Fantôme Pissenlit - Brasserie Fantôme

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Good saison, 2004 bottled. Grassy aroma in there. Well carbonated and tasty spices and citrus. The use of dandelions was in the cartoon, but I didn't take it seriously. I am in fact allergic to it in the spring season. I guess its good I had it in late winter. The bomber takes a long lunch to get through but doable without ill effects. Alcohol was disguised by fizziness, but proved to be a knockout. This is a robust beer as all the fantomes.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2005 05:21:21 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Coppery ripe apricot with a hint of coral red. I was expecting a hue much closer to dandelion yellow, but am not disappointed in the least. In fact, the color is the best part about the appearance. I am a little let down by the clarity though; perhaps a little yeasty murk is yet to come. The golden beige cap is creamier and less airy than on most beer of this style. A good look overall.

The nose is saison-like; no surprise there. It'll be harder to describe what makes it so. A warm, earthy spiciness is its primary feature, along with an enticing herbalness. I don't believe that I can pick out the aroma of dandelions though, largely because I'm not sure what they actually smell like (I'll resist the urge to go out to my backyard and find out). Not outstanding, but pleasant enough in a rustic, farmhouse sort of way.

Three offerings--so far--are hardly enough to make such a blanket statement, but I don't believe that Brasserie Fantome brews anything other than good (or freakin' outstanding) beer. Pissenlit is solidly in the good camp. There's no way that I can pick out the various flavors so I won't even try. Again though, nothing strikes me as obviously dandelion-like. It would help if I knew what the little yellow weeds actually tasted like.

There's a bit of a toasted pale malt sweetness underlying all the yeast and spices and herbs. The potpourri that is the latter two is appealing to me and is becoming more so the more I drink. Alcohol is next to absent on the palate, another Fantome trademark. Whatever sugar is present initially says 'adieu' by the finish so that the beer ends up favoring modestly bitter and drying. Crisp doesn't apply. Refreshing does. As does delicious. As does compulsively drinkable.

A fine storm cloud of yeast has now appeared in the glass (I'm in the bottom third of the bottle) and the fascinating color is some kind of beautiful. I don't usually break out the big numbers unless there's a better than decent display of lace, but what the hell. This is great looking beer.

The body/mouthfeel is neither light and airy, nor is it full and sticky; it's somewhere in the vast middle. It does have a quality feel though and the fact that there's something less than a Belgianesque amount of carbonation doesn't detract from my enjoyment in the least. A hint of stickiness on the back end is a nice feature.

Pissenlit is French for dandelion and translates as 'pee in bed' due to the diuretic properties of the plant. I don't feel a pressing need to finish this review (and I'm not in bed anyway), but I may feel differently once milliliters 600-750 have been consumed. If Brasserie Fantome didn't exist, beer geeks would have to invent it. I love the idea of a small, talented, dedicated, quirky Belgian brewer who thinks outside the box. And I love his creations even more.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2006 16:00:12 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

So it is not everyday I get to crack a new bottle from Fantome. I was actually quite excited to try this one. I had heard some really nice things. Served chilled and poured into an oversized wine glass, this one was consumed on 09/15/2009.



Ehh on the pour. No head at all, minor bubbles on the side that quickly left and only the slightest bit of lace apparent and even that faded off quite quickly. Dull golden color without much in the way of life in it. Again not terribly impressed here. Aroma was light, small hint of tart apple, lots of grain notes and hints of light floral touches bouncing around the outside of it. But far too light for me to be really engaged. Light flavor, grape peel, flowers, hints of light grassy notes and a lightness to it that really just seemed off to me. Flat feeling on the sips as well, really just not coming across that great to me at all. Light and easy to drink, but I just did not feel really compelled to follow through on it any more, just did not hold my interest.



Overall it was ok, but I would not really have the need to go back to it again. Probably the least complex thing I have had from them by far. Not sure what it was intended to come across as but I am hoping this was not it.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 00:55:09 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.47/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from 2003 shared by Craig/Ted. Thanks!

