BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2007

Tap at The Diamond: Pours a hazy headless amber. The aroma has apparent alcohol, with notes of acetone, cranberries, a touch of oak, leather and more alcohol that tingles the nostrils. Slick body, with tons of apparent alcohol in the flavor. When it warms some cranberry tartness and earthy brett notes are detectable (leather), with some oak tannins as well. The finish is pleasantly dry, but the alcohol just masks all other nuances that would make it great. Slightly disappointing; perhaps age will mellow out the alcohol.

Bottle. Pours a bit of a hazy brown, hint of red, with a thin, fizzy off-white head. Nose is just a bit hot, dark fruits and raisins, vinous, big round sourness with a sweet, over-ripe note. Taste is big and rich, sour - raisins and sweet bread, soaked in a mixture of rum and red wine. Sweet and vinously sour, rich with dark fruits, alcohol, and a rich bready note underneath. Carbonation is a bit understated, syrupy body. Interesting beer, a bit of age to temper the heat would really help, but a solid beer nonetheless.

Pours an orange-brown with a fizzy head... good retention. The aroma is wonderful... lots of light yeast, apples, cinnamon, with hints of malt and maybe tiny traces of chocolate peeking through. The flavor is like a combination of a Duchesse de Borgogne and a geuze, with some of the nice strong breadiness of a Gouden Carolus Grand Cru. So it’s essentially a combination of some of my favorite beers. For the price, I wouldn’t buy it too often, but you have to try it at least once. I’m really impressed with BFM, they really make great beers.

Bottle pours a rusty brown body with a small and quickly vanishing beige head. No lacing. Aroma of musty old oak logs, caramel, vinegar, and apple cider. Earthy and woody feel on the palate with subdued carbonation. Taste features very prominent oak tones, joined by sour cherry skins, apple cider, vinegar, and other tannins. Tastes more like a lambic than a sour ale. Alcohol is concealed very well. A pleasant experience.

750 ml bottle shared by cdog69. Pours dark amber/brown with no head. The aroma has come gape tannins, Sweet Tarts, and vinegar. Cider flavors, with some kind of candy thing going on. Very acidic and tart. Full body. Average carbonation. Dry finish. Pretty good.