Fantôme De Noel - Brasserie Fantôme

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.2/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On draft at Delerium Cafe

Holy shiz as not expecting such a dark Saison. Wow. Head is thick and creamy and off-white. The body is a hazy brown.

A weird melange of spice, some sweetness, wide open field.

Tastes like smoked malt is in it. It is a little meaty. Spice comes out peppery and it's got a sweeter sugar and holiday spice to it as well. Not the best combo. Light and prickly carbonation.

One of the weirdest beers I've run into. I don't even know.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2013 00:11:48 | More by MattSweatshirt

chumba526

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a 2009 vintage that aged for a year and was placed on tap for the occasion of Christmas Eve.

The ale appears amber red in color with a small white head.

It smells toasty and caramel like. There is a mild vanilla, cherry, fruity grassy and herbal flavor. I almost get a fruit punch smell, a grape smell and a plum smell. The smell of this ale is extremely amazing and is very complex.

It tastes slightly acidic/ sour; there is a nice fruity grape flavor. There is a great yeast flavor that adds a bit of a barnyard funky flavor to the beer. There is also a slight pepper flavor and a bit of a caramel flavor to the beer as well. The beer is pretty complex and there are a lot of flavors in the beer but they all complement each other very nicely.

The mouth feel is smooth and nice and the carbonation is moderate low.

The drinkability is really good for the alcohol percentage I can drink a few of these quite easily. The beer has a great balance to it and goes down smooth.

Overall a great beer that was really smooth and seemed to have aged very nicely. This is the best saison/ farmhouse ale I have ever had though it did not taste like a stereotypical saison. It was a great beer to have on Christmas Eve.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2010 23:07:41 | More by chumba526

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A wonderfully delicious winter (x-mas) saison.

A: Mahogany colored body beneath a fluffy offwhite head... good retention and nice lacing left on the glass.

S: While the citric, wheaty, grassy notes typical to saisons are gone here. The ripe dark fruits, cola and caramel are a nice substitute. The characteristic earthy funk is present and reminds you what this is... a lovely dark saison.

T: Mirroring the nose in intricate fashion, this brew alternates between the sweet and the tang. The sweetness of the cola and caramel are well balanced by the funk. The dark fruits acting as the bridge... Pleasantly spiced without over stimulating the tongue.

M: Moderate in body... a little heavier than I'd prefer.

D: Delicious, if not overly dense (in body and flavor) to make this one a multiple sipper. However, I hope to find this next winter when it returns.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2009 22:15:24 | More by callmemickey

charlzm

California

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Consumed 12/31/08 at Verdugo Bar.

Beer is a hazy orangeish-amber with a thin white foam skin. Some carbonation, neither too little or exceptional.

Aroma is tart and citric with a hint of "good" sourness.

Flavor is hard to describe, except to compare it to champagne mixed with ruby red grapefruit juice. Flavor is tart, though not mouth-puckeringly so.

Mouthfeel is unremarkable, save for a tiny amount of carbonation prickliness.

Not a complex beer, but very tasty. I easily finished the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2009 01:02:15 | More by charlzm

laituegonflable

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a vibrant red colour, cloudy but bright. Beige head, dense and thick, good retention. Lacing is decent.

Smells odd. Very sweet, with poached apple, cherry notes and merlot. Hint of barnyard funk on the midpoint. Otherwise, sweet.

Taste is more fruity again, with cherry, blackberry and some hints of peach. slightly dark, and mildly funky on the back with light phenolic notes. Coffee on here as well, otherwise all dark fruits and tart. The sourness comes as a bit of a surprise, but it's a welcome one.

Smooth enough, bit of fizz, bit dry, but alright.

Weird beer, no doubt. But balanced enough to be enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:13:23 | More by laituegonflable

ehammond1

California

2.53/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.25

Bottle (2010?)

Texas Liquor
Carlsbad, CA

(Aged for...1+ - 3 years)

One of the prettier Fantomes. A slightly hazed light copper or dark amber in color with a very persistent, large-bubbled light khaki head. Somewhat sticky lines of stick left down the glass. A pretty, darker saison.