A: The pour is a bright orange color with a big white head that eventually settles down to a thin layer.

S: A great funk and must to the aroma with fruity citrus notes of both lemon and oranges, along with lots of floral character (as I would expect). The typical spice esters of Fantome are present as well.

T: Nice and lemony (mildly tart) up front with an intense floral quality following. Some musty and earthy funk gives this a nice "wild" character. Subtle spices fill in where they can.

M: The body is medium with a full, rolling carbonation.

D: Man, this was great. Aging Fantome beers tends to be a big toss up, but this really paid off.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 19:45:01 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a nice, slighly-light copper color with a white head. A bit of sticking lacing on the way down. Nose brings forward quite a bit; highly unusual, as is often the case. The predominant scent seems to be some sort of grassy, floral scent that's hard to place. In addition, a good amount of lemon, hay, and a little bit of musty funk. Taste is really floral and a bit grassy. Some light citrus notes as well. A bit of hay. Feel is really nice with the floral character livening things up and drying out the finish just a bit. Unlike many of Fantome's more unusual offerings, this one nails the drinkability factor.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 23:52:41 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours up a slightly murky, dark orange body with a well-sized, foamy, white head.

Smell: Touches of sweet-scented barley mingled with notes of freshly-squeezed lemon juice, spices, juiced apples, dialed down funk, and a long midday walk near the garden section of a Home Depot.

Taste: Light base maltiness with a touch of mildly sweet toffee crumbles. While you are treated to a fruit taste of crisp, cut apples, it's the tart lemon that is the real standout for me. Lemony, lemony, lemony. Delicate spice character, though you also get a meager taste of crystallized ginger. Sure, I do get plenty of strong floral tones, but my mind leaps to lilac or chamomile instead of the humble dandelion. Though I've had dandelions in a few salads and, in one curious instance, atop a pizza, I have not found the flavor to be overly appreciable. Emerging earthy grassiness upon slight warming. Subtle funk character. Lightly acidic. Finishes perfectly dry and with a very effervescent charge of bubbles.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Well carbonated - quite lively, I must say!

Drinkability: Nice work, Fantôme. An excellent, highly refreshing saison! Like the standard Fantôme Saison, this one drinks incredibly well and I find I reach the bottom of my glass at lightning speed.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 17:16:33 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured an orangey color ale with a huge off-white head with perfect retention. Aroma of light spices which possibly includes cumin with some subtle funky yeast. Finish is slightly bitter but I would have expected a bit more at the end. Body is way too thin which kind of ruined part of the experience for me. Alcohol is well hidden. Overall, this is a very fine saison but I guess I was expecting another funky spicy monster which is not what this is about it seems.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2005 14:42:20 | More by Phyl21ca

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A short head of frothy white foam resides over a hazy orange body. Its very fine, natural carbonation helps it to maintain a creamy collar and lacy surface covering throughout the glass; and it leaves some minimal short-lived lace with each sip. The nose is floral, grassy and somewhat citrusy with a touch of "barnyard"; and it exhibits some fruit and a touch of sweetness as well. It's bright, interesting, and invigorating with a bit of complexity. The body is medium/light with a delicate, natural carbonation from bottle conditioning that gently caresses the palate before fading smoothly away. The flavor offers an incredible balance between lightly sweet malt and gently tart yeastiness on either side of a distinctly grassy, herbal, and floral character. It finishes dry, and a touch powdery, with a short lingering fruity-sweetish-tart malt note and some low-key herbal and delicately spicy-grassy hops. It's a really interesting beer that appears at first to be more than it is; reveals it's true self upon tasting; and then displays more complexity than it alludes to while still remaining very straightforward. It's quite drinkable, and most enticing. An impressive beer that should be on the "must have" list of any Belgian beer fan.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2003 03:36:33 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Sloeber tulip glass.

