Fantôme Saison D'Erezée - Hiver - Brasserie Fantôme

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I have finally started to find some level of appreciation of saisons, and I know that Fantome is pretty top of the line. Hiver poured a nice golden copper color with a generous white head. My God, the sediment in this beer! It looks like a snow globe hidden inside my beer! The barnyard funk aroma is pretty standard, nothing out of the ordinary. In the initial taste, lemon, tart apples, and grass are present. The texture certainly is pretty trademark so the style, being grainy and leaving a Flintstone vitamin taste in your mouth. Overall, a pretty average saison, being very drinkable. On the other hand, it is not necessarily one I need to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 14:31:42 | More by JohnnyHopps

gr0g

New Jersey

2.53/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Very Brett-forward and one-dimensional. This has to be infected. Having read some reviews that mention smoke and Band-Aid notes, I get none of that. I also get none of complexities mentioned in favorable reviews.

Bronze colored, quite dark for the style, a head of about two fingers of foam. Tart aroma with acetic quality. Flavor is tart and one-dimensional, like a mediocre wild ale. This was my first shot at Fantome, and I knew the risks. Consider me another victim of their quality control issues.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 01:32:13 | More by gr0g

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Beer review #1500 - 750ml Bottle

Appearance - Hazy amber colour with a large size fizzy white coloured head. It's hard to make out the amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for around 4-5 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, clove/coriander, funky notes, grapes, lemons

Taste & Mouth - There is an above average amount of carbonation and I can taste breads/grains mixed with some lemon and some clove/coriander. There is also some yeast, green grapes, and a bit of funk. It ends with dry spicy/fruity aftertaste.

Overall - While it wasn't as good as I was expecting, it was still an excellent beer. It had a nice level of complexity that allowed me to taste different flavours with each sip. It was a touch too dry, but was still very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 16:41:30 | More by spinrsx

sjones5045

New Jersey

2.68/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

First I have to admit is this isn't my style I find enjoyable. This definitely reminds me of a white wine beer. Smells very fruity and bitter and taste exactly how it tastes. Although i will say it is smooth and leaves minimal aftertaste which i guess if you like this class would be a big plus. Basically if you don't like white wine, like I don't, then you won't like this.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 21:23:07 | More by sjones5045

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.41/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage... seriously...

A: Pours an almost completely transparent lemon gold with one full finger of pure white head. The foam sticks around for a bit, but fades wonderfully over time. Nice bit of lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is wonderful on this beer. I get lemon/lime citrus (almost like Gatorade), a bit of malt, and a touch of apple juice. I’m looking forward to this one.

T: The taste follows the nose almost exactly. I get a nice light malt sweetness right away followed instantaneously by that yummy lemon/lime flavor. A touch of spice enters in next with apple cider like qualities. The finish is dry, a bit yeasty, but really nice.

M: Medium bodied beer. It takes control of the palate straight away, the flavors dance, and the finish is just slightly drying.

O: Really enjoyed this brew. I know there are a lot of terrible bottles of this out there. But the bottle we opened is drinking wonderfully. I’d drink a lot more of this if I knew the bottle integrity wasn’t going to be an issue.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 16:57:30 | More by trxxpaxxs

jtladner

District of Columbia

1.54/5  rDev -61.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 1.5

I was really excited to try this beer, it was my first (and currently only) Fantome. The beer looked great, but unfortunately I seem to have gotten one of the skunked bottles that I have seen many people post about. Both the aroma and the taste were completely dominated by something that I can best describe as burning tires.

At first I though that maybe it was meant to be a kind of smokey saison, but after reading other reviews it is clear that this is not the case. Even if the taste had been intentional (which I am pretty sure it wasn't), it was not pleasant at all and most of it ended up going down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:01:00 | More by jtladner

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a murky amber hue. Huge, gigantic, billowing head. Head refuses to die quickly and leaves curtains of lace.

S-Crazy aroma. Almost a bit leathery or peaty. Supremely earthy. Incredibly musty. Stewed spinach. Very unique.