Fairly nice aroma, though it also seems fairly standard for Fantome (which is a good thing). Wet, freshly cut grass, along with some faded dark fruit character, a bit of an earthy, outside barnyard yeast character, and some dry hay.

The flavor, unfortunately, does not follow the aroma. Highly bitter, lots of smoke, some plastic, lots of sharp cinnamon, and asphalt/drag strip are all present notes here. I don't know how else to describe the strange things I'm tasting. Though, perhaps there's a touch of dark fruit.

Medium bodied with fairly high carbonation, though there are strange, sandy, solid elements to this brew. Not good.

I'm not going to be able to get through much of this guy. Though to it's credit, this beer does look and smell nice!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:03:38 | More by ehammond1

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.11/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Pours muddy orange-amber with creamy to almost light tan head that lingers well in Fantome tulip.

Smell is fruit, bubblegum, grass and hint of some spice.

Taste is similar to smell but a bit more muted. Hints of fruit and grass. Sweet maltiness with just a bit of tart. Minimal bitterness late.

Mouthfeel is a little thin but very drinkable and refreshing.

Overall this was excellent. I love Fantome.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 00:02:43 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Lucho

Florida

4.06/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my Chimay Chalice.

Appearance: Pours a rust red with some sediment. Forms a massive white loose white head that gradually fades to a small head with patches of foam that collect around the surface.

Smell: Black Cherries covered in dark chocolate. There are subtle hints of winter seasonal spices such as cloves and allspice. I just wish It was still the holidays.

Taste: Bitter Sweet Chocolate with some sweet finish that are reminiscent of biting into a chocolate covered cherry. Right on the money with the smell. Easy drinking for 10%. The sign of a great one.

Mouthfeel: Light on the tongue with some carbonation. Almost dances around your mouth.

Overall: This sets the curve for a holiday beer that has it all...10% ABV, Fruit, Spice, and bitterness. I wonder how this will age?

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 08:32:31 | More by Lucho

elNopalero

Texas

4.66/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Cracked this one open after drooling over it for a few months. Meant to give it some more time to age but the occasion called for something special. Always a treat, Fantome.

This poured a ruddy, raisin-y cloudy red-amber with a heap of foam that died down into a thick, creamy layer.

The aroma is difficult to nail down. It is not like anything I would expect. While nosing it I imagined something akin to sour cherries atop a layer of stone fruit. Would the souring emerge with more time? Alas it is too late for me to find out. The label’s description mentions notes of chocolate or chocolate malt. While I can see how those lent this some color there isn’t a roast aroma on it in the least.

The flavor is equally intriguing, with hints of stone fruit followed by a similar sour cherry-like tartness but nothing dominates to the point of excluding everything else out. This has a long, dry finish. It is savory, if I can say that about a beer, and refreshingly tart. The closest comparison I could think of would be a Rodenbach with more of a body blended with a saison. And that doesn’t even come close to describing it. Loved it. At this point I’ll drink anything with that ghost on it.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 07:04:13 | More by elNopalero

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.06/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It opens with a mighty pop and a fog pours out of the neck. A very exciting start!

A - A cloudy reddish/brown body with an ample tan head. Darker than just about every "saison" I've had, but that's part of the point, I guess.

S - Tart cherries are probably the most dominant thing. Floral/earthy notes (this seems characteristic of Fantôme). Fairly simple, but nice.

T - This has many flavors that remind me of a dubbel. It's very malty with some dark fruit characteristics (like the cherries), but there is a tartness to it, as well as some smoke and roasted notes. Very weird combinations, a unique taste.

M - aggressive in booze and carbonation. The tartness is slightly puckering. It's not complacent.

O - a very interesting beer, and pretty good too.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 01:17:47 | More by ColdPoncho

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Rustic, earthy, and spicy. If you're wishing for that time machine that can take you back to when the term "farmhouse" meant something, then what's there not to love in this charming artisnal ale?

The beer's rusty color perfectly preserves its signature yeasty haze. The combination of color and cloud makes the beer look dense, but its abundance of carbonation and billowing rust-stained foam tells me that the beer is lighter and zestier. Oddly light on lace, the beer simply doesn't stick to the glass well although its persistent retention depicts high quality.

