At the heart of the first Sour Ale Congregation in Saignelégier

Microbrewery Fridays - Max Moeschler

The Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM), a leading name in Swiss craft beers, has a long tradition of organizing events combining gastronomy, music and, of course, quality beers. Founded in 1997 in Saignelégier, the BFM has never ceased to develop distinctive, original beers, alongside a rich and often unusual program of events. July 14, 2018 follows in this footsteps, with a groundbreaking event dubbed «Saint Bon-Chien & Friends’: 1st Sour Ale Congregation».

This unique event takes its name from one of the Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes’ most famous creations: Saint Bon-Chien. The beer, in turn, takes its name from the brewery’s iconic mascot, a cat named Bon-Chien. Canonized upon his death, he became Saint Bon-Chien and inspired the creation of what would later become an international success and the official ambassador for its creators: the tangy Saint Bon-Chien beer. This beer is a mixed-fermentation beer with a red-amber color and high acidity. It is also unique in that it is aged for one year in oak barrels that previously held red wine. Highly aromatic, fairly tart, and complex, it seems to appeal to, a priori, aimed at a specific, discerning audience. It has nonetheless enjoyed great international success and serves as the brand's flagship product.

In fact, Saint Bon-Chien draws heavily on the tradition of Belgian “sour” beers, or lambics. This type of beer, which is very old yet little known, uses the technique of spontaneous fermentation: left exposed to the open air under very specific humidity and temperature conditions, the wort develops natural yeasts that gradually colonize the vats and convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This entirely natural process therefore requires time and optimal climatic conditions. Entirely dependent on weather conditions, this fermentation method has thus remained a niche practice—even a well-kept secret—over the centuries. The result is generally a beer with a very distinctive character and a decidedly tart flavor, with low carbonation and a moderate alcohol content.

The Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes therefore took the bold step of dedicating an event to this very unique type of beer. And it’s clear that BFM pulled out all the stops, inviting no fewer than twenty-one breweries from eight different countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, and, of course, Belgium. More than twenty-five beers on tap are available, along with the chance to sample numerous rare and surprising beers and chat with the many brewers in attendance. The brewery fills up as the afternoon wears on, and brewers, connoisseurs, restaurateurs, and curious visitors sample beers and chat in a cheerful atmosphere filled with the scent of hops, without any barriers caused by language differences. The fantastic setting provided by the BFM also contributes to the venue’s pleasant atmosphere and encourages the discovery of ever more original beers: white lambic with apricot, beer fermented in grappa barrels, beer brewed with red wine and blueberries, or even a daring blend of lambic and IPA.

The brewers’ creativity seems to know no bounds, and the Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes is paying a resounding tribute to the late feline Bon-Chien, who would undoubtedly have brought the event to a grand finale with one of his famous hoppy meows.

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Photo credit: © BFM