Fantôme La Dalmatienne (Light) - Brasserie Fantôme

laituegonflable

Australia

2.98/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a shiny gold colour with no head. Thin film around the edge with dense bubbles. Decent lace. Not bad, but not great.

Smells sweet, honey and nutty. Lots of almondy notes. Sweet predominantly with hints of Belgian phenols on the back. Marzipan, pecan and peanut. I'm definitely missing the funk here.

Wow, world of difference on the palate. So sour. A lot better, and yet still a bit simple and underdeveloped. Peanut notes, some chestnut, with tart vinegar character and some lemon/apple cider notes. Not particularly interesting, just tastes a little unnuanced to me.

Tart mouthfeel with pull from the yeast. A bit dry and acidic, but not bad.

Maybe it was a mistake following Logsdon's excellent Seizoen with this, as this just doesn't taste right to me. Tartness is there but there doesn't seem to be much else.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:07:31 | More by laituegonflable

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From: Gifted by CE, from somewhere in AZ
Date: None on bottle
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

Pours a light beige head of about 1cm, composed of medium to large-sized bubbles, and with below average retention (lasting under a minute). The head fizzes away to a thin ring around the glass, leaving a few modest spots of lacing along the sides of the glass. Body is an orange-amber color, transparent, with light bringing out a somewhat bright, rust-orange color. Carbonation is visible and fairly substantial, streaming up from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma is nearly candy-like sweetness with light toffee, hints of brandy, and lavendar/mint-like herbs. Not unappealing, but not particularly appealing, either.

Front of palate picks up light toffee and brown candy sugar-like sweetness. Mid-palate is brown candy sugar sweet, with prune esters, brandy, and medicinal or cough syrup-like flavors at times; it also includes a bit of "damp woods" like tastes, powdered cocoa, and potpurri-like herb usage. Back of palate picks up faded cherry-in-syrup flavors, toffee and brown candy sugar sweetness, and faint ethanol. Lingering aftertaste of medicinal/cough syrup sweetness with hints of brown candy sugar and prunes. Overall, quite complex, but perhaps overly sweet and a bit unbalanced in this regard.

Beer is medium-bodied, with slight wateriness around the edges. Carbonation is low in intensity, resulting in a smooth, though fairly stagnant mouthfeel that is just slightly foamy. Closes dryly, with little residual stickiness across the palate, despite the sweet flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:59:23 | More by falloutsnow

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml capped and corked bottle purchased from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, CA. Shared with @tobeerornottobe and @LaitueGonflable in Sydney as part of our Fantôme tasting day.

It uncaps without as much as a thunk, and pours similarly: rather flat and heavy. A mild ring of white forms around the edge, but otherwise it looks uncarbonated and pretty dense. Colour is a pleasant slightly hazed golden hue, and it picks up the light nicely: giving it a glow. Overall, it's not bad-looking, but is missing some of the key points of the style and the brewery.

Holy crap, what's going on here? Sweet and sour intensity, like heavily oaked botrytis semillon, with a hint of earthiness and a phenolic, gueuze-like bite. Some marzipan almond acridity. This is very strange: possibly just wrong.

Taste is similar, but maybe a bit better: apple and pear cider characters come through along with a pronounced acidity, and a slightly herbal and slightly carbonic bite on the finish. It feels rather thin, however, and has very little residual body: it's this more than anything that makes me believe this is not how it was supposed to be.

To be honest, I didn't hate it, even though it feels like this sample is infected with something that wasn't meant to be there: the stronger acidity is actually an interesting addition to the base Fantôme beer, which still managed to retain some character. But this is less good than it should have been, I feel, and I wonder just how much this has veered off from its goal.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 06:19:25 | More by lacqueredmouse

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours an almost perfectly clear golden yellow color, topped with an inch of fluffy white head, nice retention, leaves a bit of spotty lacing.

S- Really interesting aroma, lots of fruit (apple, pear, a bit of citrus) as well as strong spice, musky earth and yeast notes. Some clove, pepper and caramel malt as well, it smells awesome, and evolves as the beer warms up.