T-The oddest tasting beer I have had in quite a while. Sweetness is more noticeable here than in the nose. Also a bunch of bitterness by a crazily earthy hoppiness. The rest of the beer is just a plethora of wacky flavors. Wet wood, peaty moss, leather, decomposing vegetation, soil and peppery spice. A trip for sure.

M-Tingly bubbles. Medium to full in body. A weird, lasting bitterness.

O/D-My first Fantome. I have stayed away from the brewer due to inconsistency of product, high price and relative shelf rarity. Judging by how unique and odd this one is, I need to pay up and try their other offerings when available.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 21:58:25 | More by VelvetExtract

Immortale25

Florida

3.99/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Tapered Guinness pint glass. No freshness date.

A- Pours a murky dark amber color with a full three fingers worth of off-white head that retains good and long before becoming a .

S- Initially skunky aroma that's common with these green glass imports but then the saison funk shines through and is driven by a lemony citrus from the spices and wheat.

T- Strange medicinal flavor that's puzzling as to where it's coming from. Is it the yeast? Is it the alcohol? Is it the spice? Like nothing I've ever tasted. A bit of a peaty smokiness is definitely there too. Not sweet, but also not necessarily bitter. Leaves me scratching my head.

M- A bit tart and dry with medium-high carbonation and a medium body.

O- A mystery of a beer but it's certainly unique, complex and quite drinkable. Not sure I would buy again at the $13 price tag (and it was on sale) but I'm glad I finally got to try one of Fantome's beers. Not your typical saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 02:35:27 | More by Immortale25

mahak213

New York

3.79/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Not sure of the vintage, but I'm going to assume it's not the most recent since it doesn't taste like a smokey tire...

Appearance- Beautiful hazy golden orange with a huge, soapy white head. Tons of lacing, it really looks nice!

Smell- Herbal and fruity up front with a strange sweetness I can't really pin point

Taste- Sweet fruitiness up front, with big orange and grapefruit notes. Finishes herbal and slightly bitter. It's actually reminiscent of an very malty and earthy IPA

Mouthfeel- Medium body and light carbonation, finishes slightly sticky. Would have liked it to be a bit cleaner and crisper, but it's still nice.

Overall- A very unique saison, I don't get any of the typical funk or breadiness, but it's pretty nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:33:39 | More by mahak213

MinorThreat

Colorado

1.54/5  rDev -61.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 1.5

Served from a cork and cap bottle. This is the second bottle I have had from this batch; I wanted to give it a second chance after being very disappointed with the first bottle.

A-Hazy light rusty gold color with an impressive froathy head and great retention/lacing. This was the best part of this beer by a long shot.

S-Odd notes of rubber, grass, burnt hair and herbal hop notes. Very odd and off putting.

T- Atrocious. Burning rubber and solvent nail polish remover/alcohol. Chemical, harsh, and just dreadful. I have really enjoyed this one in the past but this batch is a disaster.

M-It honestly is so hard to get past the taste that the mouthfeel is hard to say. Oily yet effervescent and light.

O-Sadly I dropped 17.99ea on two of the worst bottles in recent memory. Will I give Fantome another chance? Of course. They have made so many great beers that it should be chalked up as an aberration. With that said, I will not be purchasing and Hiver till I am certain that the current batch is long gone.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 20:00:00 | More by MinorThreat

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a lightly hazy, rich yellow-gold with two fingers of thick white head.

Smell. Light grainy malts and lactic sourness, some earthy funk and lemon, and a good amount of medicinal herby hops, aged I would guess ...being the experienced expert in brewing ingredients that I am. *rolls eyes* Hey, I know what tastes good to me and how to describe what I taste in relative terms. I think that's all that's asked for in these reviews, right? Anyways, back to it...

Taste. Whoa! Not what I was expecting. Big medicinal herbs, very earthy and fairly bitter with just a touch of lemon. There's a very slight tang, but not sour like I was getting from the smell. Woody and savoury herbs linger, but I can't quite say what they are. Possibly lemongrass, maybe even thyme. I dunno, but it's very interesting and gets better the more I drink (after the initial shock).