Strong earthy spiciness sets the aromatic tone with rye, peppercorn, clove, damp wood, soil, smoke, and an overall floral bouquet. Underlying malt elements of bread crust, dough, and caramelized barley support the spice notes but never rival for attention. Light on fruit, the scent of bruised peach, pear, and apricot have a light showing as the beer warms.

Grain sweetness kicks off the taste in a short-lived manner. Soon after, acidic notes of apple and lemon take hold and create a bridge toward the flavors of rye and whole wheat bread. It's overall husky tastes seems to complement well the flavors of peppercorn, smoked malt, light cumin, clove, and paradise seed. With little hops to mention, the balance of the beer relies on acidity and yeast spices to counteract the grain sweetness and earthen malts.

Incredibly characterful, the beer still retains a lighter overall body despite its creamy upstart and mild sweetness. The beer simply does a lot of work between the front palate and finish. Ending spicy, earthy, dry, and with mild warmth; there's also a naked tannin texture that creates mild powdery sensations.

The beer reminds me of readings that hark back to times when malts were kilned over open fires and a darker, smokier beer was produced. Though recent develops yield cleaner results, I'm glad that these examples are still around to give this beer enthusiast as grounded sense of wonderment.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 07:11:42 | More by BEERchitect

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a rust color with an off-white head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of some earthy notes along with some fruit overtones.

Tastes of the fruit notes mostly with some spiciness to round it out. Fruits lead off with dates, raisins, and figs. The fruitiness gives it a sherry feel. Moderate sweetness comes through and adds a slight candied effect to the fruits. Peppery yeast and some earthy hops come through and cut the sweetness. Finishes fairly dry.

Mouthfeel is medium-full with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is pretty good, but not quite what I want out of a saison.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 23:42:17 | More by ocelot2500

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up while on a beerventure with BPK59.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a nice super dark roasty rich mahogany stain hue with a one finger light tan hue that left minimal side lacing but very nice blanket retention.

S - Soft barnyard funk and light lemons. Some roasted qualities there, faint faint licorice. Deep in the nose though I get a faint hint of rubber. Hmm...

T - That nice faint barnyard funk to start, pleasant and lightly lemon. Then things get aggressive, strong roast notes, slightly sweet and bitter. Actually quite bitter, with a rather boozy finish. Actually, this is a messy finish.

M - Mouthfeel is solid, just like your typical Fantome . Good carbonation, really the only good feature.

O - Overall I was disappointed by this one. That slightly off putting nose along with the mediocre taste made this a massive disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 03:17:38 | More by rudzud

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 into a tall wine glass. Pressure cap and cork.

A - cork comes out of the refrigerated bottle with a loud pop. No gush. Pours with a large chunky white head that reduces shortly. Some whisps and a crown remain. Color is sort of a mix between a golden brown and ruby red, if that makes any sense. Like a apple cider, but more opaque.

S - apple cider vinegar, some bready yeast, pear and other crisp fresh fruit.

T - I'm not super well versed in Belgians, but this sort of reminds me of a cross between a bier de garde and a saison. It's kind of the best of both worlds. It's crisper and more tart than a bier de garde, but it has a nicer and deeper body than the saisons I've had. There's a little bit of funk hanging around. As it warms up some juicy fruit flavors come out, spiced apple and grape are there. Very nice.

M - good. Tingly carbonation. Light medium mouthfeel.

O - I saw this at a bottle shop and immediately grabbed it because its never here. I really liked it. Very crisp clean flavors. Really tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 23:06:10 | More by Beerandboards

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2011 vintage drank two days before Xmas 2012. Once again, much thanks to Cam for sharing.

This one pours a hazy reddish brown. An off-white retains pretty well leaving bits of lace.

Pretty decent scent, a mix of sour notes, apple, various musty fruits, weird veggie notes and yeast.

Taste is weaker to me, not bad though. Apple, spice, and yeast stick out the most to me, along with herbal notes, dark fruit and some bread. Definitely a bit oddball but not as appealing as many Fantomes.

