BFM Cuvée du 7ème

Hazy amber-orangeish hue, with a frothy beige head, yeasty, sweet toasty malt nose, with a subtle wet winey oakiness, with some fruity citrusy accents, with an earthy herbal floral hop note, with a hint of mustiness in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a yeasty, fruity peachy, winey character, with some caramelized malts, with a juicy flowery hop note, remembering me of the bitterness of cooked rapinis as my mother used to do, with a hint of coriander spiciness, leading towards a malty, fruity, lingering hop bittering finish.

750 from the Good Beer Store, Chapel Hill, purchased at a discount during their going out of biz sale. So, yeah, IPA? I don’t think so, even with the lively floral hops. It’s really a fairly emphatic Belgian blond to my taste, with some farmhouse ale qualities and less of a dry finish. Some citrus, some buttery qualities, and very pleasant overall. But glad I didn’t pay full price, all the same.

Nice copper color with a huge off white head that lasts for an eternity. The aroma is grassy with a hint of lemon and yeast. Very strong earthy flavor, spices and some bitterness in the finish from the hops--very grassy once again. The mouthfeel is very highly carbonated, which is a turnoff for me. Not an IPA--that is a ridiculous label for this beer! Unique for sure.

reddish brown appearance with a white head. flavor is unique. it almost tastes like a flemish sour to star with some spicy malt at the end. i do not taste much hops and the ipa label makes no sense to me.

Sample provided by jasonp. Hazy amber body with a large beige head - lasting, nice lace. The nose is lightly sweet and earthy with caramel, berries and hints of darker fruits. The flavor is very vinous with hay, bread dough and cotton candy. Medium body is soft with moderate, gentle carbonation.

2006 bottle, #276. Pours an opaque, caramel color with an amber tinge; head is full, yellowish, creamy, and mostly lasting with excellent, tight lacing. Nose is excellent and complex with lots of fruity notes to match rich malt tones an nice hop undertones; lots of apricots, crab apple skis, light overripe cherries, estery yeast, rich caramels, nutty toffee, sweet biscuits, and floral hops. Flavor doesn’t quite live up the nose; fruit notes of apricot and crab apple, faint dusty yeast, light caramels, and notes of oak and peanuts. Palate is medium, soft to lively, and velvety, drying as it progresses. Finishes with hops making a small statement with some floral, lightly spicy notes bringing a moderately light bitterness to match lingering crab apple notes and oak. Nicely done biere de garde with great rich, malt notes, nice fruity accents, and a balancing hop presence. No IPA by any means, but a well crafted beer nonetheless. One of the better examples of the style but an unlikable peanut note (which seems to be a theme in many biere de gardes?) detracts from the many other good qualities this beer carries.

Bottle courtesy of Knightly Spirits. I had to pour this quickly: upon opening, instant foam erupted from the bottle and did not cease flowing. Once I frantically filled my glass, I noticed a gorgeous muddy orange color over a large tan-ish head. Aroma is decadent; noticeable traces of caramel, hops, dark fruits, and oak on the nose. This is an IPA? Tastes more like a Rousse de Garde, like it says on the bottle. Heavy caramel and flame-fired wood, definite noticeable hop presence, but not enough for me to consider this an IPA. Slight astringent alcohol bite in the finish. High carbonation, full body. Very nice. I will probably purchase another bottle in the future for aging.

In the 330 mL flip cap bottle at Beertopia. Pours light copper with a ginormous off-white head. Very highly carbonated. Aroma is yeasty and a bit like pie meringue. Aroma is floral and nectar-like. Perhaps a bit of blue berries. It tastes nothing like the aroma. Pronounced quinine flavors not unlike tonic water. Has an unusual hop bitterness for such a style as this. The hops remind me of some cheap malt liquors. Some caramel flavors emerge at warming. Starts to get very candy sweet at room temperature. There’s a residual lingering bitterness on the entire tongue. Really mild, but nice.