T- Similar to the nose, quite fruity with lots of apple, pear and a bit of citrus. There's a really perfect amount of tartness that I wasn't expecting from a saison, but it works really well. There's also some mild caramel malty sweetness in the center, with a dry, spicy finish. Musty, earthy yeast pulls everything together.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth and creamy, drinks pretty easily for 8.00%, although it's on the fuller side of medium.

O- A great saison, has a massive amount of complexity and character, the tart flavors also add a nice new dimension to the beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 20:07:49 | More by WillCarrera

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-cloudy gold with a thick cream colored head

S-fairly funky. Some spices. Caramel. Medium strength

T-comes in with a taste of some funk, but actually...it mostly tastes like sweet BBQ? I'm not lying. It's very odd. It tates almost smokey. After-taste is matching.

M-medium creamy carbonation with a watery finish

O-well, I never had a Saison like this before. Seems like it'd be a good summer Saison. I wonder what the dark version tastes like. Definitely goes down well.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 00:16:01 | More by AdamBear

larryi86

Delaware

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a tulip

A- A hazy golden copper color with a two finger white head.

S- Barnyard funk, earthy, a little sour, some light fruits, herbal, floral.

T- Funky, earthy, sour lemon, sweet apples, some sweet malts, floral, herbal, ashy/off finish that really throws everything off. The finish isn't as off putting the more I drink this.

M- Crisp, light body.

O- I like the nose and the beginning of the taste, but the finish hurts this beer a lot. I feel that drinking a whole bottle isn't an issue. This is the second beer I have had from Fantome and I am not really impressed, I seem to have really bad luck with getting good bottles...

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 02:19:17 | More by larryi86

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass from a 750ml bottle.

Pours a gorgeous golden color with some bright yellow notes and some nice haze to it. There is a nice 1 inch white head with some density to it but not very dense. White soapy bubbles are formed and they recede at a moderate pace. Not leaving any real lacing.

Strong funk notes. Old horse blanket and some nice corn husk notes a-plenty. It's been a while since I've smelled a true Belgian saison. Herbal and spicy notes are present including some nice fresh grain notes.

Grainy flavors start things off with some malt and some nice tartness. Lemony and citrusy juice notes are present and mix in with the funky horse blanket. There are grain notes mixed in with the tart notes and the funk. Interesting take on the style. Crisp and clean with a nice dry finish.

Pretty good saison. Fantome doesn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:48:59 | More by JoEBoBpr

BilbosNuts

California

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a very cloudy dark yellow color with no head at all. It appears very still with limited to no carbonation.

S: The aroma is amazingly complex. Earthy, funky, sour apples, lemon, grapefruit, grassy. All aspects are balanced as well, as none overpowers the other.

T: Not quite up to the standard set by the aroma, but it is still solid. Definitely more lemony and grapefruit-y in the taste. While the other aspects are present, they aren't as well balanced as the aroma.

M: Medium bodied with minimal carbonation. Very smooth with a crisp, tangy finish.

O: I really enjoyed this saison. It was honestly unlike any other saison I've had so far. While some aspects were a bit flawed, overall, it was very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to trying more from Fantome.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 03:10:36 | More by BilbosNuts

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 1/2" off-white head that dissipated quickly over amber liquid.

S: Oak, horse barn funk, floral and earthy hops.

T: Just like it smells. Horse barn funk and sourness, oak, malt along with a floral, earthy, and citrusy finish.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of fine carbonation.

O: As unappetizing as I have described it, this beer definitely is interesting and it begs for another taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 02:32:50 | More by DaftCaskBC

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Honey colored with white head that dissipates quickly.

Smell is strongly lemon with some funk.

Taste follows the smell initially. This is very tart. There is some definite horse blanket quality to it. Very little bitterness in the finish. Dry finish.

Mouthfeel is dry with average carbonation.

Overall good, but I am less of a fan of sours.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 11:21:48 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Cresant

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served this 750 mL green bottle in a Tripel Karmeliet glass. No date. The beer had a bright gold body and the heavy pour created a pithy loose, white head. The second pour was cloudier. The head left freckles of lace.

The smell was acrid. Grass clippings and mouldering hay. Peppery and floral. A very interesting aroma.

The taste was puckering tartness to begin with but that settled to a gentle floral taste. Smoke characteristic appeared late. Dry finish. Very well hidden alcohol. Very unique.