Pretty good mouthfeel, a bit high on the carbonation maybe, hides the booze well as usual for this brewery.

Trying a Fantome is always a mysterious adventure and this was no different...however this one wasn't quite as good compared to their other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 19:03:43 | More by Chico1985

kojevergas

California

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Continuing my saison kick, I'm pleased to crack this gem. Acquired at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, California. Cost was around $15.00 USD. 1 pint 9.4 fl oz green glass (come on!) bottle with pressure cap over an embedded cork served slightly chilled into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are through the roof given the brewery, its reputation, and my previous experiences with Fantome's saisons. I like the style when it's properly executed, and Fantome tends to deliver. 10% ABV confirmed.

Imported by the Shelton Bastards.

Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated. I love the label.

Yields an extremely satisfying cork pop upon opening. No issues with beer surging up or anything.

A: Pours a three finger light beige-khaki colour head of slight cream, nice frothy foam, pretty good thickness, and fantastic retention for the high ABV; she'll probably retain for a good eight minutes. Not too shabby for 10%. Lacing seems okay; a little is sticking as the head recedes. Body colour is an understated dark caramel-copper; nontransparent but translucent. No yeast particles are visible, but then this pour is from the upper end of the bottle. No bubble show. A good appearance for a saison - especially with respect to the head, though I must say the body colour is a bit darker than I expected.

Sm: Caramel and biscuit malts are the first thing I get, along with some milky lactic notes. Spruce is definitely there as a tone throughout, shaping it much the same way I'd expect well-executed barrel aging to shape a stout; remarkable. Lots of spice, but they're so subtly executed and complementary it's hard to distinguish them. That, and I'm just that not refined at detecting them, okay? :) I search for the chocolate malt mentioned on the label don't find it. Some hints of roast, sure. Yeast is there, lurking behind the abovementioned lactic notes. Regarding the spices, I'd hazard nutmeg, clove, and coriander - though the spruce nicely covers them up. A delightfully subtle aroma all around, and one of substantial strength. I can't wait to try it. It's certainly appealing and alive. Still, it does lack the deep brett character of a saison like, say, Avec Les Bon Voeux.

T/Mf: Milky and lactic throughout, teasing the palate with a smooth tingle as it emerges in waves. Subtle spruce is there in the background tying everything together; not that it needs it: the balance is impeccable. Subtle spices (probably coriander and clove, but maybe not nutmeg) accentuate the understated unobtrusive biscuit and light caramalts that comprise the delicate foundation. If there's roasted chocolate malt in this, I'm not finding it. The lactic notes are dominant, hiding the yeast - which itself runs counterpoint to the spices, blurring the line between flavours arising from actual spicing and the spicy character of the yeast. It's largely smooth and wet throughout, but does dry on the climax to coax out the flavour, providing a fleeting moment in which the subtleties stand aside to let the core flavour through. It's neutrally hopped, with a hint of bitterness but only minimal floral character at best. Hopping here is to preserve. A touch sour right on the climax - perhaps the lactic yeast adding a flourish. It's quite nicely built for a saison, and the ABV is nowhere to be found. Undercarbonated, aiding drinkability but reducing presence on the palate to its detriment (perhaps its largest flaw). Perfect thickness. A remarkable saison.

Dr: Very drinkable for its high ABV, which is extraordinarily well hidden. I love the subtlety, but I would like more complexity. It certainly doesn't lack depth, but there are better saisons to be had - and I'm pretty sure Fantome brews a handful of them itself. As a saison (as in, implicitly a seasonal), it's nicely tailored to the winter. Sure, maybe that should be d'Hiver, but if Fantome wants to use Christmas as an excuse to brew two winter seasonals, I'm more than fine with that. That said, this is a pricey one - especially considering that other better beers from Fantome cost pretty much the same.

B

I actually wish I'd served it a bit colder. Refrigerate fully and let rest for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

Drank fine out of a goblet, but I'd have preferred a tulip - the narrower, the better.