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body, lowish and fine carbonation.

Overall. One of the most interesting beers I've tried in recent memory. Lots of earthy, herby big flavour, but nothing offensive. So glad I took a chance on this grab from Belmont Station on a fairly recent trip to Portland.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:50:07 | More by Rutager

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

750ml bottle into a tall tulip

A: Pours a hazy golden color with two fingers of dense white head.

S: Lemon peel, musty barnyard funk, clove, and a touch of wheat. This is a quintessential Farmhouse Ale. Lemon acidity builds as the beer warms.

T: Hmm, like tasting a completely different beer. Still musty with lemon and orange peel, but the acidity I got in the aroma is completely gone. I also get some plums and prunes, this almost seems like a lighter Quad. It's still pretty decent, but odd for the style.

M: On the thick side with low carbonation for a Saison.

O: The aroma on this is great, but the flavor is odd for the style and the mouthfeel is too thick.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 22:44:29 | More by coreyfmcdonald

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.86/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 750 ml into a tulip. Purchased in Providence, RI. "Best by" dates go up to 2012 but none have been notched, leaving me to believe that this has been sitting for a bit.

A- Pours a hazy dull orange body with a small fizzy white head that reduces fairly quicky and leaves no lacing. Had to pour slowly as the bottle had a good half inch of settling.

S- Well this is unique. The first thing I picked up was an oaked-chardonnay-like white wine note, as well as pear, red grape juice, musty, lemon juice and orange peel aromas. Slight belgian funk in there.

T- Upfront it's pretty acidic, huge lemon juice and pretty vinegar-like on the start. The taste develops into a very tart, nearly sour fruity, citrusy, white grape character. The finish has interesting musty, woody, green tea and earthy notes. Slight funk and skunkyness in there. I'm not getting much as far as spices or malt. Not sweet at all, very dry.

M- Best part of this beer. It's light and has medium carbonation, and pretty refreshing.

I bought this beer because it was on sale for 5.99 and the guy at the counter just said they were trying to get rid of them. Was it worth that price? For 750 ml, yes. Would I pay the normal price for this beer? Absolutely not, I'd just buy a couple bombers of beer or a bottle of wine.

It may be past it's prime, but I still enjoyed it for what it was. It's not the easiest drinker in the world but worth a try. I do have to say, it tastes absolutely nothing like any other Saison I've ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 01:32:27 | More by gcamparone

Kendo

New York

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured from the corked-and-capped green 750 ml bottle into a Duvel tulip. Body is light yellow with an ever-so-faint haze. A 1-finger bright white head settles on top, leaving behind a bit of lace.

S: Funk, spice and lemon peel are the primary scents.

T: Nice mix of flavors - sweet but lighter fruits (think apricot, pear, grapes), a hint of spice and lemon bitterness. Funkiness from the nose is not really there in the taste, though there's a bit of earthiness and a touch of tartness. Alcohol heat felt on the way down and into the belly.

M: Medium in heft with real good fizziness making it seem lighter.

O: Good stuff. My first Fantome and I'm not unhappy with it at all, despite paying around $18 for the bottle.

Note: I'm not sure how old this bottle is. I'm guessing I bought it about a year and a half ago. On the calendar on the side of the bottle, nothing is notched. It ends with 2012, however, which suggests to me that this bottle is at least 3 years old. If so, it's certainly no worse for wear, notwithstanding the green bottle. Reminds me of white wine at times; I'm going to pair it with a bunch of different cheeses and see what happens. . . .

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:45:48 | More by Kendo

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.46/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Starts off with a retentive, full off-white head. A musty, farmhouse aroma flows out into the room. Color is reddish orange.

The funk flows on with some dried hay, oranges and vanilla working into the party. Very unique aroma that I can't quite put a finger on. There may be some soy in there...

Tastes is intense with a smokiness up front. Some hops, wet-hay funk, spice and a nearly unnoticeable fruitiness (lemon/orange) round things out.

Dry at the edges and creamy in the middle. A bit grainy at the back of the throat with little to no alcohol heat.

