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La Salamandre basilic

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Yeasty and lightly herbal, with a hint of basil: this unfiltered white beer with basil at 5.5% is a spicy wheat ale from the Swiss Jura brewery BFM. Basil is the namesake ingredient of the Salamandre basilic. BFM makes its beers by hand in limited quantities in Saignelégier. Saignelégier lies on the Franches-Montagnes plateau, the region the brewery is named after.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicyyeastyherbal
spicy
yeasty
herbal
wheat
clean
coriander
Aroma
The nose leads with earthy, peppery spice and bright herbal notes of fresh basil, the beer's defining botanical character.
also:citrusy
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for La Salamandre basilic

◎ Appearance

Pale straw yellow with a hazy, cloudy appearance characteristic of an unfiltered witbier. A dense, creamy white head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass walls. Fine carbonation creates a gentle shimmer throughout the body.

pale straw yellowhazy, unfiltereddense white headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with earthy, peppery spice and bright herbal notes of fresh basil, the beer's defining botanical character. Beneath sits a distinctive yeasty, phenolic foundation typical of witbier fermentation, mingling with soft wheat grain and a subtle backdrop of citrus peel. The profile is crisp and aromatic without being aggressive.

basil, herbalyeasty, phenolicwhite pepper spicewheat grain, citrus

◐ Taste

The palate opens clean and refreshing, with prominent spice notes and a light, grainy wheat character that builds through the mid-palate. Basil emerges as a genuine flavor element rather than mere aroma, layered with coriander and a light citrus zest. Bitterness remains restrained at 15 IBU, allowing the herbal and spiced dimensions to dominate; the finish is crisp and dry.

spicy, pepperybasil, corianderwheat, grainycrisp, dry finish

◑ Finish

Medium-short and exceedingly clean, with residual herbal and spice notes fading smoothly into a light grain aftertaste. The mouthfeel remains refreshing and light throughout, leaving no heaviness or sticky sweetness.

clean, dryherbal fadelight, refreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
75
Serve at 5–8°C

Serve cold to preserve the delicate citrus and spice aromas. Too warm and the yeast esters become heavy — too cold and the coriander disappears.

Witbier glass

The tall, slender wheat beer glass holds the full 50cl pour and shows off the hazy golden colour. The wide mouth lets citrus and spice aromas drift upward freely.

Best consumed fresh. Citrus and spice notes fade after 3–4 months. Drink within 6 months of packaging.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with La Salamandre basilic

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About Witbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Witbier?

Witbiers are Belgian white ales brewed with unmalted wheat, 4.5–5.5% ABV. Hazy and refreshing with citrus peel, coriander spice and a soft creamy body.

Finding a similar Witbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, yeasty, herbal character as La Salamandre basilic will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Witbier beers in hopIQ →New to Witbier? Read our guide →Browse Switzerland beers →