It seems to lack sufficient carbonation to age well. I'd drink it fresh. Save your cellar for Fantome's other saisons.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 05:43:40 | More by kojevergas

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fantôme de Noël has an otherworldly appearance; its concealed, black-ish exterior warms only as far as Concord-purple to the light. Still, you can't see anything inside, it looks blind; its perfect clarity can't be appreciated because of the deep complexion. The surface is completely flat.

If I were to write my reaction upon first smelling the beer, well, let's just say that I'd have to clean up the language. It is without doubt one of the most unique bouquets I've smelled in some time. Notes of musty wood, black fruits and grape must/pomace instill a sherry or port-like quality.

This may be one of the darkest, richest saisons I've tried - balsam wood, cola, cassis, honey, black licorice, wild forest berries, dried herbs are among the many notes that might be appreciated on the palate. Still, it remains stylistically tart and 'funky' - a dusty, slightly sour texture ushers in the finish.

Despite the beer's massive, tannic black fruit and bright berry endnote, it is classically dry and yeasty. I'm unsure whether to serve it as a welcome drink or an after-dinner libation. This particular bottle (vintage unlisted, but aged at least 7+ years) is definitely oxidative and recalls a sherry or port.

Fantôme de Noël, like virtually all of this brewery's offerings, is the liquid equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting - combining flamboyant personality and technical virtuosity, it is prolific. This eccentric Belgian producer makes a worthwhile, if unconventional Christmas ale that will leave a mark, and a memory, with those who drink it.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:39:17 | More by biegaman

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Vintage bottle 2008

Pours a hazy orange-ish color, and a bit chunky, with a small white head. In the aroma, sour fruit, yet mellow and pleasant. In the taste, a sour bite, tart fruits, and a small presence of earth. A small sour bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry yeastiness and small tartness in the aftertaste. Big sour fruit, especially pears, earthy, and fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 16:11:21 | More by OWSLEY069

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage split with Chico1985. Reviewed from notes.

A- Pours with a very murky, brown body. An off-white head forms with a foamy texture and has decent retention. Small bubbly ring crowns the beer but no lace seems to form significantly.

S- Has more of a tart feel than I would have imagined. Tart apple almost sour notes hit me first with spices, dark fruit, grape and some funky notes following.

T- The tart fruit feel from the nose isn't as prevalent here but there are still notes of apple, white grapes, raisins and lemons. It seems like Fantome always has a plethora of fruit feel going on in it's beers. The yeast has a Saison feel bringing pepper, lemon, dark fruit and spicy floral notes. Definitely has an herbal feel and almost ends up being like a Saison/Gueuze/Flemish hybrid.

MF- Light and dried out body with a creamy/foamy feel overall. Lower end carbonation but the foam factor still exists. Slightly bitter spiciness and some tarts.

Very interesting and complex. I always have a harder time describing Fantomes than anything else. This beer gets better and better with each sip as layers of flavor seem to unfold. I guess it's not surprising that a Fantome beer seems to be a hybrid of styles and ages well.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 21:27:48 | More by cbutova

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

3rd Christmas beer - 2012

A: Poured from a 750ml bottle (bottle cap, no cork) into a Riedel stemless goblet. Nice ruby colored beer with a lovely 3 finger thick fluffy chestnut pillow head. Great retention, but not a lot of lacing. Really great looking beer, but not what I expected from something with Saison/Farmhouse on the label. Pretty clear at first but a lot of yeast as I got into the bottom third of the bottle.

S: Interesting nose combining grapes, sour apples, cherries, a little brett funk and a strange metallic note. Doesn't smell like a Christmas beer. But it's a Belgian, for sure.

T: Taste for me is dominated by tart cherry, green apple and grape notes. Despite the Noel designation and descriptors on the label talking about heavily spiced, I just don't get much of that at all. Flavor is almost like an expressively carbonated Flanders sour. No crisp pepperiness that I would normally look for in a Saison. I was amazed that this is 10% ABV, I never noticed it in the nose or on the tongue, just a little bit in the legs, post tasting.