Pours a slightly hazy golden amber with about a finger's worth of sturdy white head that sticks around for quite a while, leaving a nice bit of lacing behind. The smell is a bit weak, but hints of spice, banana, clove, and even those dandelion flowers are all present. The taste has that spice, but then leans heavily toward a sour grapefruit, mixed with a tiny bit of bitterness and an underlying combination of grass and earth. The dry finish holds its own tartness. Though a relative love for saisons might be necessary to enjoy this brew to its fullest, its heavily moderate body helps keep the overall drinkability pretty high.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 16:30:30 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is yellow and hazy with a soft white thin head of tiny white bubbles that breaks quickly forming a halo around the glass that leaves very little lacing, carbonation is lower than expected as well.

Aroma is interesting, it has a slight off putting aroma to it that I'll describe as grass clippings. I know this beer was made with flowers so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that this is the way it is suppose to smell. Other than the grass I smell some tea like spices and some earthiness as well.

Beer is medium to light in body and the grassiness carries through but somehow it's not bad. It's interesting, I don't know if I would drink the whole bottle myself but it does taste like flowers smell. I would be tempted to speculate that there was a new hop in there but I believe it's the flowers. Finish is nice, drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 20:07:28 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottle provided by blutt59 and tasted at thirdeye11's birthday tasting.

Pours a cloudy straw yellow with a minimal white head. Strong saison smell with some light funkiness and some citrus. The taste has a little funk and quite a bit of citrus, mainly lemon. Great drinkability and very refreshing. Very dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 22:33:50 | More by Mora2000

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2003 Bottling, Sampled February 2004
A sour aroma escapes from the bottle as I pop the cork. The beer pours a brilliantly clear orange-gold color. It is topped by a cream colored head that is kept afloat by a high level of carbonation that streams through the beer. There is a sour, herbal, softly floral, but interestingly sweet aroma to this beer. A nice light and refreshing beer. There is a light sweetness to this mostly dry beer. It is lightly acidic with a soft fruitiness to back it up. The finish has a light spiciness and is lightly astringent as well. There is a definite herbal-vegetal taste to this, which, could almost be mistaken for being hop derived, but must surely be the dandelions coming through. This is an interesting beer that would be far more appropriate if I had sampled it when it was warm outside, good thing I bought another bottle. Definitely a soft beer though, there are no hard or sharp elements to be found.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2004 19:33:04 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this from Rbald42, always happy to try amy Fantome, cheers Ryan!

Pours an effervescent & semi-hazed amber with a finger of cream colored head. Stays murked up, minimal head retention & some lacing, plus some viscosity to this

S: Sourness, apples & a touch of woodyness

T: Tartness, sour apples & pears with touches of honey up front. Tartness, grassy notes, green apples, a touch of candi sugar, with woody hop notes & even some grapefruit & lemon, Finishes tart, semi-crisp

MF: Medium bodied, moderate carbonation & good balance bewtween tart & fruittyness

Drinks fairly darn easy another nice sour from Fantome

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 00:47:34 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served into a Duvel tulip. Pours with a giant 3 finger head to the top, rich murky dark orange body. It leaves random spots of lace, but the head doesn't last forever. 2nd pour does the same, and is more sustained, due to the dry glass.

Fruity baked/spiced apple aroma, some flinty wet stone in there too, with mild wet hay must. Tiny pin-sized streams of racing carbonation visible in the glass.

Tart apple, mystery spices, funky Belgian yeast. Approaching cidery but not quite. Wet feel, yet dry and wine-like in the aftertaste. Definitely some grape in there. Not quite sour, a nice pucker though, so be prepared. Very fruity with mild supporting spice. Reminds me of some aged Jolly Pumpkin brews i've had, in the wild yeast/cidery respect. Regardless it's super drinkable, and scratches the wild/sour itch for me. Unique from the regular Saison. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 00:40:16 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1 | overall: 3

750 mL bottle,

A: Pours a cloudy light orange with a minimal white head, spots of lace, I like the colour, but it looks gloopy.

