BFM Cuvée du 7ème

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

2006 bottle, #276. Poured a somewhat murky mahogany with an insane amount of beaten-egg-like head. Overtly malty aroma and some slight sour/lambic notes. Predominate walnut, cherry, toffee and some slight bitter lemon.

2006 750 ml bottle. IPA it’s not at all, but it is good, being a unique amalgam of Belgian blonde and saison tastes, with just a tiny hint of lambic sourness. Enjoyable and a bit lemony. If you like this, you’d also like Flemish Primitive.

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.