BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Grand Cru 2007 (Pinot Noir Barrel)

Formerly brewed at BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Style: Sour Ale
Saignelégier, Switzerland

Pours a flat rusty ruby orange. Nose is metallic, hints of oxidation, red wine, and tree bark. Taste had a weird tobacco, smoky flavor, oak, red wine, hard to drink.

1.5L Bottle. Pours a deep mahogany with zero head or carbonation. Nose held tons of soft red wine notes as well as some black cherry and some booze. Amazing tart black cherry and red wine flavors....some sweet oak in there as well. Finishes with some soft tannins and butter popcorn, nice mouth feel even with the lack of carbonation. Great stuff all the way around

She stares back at me with her big amber eyes flecked with orange. Not much head to speak of, but in her case that is not detrimental. As my lady patiently awaits my attentions, her perfume is a blend of wood, vanilla, and soft earth, brown and rich with nutrients and life. Red apple pulp sprinkled with cinnamon rides along a sweet breeze of butterscotch and butter. As I breathe deeper, a warm hit of alcohol nips at the back of my nose. As our lips touch, she is tart, light, and clean-cut with crisp apple skins fading into their softer, sweeter, juicier bounty beneath. There is a gentle whisper of purple and black grapes, a subtle tribute to her Pinot Noir barrel maturation. As we grow ever closer, she opens her heart and soul, revealing lurid secrets of candied nectarines and tangelos, dry bitter pear skins, and that nasty dentist’s treat, sugar-free lollipops. Ok, that was a trip down memory lane I could do without, but it wasn’t overtly disturbing. A final flourish of dark grapes leaves my breath lingering with warm memories of oak, earth, and vanilla bean.

Pft. Who needs Pinot Noir when there is a beer such as this. I dare say that the barrels are finally being used for a proper and worthy purpose. Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes is a totally new brewery for me, but I would definitely love to see more of their offerings. Definitely worth their price (not cheap apparently) but they also came in huge 3liter champagne bottles that are lovingly hand-bottled.

(1.5L, 2007 vintage, bottle #79) Pours a cloudy amber-brown body with no head. Aroma of barnyard, vinegar, vinous, apple, and oak. Flavor of sour grapes, vinegar, caramel, apple, and noticeable alcohol with a dry oak finish. Needs more aging to fully appreciate.

On tap @ gingerman. Pretty sure this was the version comments seem similar to what i noticed. anyways Poured a cloudy orange/red body with a thin head. Aroma was very vinous. Vinous note seemed to overwhelm any other lighter malt notes to it. Flavor has a mix of tart fruit notes that was close to being astringent. The was a faint wood note to it. Body was overall pretty thin and there was no carbonation. Alcohol was present but did not feel like 11%.

Courtesy TheCheeseMan. Deep reddish-brown color, very little head. Aroma is tart, oaky, has a sweet fruitiness that was lighter than the bourbon barrel version. Taste is smoother than the bourbon barrel - I think the pinot barrel suits the brew better.

Thanks to The Cheeseman. Pours brown with a ton of fruit tartness in the nose with some oak and dark fruits. Flavor is tart with a nice kick and fine blend. This might have been my favorite of the barrel aged Bon Chiens.

(Sample Date: 3/14/2009 Source:Other) Bottle 192. Complex aroma cocoanut oak vanilla with a slight sourness. Slightly cloudy medium amber brown with little head. Slightly sour with some oak and light fruits. Medium body. Finish is very dry with peppery yeast and light bitterness and some warming. Very complex flavor and aroma profile. Excellent.