BFM Cuvée du 7ème

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

Poured a brown red/burgundy with a tremendous off-white head, sweet, cider-sour and funky (yeast) fragrances, found some cinnamon in the nose, citrus and malt fragrances, malt taste with some spices, faint sour on the tongue, hints of wood and wine in the mouth, lots of carbonation on the palate makes this a light drink, dry finish, nice brew.

The pour reveals a murky dark amber color with a creamy offwhite head. The aroma is great with its spices and welll balanced hops, malt and yeast, very appealing. The flavor is amazing, it feels like a superb fruity cake with malt, hops and yeast, all the elements are well balanced. The body has a light to medium thickness with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation. Amazing.

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.

Hazy dark golden orange colour displays a fat, foamy and regular shaped off-white head. Gently yeasty nose expressive on the herbal, green, woody and sprucey hops. Floral and spicy. I don’t know if they used spices or their yeast strain is just that good, but for a yeast-lover, it joins the realms of the greats, bottle-conditioned IPAs with complex aromas that go beyond hops (hitachino classic, alpine exponential and company). This one mostly focuses on aromatics, the bitterness being restrained, though it’s strikingly dry. Citrus and pine resin grow in importance toward the finish. Fair maltiness supports it all, sweetish and caramelly. Unnoticeable alcohol.

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!

2006: Pour is dark hazed orangey amber with a dense soapy off white head...smell is lightly citric with lots of yeast and a strongly caramel toasty malt scent...wow what a unique flavor!!!! taste is the first thing I taste is lightly tosaty malt flavors, then a strong funky tartness...the tartness blends into a light bitterness, tightening up the tartness a little...not completely, but it does leave a lightly bitter dry finish...

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.

Although BFM markets the 6 types of hops, the bitterness is well contained, and most substantiated in the finish. Superior tasty Belgian dark, with herbal aroma. Some caramel, grassiness, bold taste for merely 7.5%, citrus, coriander,