The mouthfeel was light in the mouth but there was enough heft to this one to consider it medium bodied. Mild carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 22:50:01 | More by Cresant

SalMineo

Massachusetts

2.53/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

I don't know if I got a bad bottle but the taste was awful. It had a very chemical taste to that disagreed with my mouth. The best way to describe it as drinking a corked or spoiled white wine or maybe a cheap scotch gone bad. It's the first Fantome I couldn't stand to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 14:21:52 | More by SalMineo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy golden orange color with yellowish hues and a very thin fizzy white head that immediately fades into a thin ring.  No lacing.  

Earthy aroma with funky saison yeast, light fruit, zesty spice and a prominent citrus character.  Lots of lemon peel and grapefruit along with a subtle vegetal/earthy presence.

Medium bodied and surprisingly tart with a dry, sour funk that lingers throughout into a slightly puckering, dry finish.  There's also a sweet fruit presence with lots of citrusy lemon as well as some apple and pear.  Hints of grass, hay, yeast and a vegetal earthiness.  There's also some faint spice that's nowhere near as strong as in the nose.  Just really weird, kind of like a saison berlinerweisse hybrid. Kind of one dimensional though with an odd sour and sweet fruit flavor.  Not too sour though, more puckering and dry.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 16:33:01 | More by corby112

illidurit

California

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle shared at the January 2012 Santa Cruz tasting at Sante Adairius. Pours a hazy pale gold with basically no head. Fantastic aroma -- this is the kind of beer you might spend longer smelling than drinking. Apricot shortbread cobbler comes to mind, along with a mulled cider spiciness: cinnamon and cloves, perhaps cardamom. Flavor is a little less engrossing. Semi-tart, semi-sweet, with a vague fruitiness -- apples first, then a touch of lemon. The alcohol shows through just a little, contributing a sharpness that pairs in the finish with a significant hop bitterness. Dry with low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 09:16:51 | More by illidurit

zeff80

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out hazy, straw yellow with orange highlights. It had a good deal of carbonation and a long-lasting, white head of bubbly foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled funky and phenolic. Mild notes of sweet caramel.

T - It tasted very spicy and funky with a touch of acidic tartness. Some sweet caramel undertones provide balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is really tasty. I just love Fantome beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 01:23:06 | More by zeff80

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

pours a golden yellow with loads of white fizzy and creamy head. retains lightly.

big fruit and funk with bits of light spice and pepper. bit of skunk.

i read some reviews before i made mine, and then had to make sure i was drinking the same beer. some fruit like apricot and grape up front. some apple. light tartness. quickly fades into charcoal and ash. finishes like an ash tray. no lie.... (after a while i guess i got used to the ash and stopped picking up on it)

mild carbonation, light and fluffy.

great but the ash and charcoal just kills the flavor. no thanks, never again.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:17:10 | More by hooliganlife

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Fantome outlined ghost tulip. Poured a golden yellow with a minimal pure white head. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, spices, wood, funk, citrus, and fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, funk, citrus, fruit, spices, wood, and grapes. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. I was really impressed with this one being my first time trying it. Everything on this one just worked really well together and made it really easy to drink. I enjoyed this one so much that before I finished the bottle, I call my local bottle shop and had them put their last bottle on hold for me. A really tasty brew that everyone should have the chance to try. A well done brew by Fantôme.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 20:23:44 | More by thagr81us

hwwty4

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a corked and caged 750ml into my Funnkwerks globe .

This beer pours a hazy gold with a massive 2 inch head and leaves decent lacing down the sides of glass. The aroma is tart funk, grapefruit pith with just a little bit of must. The flavor is much the same. Fairly actic tart. Mouthfeel is not as dry as most other Fantome's. Overall this is a fantasic Fantome product. One of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 01:44:44 | More by hwwty4

drabmuh

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another bottle drank in the woods with a bunch of dudes one night, shared by someone likely named Michael or Matt as it were.

Tasted out of a Fantome glass side by side with the other dalmatian beer.

Beer is nearly clear with a light yellow color, decent soft white one finger head of airy nothingness, low retention but lacing left behind.

Aroma is little fruity, sweet, apricot and lemons. Mild oakiness.

