BFM Cuvée du 7ème

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

Courtesy cmillward. Cloudy brown pour, thick rocky white head. Nice floral hoppy aroma, some bubble-gum phenols present. Hops pretty mellow on the taste from sitting a bit. Sweetish taste, pretty straightforward Belgian characters. Nice slight tartness to the finish.

33 cL bottle. Dark reddish/bronze, slightly hazy with an off-white head. Aroma of dusty attic furniture (yeah, that’s right), some caramel, floral hops, light spice and apple. Flavor starts with a big presence of caramel, light brown sugar, aged malt, dust, herbal noble hops, pepper and pear. Pleasant sweetness level, satisfying dry finish. Medium/full body with lively, fine-beaded carbonation. Great lacing and head retention. Very nice beer. This was listed before a bier de garde - which I agree with much more than the current IPA listing.

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.

A calm pour produces a towering crown atop a cloudy, bronze-orange body. Warm and inviting aroma of cinnamon and red apples. Almost a visceral holiday ambience. Dusty, with a sweet mash of browned bananas with a little warmth. Similar in taste. Crisp, almost papery apple peels – warm in tone like a heavy cider mulled with nutmeg and other brown spices. Grainy, earthy, with skins of pecans and walnuts. Just a hint of sweetness. Comparable to Malbec. Woody, tart and bitter in the mouth – quite dry. Fairly light texture, though lasting. Interesting. Fantastic interplay. Thanks for sharing, Jason!

First off, this beer really isn’t an IPA. But it is really good. Pours a rather nice deep orange color with a thick and lastning white head. Solid floral hop aroma with light yeast and perhaps a little allspice. Slightly bitter start gives way to an extremely bitter finish. Definitely a solidly hoppy beer but but in the end it has some earthy notes and a light spiciness that really prevents it from being IPA like. Still, I’m rather impressed with this new wave of extra hoppy European beers. Severely underrated. ***At the time of this rating, this beer was categorized as an IPA.

Huge foamy tan head. Hazy darkish copper. Brown, sugary, fruity hops. Very fresh and lively aroma. Sort of a juicy fruit too. Initial taste of minerally spring water. Now the slightly roasty Biere de Garde taste comes in. Nice flavor too! Sweet minerally water, light woody hopping. Some sweet perfumey yeast. This is really tasty! Nicely rounded and great!

Thick, dark-copper/reddish-brown, murky body. Big bubbles. Spicy aroma - much like a Belgain beer woul be rather than an IPA, and it is very enticing. Slightly sweet, caramel notes and hoppy. The hoppiness is somewhat subdued, yet it has a strong, pleasant bitter finish. Very full flavored.

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.