S: Nice nose, complex notes of lemon and dandelions/wild greens, light funk.

T: Orange, lemon form the predominate flavour, nice complexity, some lactic character.

M: I've got a problem here obviously. This beer is flat, very very minor carbonation if that. Feels viscous and thick in the mouth, like orange juice mixed with maple syrup. Feels almost like Sauternes, but this doesn't have the sweetness and alcohol to make that work; this isn't white wine. Some crisp carbonation would do wonders here. This is not a style where I can forgive this error. This part of the beer sucks. Reminds me of the ropey Cantillon I got some months back.

D: The flavour is good, but the mouthfeel sucks, because of that, I can't recommend this especially at the price point. The Printemps from Fantome is a considerably better buy at this price.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 02:55:52 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: hazy orange color with a reddish tint. A short head falls to a thick surface foam that lasts a bit.

Smell: malt sweetness, barnyard funk, and a hint of sourness provides a unique and interesting aroma.

Taste: nice malt sweetness balanced with some sour green grapes, tart green apples, some barnyard funk, yeast, hint of spice, and a mild bitterness. Alcohol is mildly noticeable here. A hint of sourness arrives at the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp from start to finish with some dryness late. Very long aftertaste as the flavors never seem to leave the mouth.

Drinkability: this beer had a great flavor profile and it was so interesting I did not want to put the glass down. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 12:49:45 | More by Gavage

akorsak

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This is a 750 mL bottle of Pissenlit 2003 served in a goblet. The ale is cold.

A: The saison has a hazy yellow-orange color with big head that does not lace well.

S: The smell is very funky, barnyard, almost unpleasant.

T: Taste has a slightly lactic, pucker edge. Flavor is very gamey and funky. There are no discernible flavors that grab you, as the beer has taken the natural fermentation too far.

M: Not good, the flavors are at once sour and harsh.

D: Below average, pass on this for Fantome Saison. Again Fantôme confounds me. The ale is cutting edge, but too far off said edge, making it difficult to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2006 01:22:07 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears a clouded golden hazed body with a bright white head forming thick above the rim of the chalice. Fine even lacing intricate appearance, fine effervescent carbonation these Belgians know how to execute. Aroma earthy herbal, pissenlit can be interpeted as Dandelion or "wet the bed" either way drinking enough of this I get the connection. Spicy yeast, a touch of mellow alcohol hidden in the biscuit pilsner malt, slight skunk nose from the green bottle but inoffensive for the most part. Flavors refreshing, spicy yeast, crisp malt sweetness with dry herbal/earthy/floral hop additions excellent saison. Funky lactic acidity works well with a hint of citrus, floral notes really bursting with barnyard, meadows, fresh cut grass. Mouthfeel is crips effervescent carbonation medium to light bodied, easy to drink with a nice tartness. Overall drinkability was incredible, a great version of Fantome that holds up with the best of any Saisons I've ever come across.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 19:35:50 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly clouded ruby brown with a decent light tan/crème head that kinda sticks around. This is one of the best looking saisons I have seen in a long time. Nose is funk and yeast. Flavor is fairly mild I think. But man at the end does the saison funk come back to kick you in the mouth for an aftertaste. It comes back and lingers. Mmmmm. Basically when I drink this I just think grass. Grass, grass, grass. Feel is standard I think. Not too thin, with a certain level of body. Drinkable indeed. Overall a fairly even saison and nothing too wild. Another solid Fantome production.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 02:25:20 | More by RblWthACoz

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

(Served in a chalice)
086/477044 on cork
A- The dense hazy dark orange body has a billowing sheet of microbubbles that swirl around and support a thick white foam that sits on the glass in sheets.

