouthfeel. Dried plums, dark cherries, red apples on the palate. Finishes nicely tart with an acidity perfect for the depth of character.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2007 vintage; drank 3/3/23 @ Owen & Engine.
Opaque purple/red appearance.
No head; no lace.
Balsamic vinegar, vanilla & red cherry notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Balsamic vinegar & vanilla flavors; tart red cherry notes on the finish.
Odd, but somehow pretty good? Love to try one fresh sometime...
Mar 06, 2023Opaque purple/red appearance.
No head; no lace.
Balsamic vinegar, vanilla & red cherry notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Balsamic vinegar & vanilla flavors; tart red cherry notes on the finish.
Odd, but somehow pretty good? Love to try one fresh sometime...
Rated by igl from Russian Federation
5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Like an alc kvass.. nice)..
(tasted in april 2017)
Jan 30, 2023(tasted in april 2017)
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
4.2/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
375ml bottle into a tulip. 2015 vintage, 7 years old.
Dark reddish plum body with no head until the last pour which turns the body muddy brown.
Light tart aroma.
This one comes under the heading, don't judge a book by its cover. The look and faint aroma didn't promise much, but the taste certainly delivered. Strongly sour and tart, lots of dark skinned fruit, sweetness buzzes in and out. Abv invisible, could not believe it's an 11.0.
Mouth closer to medium than full, finish a fruit laden drying sourness.
Overall, excelled Flanders Red. Sorry I went with the smaller bottle.
Nov 05, 2022Dark reddish plum body with no head until the last pour which turns the body muddy brown.
Light tart aroma.
This one comes under the heading, don't judge a book by its cover. The look and faint aroma didn't promise much, but the taste certainly delivered. Strongly sour and tart, lots of dark skinned fruit, sweetness buzzes in and out. Abv invisible, could not believe it's an 11.0.
Mouth closer to medium than full, finish a fruit laden drying sourness.
Overall, excelled Flanders Red. Sorry I went with the smaller bottle.
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