One of the most unique beers I've every tried, but it appears I'm just not completely ready for this kind of party.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:14:26 | More by stephens101

kojevergas

California

2.41/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Huge Fantome fan so I was excited to bring this one out from the fridge. 1 pint 9.4 fl oz green glass bottle with standard pressure cap over an internally housed cork served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Acquired for around $15 at Hi Time Wine Cellars. Expectations are through the roof given the brewery, which I respect and admire.

8.00% ABV confirmed. I like the label; that sort of cute humour surrounding a mischievous ghost.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Cork popped with ease. No beer surged out. Carbonation seems ideal. It's a fun bottle to open.

A: Colour is a clear white wine/peach as I pour. In the glass, the colour is a darker hazy yellow, semitransparent and translucent. Yeast particles are easily seen floating about. Head is a three finger beige colour delight, featuring good cream and thickness and excellent (8+ minute) retention for the high ABV. Not quite the milky white I see in some of the best saisons, but very appealing. Looks as it should for the style. No bubble show.

Sm: Butterscotch, caramel, lemongrass, light lemon zest, gose-esque salt, light tart lactic peach notes, bretts, banana, white wine/white grapes, pear, and heavy Belgian sugar/candi notes. A bit like one of those caramel popsicles you'd get at a fair. I get more and more depth of flavour as it warms. Bretts. I search for white pepper (my favourite characteristic of saisons) but don't find it. Perhaps it's subtly integrated. In any case, I'm not disappointed; with Fantome I always know I'm in good hands. A moderate strength aroma of masterful subtlety and complexity. No alcohol is detectable.

T: Salt, lemon zest, banana, milky caramel, fermented pear, dominant lactic bretty yeast notes, and vague white wine/grapes. Belgian sugar as the foundation here actually comes off a bit overwhelming, blocking out the intricacies of the more subtle notes. I don't find white pepper. Butterscotch comes through; too much for my tastes. The salt was unexpected but works here. The balance just doesn't feel as masterful as it did in other Fantome saisons I've had. It could well be personal taste. Hopping here is floral and minimal; the spices take the spotlight not the hops. And rightly so. The climax is more of that juicy pear zest joined with the lactic notes; I don't much care for it. Maybe it's a bit too sweet, as generic as that sounds? The caramel certainly bothers me. The complexity and subtlety here are unquestionable, but I'm just not big on this beer. No alcohol comes through in the flavour.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Good body. Perfect carbonation. Good thickness. A bit sticky. Soft. Suits the flavours pretty well. I could see how someone who enjoyed the flavour profile would find the mouthfeel very helpful in delivering those flavours.

Dr: Unfortunately, this Fantome just wasn't for me. It's not as drinkable as most Fantomes because of the light saltiness (and for me personally because I don't really care for the flavours), but if you enjoyed it I'm sure you'd have no trouble putting it down. It hides its ABV well. I wouldn't buy this one again; there are quite a few Fantome saisons at this exact price that I love. I adore Fantome, but I just didn't take to this one.

D+

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 20:49:00 | More by kojevergas

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.01/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle served at Avenue Pub in NOLA.

Served in tulip glass. Nice golden color with thick chunky head that lingers well in glass. Lots of thick sediment in the bottom of bottle.

Smell is funky tangerine. Hints of plum and grape.

Taste is light malt, tangerine, funk, acidity, and moderate bitterness late.

Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with heavy carbonation.

Overall this was really good. Worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 22:57:29 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Opaque golden body with a huge and persistent white head. There's a ton of yeast sediment despite a slow and cautious pour.

Funky yeast aroma, pear, lemon-lime, phenols, banana.

Young, unripe white fruits such as pear and grape are the initial taste. It's followed by lemon, and banana, then finishes with a peppery spice. It's well rounded and bursting with flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with prickly carbonation. The mouthfeel is slightly sour in the finish.

