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Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien |
Boldly treading the boundary between port, wine and beer, l'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a unique ale aged in wooden casks which have been used for several years before to age Merlot, Merlot Cabernet, Whisky and then Grappa. It manages to merge into L'Abbaye all the complex aromas of a vintage red wine along with the delicate harmony and flavors of the wood and its former contents. This process requires close monitoring of the beer's evolution. The final version is blended from different casks, to ensure optimal balance, complexity and enjoyment! A mere one thousand bottles have been earmarked for the US market in 2006.
[Thus named in fond memory of Bon-Chien, the late brewery cat, deceased in June 2005, whose antics were very popular with brewery visitors]
Try it with pan-fried duck breast or foie gras deglaced with Modena balsamic vinegar or with a high cocoa contents dark chcolate.
The beers of the Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes are flavorful top-fermenting beers, brewed according to ancestral accounts of master craftsmen brewers. Double Fermented before bottling, they are unfiltered and unpasteurized to preserve their flavors and smoothness.
They can be enjoyed before, during and after a good meal. To serve them, tilt the glass and pour delicately, while allowing a nice foam collar ensuring a good release of the flavors. The ideal temperature of serving is between 6 and 8 degrees C.
L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2005:
Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2005 was blended from 1 wooden barrel of grappa, 3 of Pinot Noir, 6 of merlot used for Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2004 It is floral with a touch of lavand oil. It just has a bit of carbonation. To give nerves to the beer.
It is of course a bit different as the other vintage, a bit more alcohol, the same pH, a good balance and a long and powerfull aftertaste. It is floral with a touch of lavand oil.
Notes from Jerome Rebetez:
"It is different from 2004, it is stronger at 15.0% Abv. and more spicy than 2004. I compared the 2 vintages and for me, it is a bit more complex in 2005 than in 2004, with a longer finish. But the balance between sweetness and sourness is definitely different."
L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2006:
Notes from Jerome Rebetez:
"For 2006, it will be more 2004-like, with less alcohol. And I guess the bouquet is going to be more fruity-winy. But believe me it is not so evident to mature in oak barrels, no one is similar and it is more a vintage than a simple batch
For my barriques supplier :
6 barriques are coming from Burgundy, they had Volnay 1er cru (Bernard Loiseau), it is Pinot Noir
2 had grappa
1 had Ron
12 came from Jura with special winegrapes developped by Valentin Blattner
The rest comes from Merlot and Cabernet – Sauvignon from Tessin, Tenuta Bally"
Limited Edition Magnums:
For 2007 we are releasing a limited edition of Abbaye de Saint Bon Chien in magnum bottles. There will be two versions available: PN (Pinot Noir) & BO (Bourbon). Both versions have been aged in a single barrel.
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Picture: Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 25.4oz bottle.
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