MF: I would say this is a little on the thin side. You get a bit of the granulairity from the yeast, but the overall mouth feel is thin to me. Missing the dry pepper finish I would expect from a Saison.

I'm not super familiar with Fantome, but I know they have quite a following. This is a nice beer, but to me, it is not really a Saison and certainly doesn't bring much Noel / Christmas spiciness to the mix. Regardless, I enjoyed it, and would certainly buy it again, I just wouldn't wait until next Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 00:22:36 | More by JeffreyJDavis

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Poured from a corked bottle into a Dogfish snifter. Merry Christmas!

A- pours a dark, murky shade of amber with a paper thin offwhite head that quickly fades away to nothingness. Well...that's a very disappointing start. Just an ugly looking beer with no head at all.

S- nice aroma of grapes comes through, but not much more than that. Again, disappointing...I expect more nuance from Fantome

T- very one dimensional. Some light grape and apple, and not much else at all. Disappointing

M- flat as a board. Thin bodied. Dammit.

O- this one went down the drain after a few sips. Flat and bland is no way to go through life

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:52:36 | More by bigfnjoe

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Bottle opened on 12.19.12

A - Pours a cloudy, carmel brown with a fizzy one inch tan head that fades rather quickly.

S - Carmel, spices, toast.

T - Belgian yead, Christmas spices, Cinnamin, nutmeg, etc and a sweet bready malt.

D - Decent carbonation and a medium body.

O - Nice Christmas spice with a Belgian twist.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 07:13:02 | More by HuskyinPDX

WynnO

Florida

4.7/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Consumed at the Redlight Redlight, Orlando, 8 Dec 2012.

Poured into a mid-size snifter, this beer settled to a tan, opaque, cloudy affair. Head was light and frothy.

Danny's special conglomeration of spices were present on the nose as usual, although not as strong as I would like. That problem would have solved had I allowed five minutes to pass before dipping my schnoz into it.

Taste? Incredible I think. Balance is fantastic. Not a single taste bud is insulted as this one flows from bottle to stomach. It's just a tremendous Saison.

It was slightly gritty on the tongue, however this was anticipated given its look, and it fit the bill.

Overall---a world class Saison. Fantome RULES.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 15:45:38 | More by WynnO

WillCarrera

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle, no specific bottled on date but it's the 2012 vintage, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a deep garnet color, only a bit of light gets through, topped with a couple fingers of creamy beige head, which has good retention and lacing.

S- An interesting blend of spice (cinnamon, allspice), dark fruit and a slightly tart candied apple aroma. Also some yeast and funk.

T- Similar to the aroma, has flavors of cinnamon, allspice, and a tart apple flavor that's a bit more prominent than in the aroma. Dark fruit and caramel provide some sweetness. There's also a ncie amount of yeast and funk. Has a dry tannic finish with some wood and grape notes.

M- Medium-bodied, has a smooth feel with a very dry finish.

O- An interesting beer, while it isn't their best, this is another solid showing from Fantome.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 08:43:29 | More by WillCarrera

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed 12/9/12

Appearance: Cloudy, light brown - frothy, off-white head - nice head retention, leaves some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Classic Fantôme yeast and funk - Belgian yeasty funk with some general weirdness - clove, pepper, and some other spices - some grainy sweetness, some honey, and some light fruits - nice level of sweetness overall - lightly grassy

Taste: And, surprisingly, it tastes like a Fantôme beer - vaguely musty, yeasty - Belgian yeast flavors including bananas, cloves, and pepper - lightly spicy - some light fruits, such as apples and pears - spicy, yet clean for the style - lightly sweet, very mildly bitter, no alcohol flavor - lightly grassy and earthy, with some damp basement - perhaps a bit watery overall, which is odd

Mouthfeel: Medium body, nicely dry, nicely carbonated, smooth

Overall: Yeah it's Fantôme, but what makes it "Noel"?

This is a solid beer. But I don't know what makes it particularly ... seasonal. Perhaps it's a little sweeter and spicier than the "average" Fantôme, but I realize that statement isn't particularly meaningful. Ultimately, it's good, but not the best that the brewery has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:21:16 | More by angrybabboon