This is an excellent representation of the style and one of the better saisons out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:21:13 | More by Vonerichs

pmlondrigan

New York

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ok so I keep a Fantome record. So often in the beginning of my craft brew journey I would buy Fantome only to have it be skunky and light struck (much like Saison Dupont can be). Right now including this bottle of Hiver I am 3 for 8. Not bad. Probably would be 4 for 8, but Fantome Boo was just too weird for me. Here we go...
Head retention is beyond belief, lacing is wonderful. Color is dark pale yellow. This Saison is opaque, but as it is a Saison thats ok.
My nose is met with a complex aroma of medicinal/band aid/phenol, sloppy pig trough, tobacco, and light lemon. This is a very earthy aroma. Typically Fantome yeast is a bit much on the phenolic side for me....but with the aid of the earth component this Saison has a rather intriguing and beguiling aroma.
My palate experiances much the same as my nose. An earthy rustic flavor that muddles together some light citrus lemon, zesty earthy hop bitterness....yes some of that hoof, pig hoof. A bit of medicinal band aid....is there brett in this? I don't know. Many people seem to think so....but as a brewer and brett lover I can't tell.
Dry but not thin....period.
There are some things that are off putting, but there are some things that keep me coming back for more, and more. I like it. Don't love it, but it is beguiling.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:34:19 | More by pmlondrigan

RickS95

Indiana

4.24/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a light orangey peach color. Light color, but still opaque. Head is fleeting and really non-descript.

I love the smell of a good saison, and this has the makings of a good one so far. Funky, fruity smell. Pear, green grape and pepper, maybe some Belgian sugar.

Most of what the nose picks up is present on the tongue. I'm getting a lot of the Belgian sugar, faint pear and pepper mixed with a strong alcohol profile. It's only 8% ABV, but it tastes like more.

Sweet, funky and tangy, fruity. Mid-sip it changes to spicy. In the finish, it's heat. Differently levels and differently feels. It's not a crisp finish as the funkiness simply coats your tongue, which I'm ok with on this type of beer. Medium-bodied.

Overall it's a solid representation of the style. It's not the easiest drinker in the world, but it's solid nonetheless. A bit on the expensive side. My first foray into the world of Fantome.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:12:28 | More by RickS95

brureview

Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

I was a bit disappointed by this beer.

The beer was sealed by both a cap and cork. The beer had a huge head, 4.5 fingers in a tulip glass. The color was an attractive honey.

There was a mild lemon aroma from the head.

The mouth feel was fine- carbonated in accordance with the style.

The taste was a letdown. Lemon was present, but an off spice,which I couldn't identify, dominated the taste. The presence of the spice imbalanced the beer.

Overall: disappointing. Could have been more balanced. I prefer the American Saisons, and the Belgian Saison DuPont which is traditional.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 02:27:53 | More by brureview

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle poured into a tulip at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Deep gold color with a big 4-finger bubbly, rocky white head. Great retention and some patchy lacing. Clear with lots of bubbles.

S – Grainy malt, peppery and clove yeast, fresh orange and lemon esters, and a whole lot of funky Brett.

T – Starts off sweet with orange and lemon flavors and rapidly becomes filled with spices, herbs, and wood for none of which I can pick out specifics. Brett barnyard funk becomes apparent at about mid-taste, and earthy and floral bitter hops show up at the finish. Very complex and tasty.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with great carbonation, a creamy and sticky but crisp mouthfeel, and a bitter, dry, spicy, and funky finish. A nice blend of all of these flavor sensations lingers wonderfully.

O – This may be the best saison that I’ve had. It is wonderfully complex while still remaining approachable. It has the perfect amount of funky Brett (finally!). One really interesting and awesome thing that’s happening on top of all this: the beer that is still in the bottle is growing a head. Literally growing. It started with none and now it’s almost up to 2 fingers. That yeast is still working hard! If I can ever get my hands on more from Fantôme, that will be a good day.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 03:06:56 | More by BlackBelt5112203

MadScientist

New York

3.83/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A slightly hazey, light amber beer with a finger of creamy and rocky white foam. The head has great retention, lasting a long time and leaving some lacing on the glass.

