BFM Cuvée du 7ème

Brewed by BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Saignelégier, Switzerland

A rich, hazy maroon colour and a very large, red-tan creamy head make for a beautiful introduction to this beer. The aroma isn’t one to smack you across the room with an abundance of malts or hops, but the depth and nuance are spectacular. There’s a heavily toasted edge to begin the affair along with the nutty pungency of black walnuts. Spicy caraway seeds and orange rind add a bit of zing to the aroma. Bright, but never overpowering, the floral hop aroma builds another layer of complexity. The prelude is completed with a soft, musty yeast presence and a fleeting hint of red wine vinegar. Toasty and spicy to start, the flavor shows moderate initial sweetness balanced by a muted fruity acidity. Meandering to an off-dry finish, earthy yeast and floral hop elements appear, resolving into a walnut-laden aftertaste. A velvety texture and bustling, pinpoint carbonation moves this medium-bodied beauty along briskly. Quite a lovely affair--I definitely need to find another bottle for Thanksgiving dinner! 75 cL bottle, Burgundy glass.

Bottled. Hazy orange colour, mediumsized white head, with stuff floating around. Aroma is sour fruits with earthy hints. Flavour is fruits, plum, slight metallicness and enourmous sourness. Pleasant!

Bottled (2004). Nutty brown, decent still tan head. Fruity (apricot, plums) with a Brettanomyces-yeast aroma. Sour, loads of dried, sweet prunes here. Fruity and sweet - I like it!

Bottle sampled with Beerded_one. Pours orange\brown with a large beige head. Aroma of spices, caramel, fruit, and citrus. The flavor is smooth, fruit, caramel, floral, and slight hoppy presence. Good body, good brew.

Bottled, thanks Bov! Cloudy amber, lively head. Tart and lemony with some caramel. Vinous with red berries, prunes and freshening acidity. Russian River-like tartness and complexity. A fantastic beer!

Strong caramel and doughy malts are tempered by herbal, spicy, piquante hops in the aroma. Opaque, burnished copper coloured body is topped by a decent and lasting, fine bubbled, tan head that leaves some sudsy lacing. Caramel malts and herbal, floral, earthy, perfumey hops each have a chance to shine in the incredibly balanced yet assertive flavour. Earthy and woody notes are strong. Mineralic quality like a rock drying in the hot sun after a quick rain shower with pine trees and bracken. Medium body with strong, lively yet soft bubbled carbonation that engages the tongue and opens up the tastebuds. More please? Sampled at Mondial 2006.

The aroma is powerful and pleasing: sour apple, caramel, grass. Pours with a very dense creamy tan head . Upon tasting I found this beer SO well balanced! One need not strain to detect individual flavors - they are spread out in vivid technicolor: tangy citrus peel, sweet and mellow cake-like malts, and grassy, day at the park hops. Also detected a little spice and a little yeast funk. It’s like an extra rich Saison! In fact this is kinda like Fantome’s Bris Bon-Bon, but a little more interesting, if not quite luxurious in terms of mouthfeel. Unlike many Biere de Gardes, this beer doesnt seem overstuffed with the toungue fireworks. Well done! Highly recommended..

Clear, amber body with a moderate, tightly-packed tan head. The aroma is an awesome blend of caramelized, grainy malt and dense, layered hop character. Sweet maple, caramel, tea leaves, whole grains, earthy, leafy hops, some mild raisin, sweet apples and a spicy (vanilla, cinnamon), slightly estery yeast hint. The body is full and robust with soft carbonation; it’s quite pleasurable and velvety on the tongue. The flavor starts malty and slightly sweet, until some tea-like leaves add a little bitterness. As it progresses toward the end, it becomes more and more bitter. The various hops seem to have been added with some emphasis and not just as a gimmick. The bitterness is a little shocking, but actually quite enjoyable. It’s a little expensive to do as a regular beer, but I feel like I could drink a lot of this. Quite the pleasant find.