BFM Cuvée du 7ème

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

Hazy copper gold with a thick off white head. Strong herbal hops, with caramle malt, very organic and pleasant. In mouth, an intense mix between an IPA and a saison, herbal hops (I heard 7 hops) with interesting notes. Rich and complex. Mondial 2006.

2006 Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, rocky, off-white, fully lasting. Body is hazy dark amber, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (cooked caramel, cookie, toasted bread), lightly to moderately yeasty (cobwebs), lightly hoppy (flowers), with notes of cave earth, peach/nectarine, light note of alcohol, pomegranate, candied tropical fruits. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Really fruity and enticing aroma, very very sexy. The flavor isn’t as rich and satisfying as Bavaisienne, but this was really delicious.

Bottle from Ledgers in Berkeley, CA. Hazy dark amber color with a decent creamy beige head. Light seeded fruit aromas over roasted malt/caramel. Seems a bit acetic. Medium plus body with creamy carbonation. It is quite astringent. Woody maltiness follows the fruity hoppiness. The finish is like sucking wood. Arguably a very light touch of funk. The sort of IPA where the hop results in something other than bitter. There is arguably some bitter, but astringent is a much more appropriate term. My mouth seems to be dehydrating. A beer to enjoy rather than guzzle. Going down pretty fast though. Very good 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.

Bottle and served in my other NB worthy glass: Deep amber hue with coppery highlights, fading frothy head and spotty lace. The aroma has notes of cherry pits, apricot, caramel, rye bread, hint of barnyard yeast and sadly some medical cleaner and phenolic activity.

The taste is moderate acidic fruits over layers of pale malts. Some herbal and earthiness found as well. The finish is lightly peppery and woody. The mouth feel is lively and dry with that damn medicinal aftertaste. Okay but there is something about this that I found stand-offish, very disappointing.

(IPA...say what?, yo admins please change this)

Shared bottle at JK’s Spring Gathering. From the bottle it pours an opaque burnt copper brown with a creamy tan head. Lacing is very good. Aromas picked up were tart lemons, caramel, prunes and perfume hops. Taste was tart fruit, some grass, and caramel. Finish was a dry sour and then a quite warm aftertaste.

Bottled. Poured a medium orangey-caramel with a tall, creamy off-white head… left nice lacing as it went down. Aroma picked up soft floral and dusty lemon with more (different) floral coming shortly afterward.. soft and intriguing with some unidentifiable spicage and sweet cherry rounding it out. Dusty cherries, very dry floral, and an array of chalky spices characterize the flavor.. left a sticky, odd finish. Smooth and creamy on the palate with some prickly pepper notes.. higher carbonation.

Poured a hazy amber color with a large roacky off-white head. The aroma was citrusy and mildly tart with some yeasty dusty notes. The flavor was a mix of malt and citrusy hop. Big warming sensation for only 7.5 ABV. The finish was mild-moderately bitter and spicey.