S: Initially a pilsner like Saaz hop and soft Pils malt aroma with that German import beer kind of light struck skunk. There are just enough faint aromas of orange and peppery phenols to let you know it's brewed with Belgian yeast. Moderately low German hops aroma, moderate Pils malt and a low soft alcohol.

T: Moderately-strong hops and orange peel-like bitterness with a moderate Pils malt sweetness dominate the flavor. There is a great tasting orange fruitiness with moderately-light peppery phenols. and a light spicy hops flavor.

M: Medium-light bodied with a moderately-high carbonation. It's slightly cream with a light CO2 dryness on the tongue.

O: A great beer that is just shy of excellent from the aroma being off. It might be from being misshandled in a green glass bottle that contributed to the beer being light struck but what ever it was the skunkiness overwhelms the fruity esters and spicy phenols in the nose. The fruit and spice is definitely in the flavor and their pretty wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:19:25 | More by MadScientist

Ryan011235

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Bell's tulip on 1/2/13

I bought this in September 2012; I reckon it's from the previous winter.

As I take to pouring the beer, nearly the entire glass is filled with a rising cascade of crackling foam. The head eventually settles to about a finger's worth, though there is an off-centered, large upward protrusion of foam. Swaths and specks of bubbly, raised lace remain. I'm finally able to get a good take on the beer's hue; it is a clear, shiny golden color - very pretty.

Aromas of lemon and lime leap from the glass followed by strong juniper. This smells a lot like a botanical-heavy gin. Notions of white pepper, allspice, prairie grass, wild herbs and undertones of cracker. Ghost notes of ripe light fruit. Mild sugar cookie sweetness as it warms. The last of the beer has an apple pasty suggestion to it.

Spices dominate the flavor even more so. Pepper and herbal spices are in abundance, raked along the taste buds by effervescent carbonation. Likewise, with the gin. Lemongrass, fresh hay, spritzes of lime, grassy hops and a dry malt notion (a very dull or neutral bread/biscuit type of thing). Hints of grapes and apples. The body meanders within the medium-light range with perceptibility seemingly based on whether the carbonation is ample or more subdued as happens later on. Alcohol becomes appreciable as the beer warms.

I'm finding that this bottle does not get old. Often I find such peppery/herbal beers wear on me after a while; not this, though. Each sip encompasses fully the senses in ways that a great beer should. Ooooh, I wish I had more of this. One of the finest beers I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:20:48 | More by Ryan011235

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml Burgundian bottle. Thanks be to DoktorZee for the early X-mas gift from his recent SoCal sojourn. 'Hiver' equals 'winter', of course, and beyond the name, the only other indicator of seasonal affectation is the general listing of 'spices' in the specified ingredient list.

This beer pours a slight cloudy, dark golden amber hue, with three fingers of puffy, thinly foamy off-white head, which leaves some randomly sized flecks of fuzzy lace around the glass as it very slowly seeps away.

It smells of moderately smoked, peaty malt, like Islay meets Habana, with a seaside medicinal character that I have to stretch a bit to relate to any farmhouse funk qualities of note, though horseblanket and wet musty grain come to mind, somewhat. The taste is much more approachable, relatively, right off the bat - a caramel-tinged grainy malt, some lingering fleshy smokiness, a surprising, bitter noble hoppiness, a prominent sulphur character, a bit of soft, musty barnyard, lightly wafting gasoline fumes, a touch of tanned leather, and some burgeoning vinous notes.

The bubbles are generally supportive, and little more, the body an almost medium weight, and actually smooth enough, given the swirling demons around this whole project. It finishes off-dry, the pale malt sweetness enough to successfully counter the not quite played out smoky medicinal, musty notes, as the bitter hops hang out in the background, laughing and lounging.

One hell of a complicated, complex, and very busy beer, mes amis. It swings wildly from the dankest of Scotch influences, to the (almost) serenest of softy malty, yeasty farmhouse incarnations. Apparently there are some generic 'seasonal' spices added to this unholy mix, but I am patently unable to discern their provenance, given the distracting otherness overtly on display here. Interesting to try, but not one I would choose to actively revisit.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:12:28 | More by biboergosum