S- The dandelion flowers aroma mixes with green spice hops that blend with a peppery yeast ester note. There are club soda notes and some cheese rind brett hints in the finish. Aroma well blended.

T- The bright tartness fades to soft malt with yeasty saison peppery notes and a dry finish with some soft sulfur dandelion green notes that linger in the back of the throat. The slight sweetness of Pils malt comes through as the beer opens up.

M- The light mouthfeel has a slightly creamy but crisp finish with no alcohol heat.

O- I was surprised at how the taste and smell of dandelion flowers really came through with the support of the fantome yeast. There are some Noble hops and pils malt qualities offer nice depth.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 21:28:50 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 750 ml green magnum with a vintage date of 2003 on the front label.

Appearance: Sunrise reddish orange in a haze with a thin white lacing on top.

Smell: At first thought … Lemon Pledge. Then grassy, musty, earthy and more lemony notes come along.

Taste & Mouth Feel: Uncommonly musty and earthy with a good dry malt backing and lemony tartness. Semi-crisp and slick on the tongue. Yeasty with a crazy tart nutty flavor. Finishes with a quick pucker and more yeast.

Drinkability & Notes: Certainly one of the more interesting saisons I have tried, I ended up braising a pork roast with some of this … most excellent.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2004 19:57:55 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 01/22/11 notes. Brought to a tasting by drabmuh; thanks Matt.

a - Pours a murky light orange color with an inc of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of oranges, spices, floral notes, yeast/

t - Tastes of oranges and tangerines, and light spice.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - Another nice saison by Fantome. Would certainly have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 20:22:22 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a fizzy 1 finger head with a hazy peach orange color.

Nose has nice saison like malts, light funk, light tart fruit, light floral rose like aroma, citrus, great light funky saison malts, hint of sweet malts as well, almost boozy but not quite, and that typical Fantome like yeast aroma.

Taste has nice fruits, hint of tart sour fruits, hint of lemon and citrus, nice Belgian malts with a bit of funk and saison malts and spices. bit of a floral like flowery addition as well. Dry malty finish, with lingering saison malts and spices, tart fruit, a bit floral and lemony.

Mouth is med bodied, good carb.

Overall great, another winner by Fantome. Nice malts, spices, floral flowery like flavors, nice overall blend of everything interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 22:06:51 | More by jlindros

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep scarlet red/mahogany tone. Fairly clear. Thick crop of eggshell white foam on top. Retention is excellent. Lacing is quite full and comes in sheets.The aroma is quite lemony. Lemongrass comes to mind. Leather as well. Tart fruits, yeast and dough. It runs the gamout. Very nice. The taste follows through. Although not as tart as the nose lead me to believe. Lemon Pepper. Spiced up dough. A little tart cherry. Some acidity. Yeasty, stale mustiness. Nice farmhouse character. Body is somewhat light and the mouthfeel is fluffy. Quite drinkable and quite enjoyable. Another winner from Fantome.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2004 04:53:35 | More by Bighuge

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The 2003 Pissenlit. The beer that made me fall in love with Fantome. At Max's today. Alas, I did not pay $8 for it at Max's.

The beer pours a cloudy honey color, but with the usual specks of God knows what floating about. There is virtually no head retention or lacing. On the nose, one gets lemon, straw, apple cider, fresh mown grass and light honey. The beer smells very nice, but on the palate.... there is an initial blast of sour lemon and cardboard, followed by honey, a touch of bitterness and hay. Only Fantome could make a beer with this kind of flavor. Amazing. Mouthfeel is smooth and long, probably all the more so as the carbonation is pretty low. There is almost a sweet and sour, ice tea flavor component to this beer. The 8% alcohol level is meaningless in this beer. I know it's there, but I get no sense of it.

Dreamy. Exceptional. Fantome.

Note: Had to go back and up the appearance score a bit. While there was no head or retention to speak of initially, a second pour revealed a much more lively beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 21:17:34 | More by johnmichaelsen