Beer is tart, sour at the back end, funky, sweet up front, light in body, really complex. I like it. Better than the dark version for sure. The sourness is somewhat of a shock, I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 17:46:37 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of yourefragile at a recent Fantome tasting. Served in a Fantome tulip. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a mostly-clear blonde color with a nice white head. The nose has plenty of acid plus some lemon and apricot. The flavor is pungent with lots of fruit and acid. Sharply pungent, slightly stinging the corners of my mouth. Light body and a very dry finish. Very solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:52:11 | More by Thorpe429

Neffbeer

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: It pours a pale yellow color with some cloudy clarity at best. There was a pop when I removed the cork put it poured really close to dead flat. No head with some small bubbles hitting the surface.

S: There are some strong citrus notes up front with a serious cheesy funky smell not far behind. The more I smell it I am reminded of a dry white wine.

T: The flavor is very vinous in quality with a nice kick of citrus to back it up. The lack of carbonation is not bothering as much as I anticipated. It still manages to finish clean and dry.

M: The feel is a bit thin without the bubbles, but at least it isn't overly sweet and syrupy.

O: I wish this one would have been properly carbonated as I can see myself enjoying it a bit more. It still is good brew, but falls short of what it could be.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 03:23:11 | More by Neffbeer

mdfb79

New York

2.88/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From 11/05/11 notes. Bottle shared by yourfragile at the mega-Fantome tasting. Poured from a 750ml bottle into my Cigar City snifter.

a - Pours a murky dark yellow with light carbonation evident and less than an inch of white head.

s - Smells of citrus hops and a tiny bit sulfur-ish. Not sure if this is a bad bottle or what, but overall the smell is not very good.

t - Tastes of lemons, citrus hops, apples, and lightly sour fruits. Much better than the nose but still not great.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. A little bit undercarbonated.

o - Overall not my favorite Fantome. Nose seemed a bit off, and the taste was a little sour and faint. Wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 21:53:06 | More by mdfb79

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by yourefragile. Thanks Michael.

Sampled alongside twenty other Fantôme beers.

The beer appears a very hazy yellow, with virtually no head or lacing.

The aroma is something to behold. I'm not sure if I love it, despise it, or both. Since I keep sticking my nose in the glass searching for an answer, it must be alright. Ripe onions and funky apricots amid a yeasty, floral base. Truly unique.

The flavor is tart, sour, intense. Apricots and Vidalia onions. Sharp and puckering. Acetic. This beer sinks into your cheeks.

Medium bodied with low carbonation. Lip smacking and cheek burning tartness.

Overall, a unique brew, and worth a try, though certainly not my favorite Fantôme of the lot.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 03:30:14 | More by Huhzubendah

DaveJanssen

British Columbia (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured form bottle into 25cL karmeliet tulip. Opens with almost no pop

Ar: Sweaty smoke, funky in a not great way. This is a strange beer. tart, the smoke dominates, lemony acidity

Ap: Clear gold, light white head, good retention

T: A distinct smokey character, like smoked nuts, was the first thing that stood out. Fruity sweetness, mildly tart. Smokey spice finish. A pleasant mild saison character in there with lemon and mild hop spice, but funky barbecue dominates the finish.

M: Light body, medium carb, slight tartness, lingering smokey feel.

O: I know there can often be unique spicing in these beers but this smokeyness really caught me off guard. It is interesting and weird. I don't think this is what the beer ought to taste like.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 02:40:25 | More by DaveJanssen

ehammond1

California

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle

Port Bottle Shop
Carlsbad, CA

Cloudy, hazy, and murky orange, yellow, and gold with nearly no head whatsoever. There is very little carbonation here and lots and lots of chunky sediment.

Bright floral and citrus aromas with peach and apricot leading the way. As the beer warms, the citrus become more and more present. It's quite nice and very unique.

This is a very sweet saison dominated by peach citrus. There's nearly no bitterness whatsoever, and while very simple, it's very tasty. It's more like a fresh (peach) juice than any other beer I've had.

Medium bodied with very low carbonation, though I think it works quite well with these flavors.

A strangely unique beer, but very tasty. I suspect this one to be very polarizing; if you're expecting or hoping for anything other than a juicy peach saison, look elsewhere. If that sounds like something you'd quite enjoy, buy a case! (That being said, with Fantome's batch/bottle variation, who knows what one may find!)

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 21:48:48 | More by ehammond1