Fantôme Saison D'Erezée - Hiver - Brasserie Fantôme

Skidz

Wisconsin

4.97/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml green bottle, capped and corked. Rolled to enjoy full flavor of the yeast.

Pours out golden amber brown and sits chocolate brown in the glass with a large, creamy light tan head. Speckled lacings and a good thick skim over the surface.

Smells musty and malty. Full of scents of bitter orange and lemon with a nice rhubarb-like tartness. Crusty brown sugar coating. Nice yeasty, crackery build with moderate hop spiciness with plenty of herbal and leaf-like aromas.

Tastes lightly sweet up front, packed with thick, gooey malt flavors. Brown sugar runs all over the place and is paired with a mildly tangy lemon flavor. Grapes and peaches roam about, stumbling upon mellow herbal hop flavors. Bay leaves and thyme come to mind. Foresty like flavors of oak, acorns and dry, fallen leaves. Finish is smooth and bitter with lingering lemony tanginess and herbal spiciness.

Rediculously smooth in the mouth, creamy like it was a sin. Carbonation is light and billowy. Rich, full body gives this beer all the muscle it needs.

I couldn't be any happier than I am drinking this beer. Flavors are all there and then some. Soft as hell, and simply the best thing I can think of to be drinking at this very moment. Another bottle is the only thing that could make this any better.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2004 22:58:36 | More by Skidz

Ryan011235

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +22.3%
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

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Big off white head on a pretty clear dark orange/amber body with brown hues in it. Leaves a nice decent size head.
S- Big European hop character. Fruit like cherries and a hint of lime and maybe orange? Some caramel malts to balance it out and maybe even a bit earthy. A couple other things I can't manage to pin point too.
T- There is a lot going on in the flavor so I'm going to do my best to see if I can point out each individual one. Cheers, Belgium sugar?, caramel malts, hints of orange and lemon, bit floral hops (not much though), and it's sort of candish. It's very well balance and very complex.
M- Medium to thin body with low carbonation making it a very nice smooth beer.
D- This beer is just amazing. It's so easy to drink but at the same time so much going on in it. This could be a sipper or just a great beer to drink easily (just watch out since it's 8.00% abv). I think this just has so much going on in it and it is just excellently made. Right now I think if I had to only drink one more beer it would be this one just since I can see it covering most occasions. Shame it's not easier to get and cheaper. The only reason I didn't give this straight 5's is because I can see it getting a tiny bit better but I'm not sure how. I wish I could make it a 4.99.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2007 05:24:52 | More by BlindPig

HiroProtagonist

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fantome Hiver was served from a 750ml capped and corked green bottle. In a Duvel tulip, the beer was a murky orange-caramel hue, and was topped by a mountainous, creamy, and unyielding off-white head with that left tracts of thick messing lacing wherever it touched. The nose was quite intruiging as is ususal with Fantome concoctions. A sweeping edge-less granny smiith tartness was conjugated with subtle spice complexities....nutmeg, ash, allspice(?) and finely powderd ginger root! Pulling in the wafting aromas very slowly was necessary to achieve the full ofactory experience. The taste closely followed the nose. A silky, creamy, and smooth tart-crisp apple-pear maltiness builds up to a prickly white pepper and ginger spice transition into a distinct moderately bittered finish that left lingering yeasty esters, white pepper, and pronounced bitter orange peel notes. The flow of flavor was excellent, consisting of distinct phases and intensities. The body was full, creamy, smooth, and somewhat fluffy with carbonation...melding very well with the flavors and personality of the beer. Yet another artistic masterpiece from Fantome: delicious, seducing, mysterious, wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2004 06:33:52 | More by HiroProtagonist

julian

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden yellow and orange with some haze and a thick frothy billowing snow white head. Nice lacing too! Stunning 4.5

S: Spicy aroma, some pepper, mild acidity, and I’m picking up a bit of dry unripened green apples 4.5

T&M: Oh man this is good and what I love about Fantome. Mildly fruity, with a lingering tartness and tang all the way through. Some mild earthy tones and floral pepperiness, but what I love is the mild, yet noticeable tart apple tang that goes along with this incredible mouthfeel. It’s creamy, yet crisp, and carbonated perfectly. There is very slight alcohol on the palate, but barely noticeable. This is amazing. 5 / 5

O: Not much else to say but this is incredible. I love it. In every single way possible. It’s slightly different from the black/white label (regular) Fantome Saison, but very, very much as enjoyable. I still prefer the regular but this is superb. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 16:50:46 | More by julian

cfrances33

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 bottle, poured into a Hill Farmstead stem on 12/19/12. Score is based upon this vintage.

Pour: Hazy, burnt orange with three fingers of light copper head. Leaves okay lacing, and the head hangs around for a decent amount of time.

Smell: Big lactic tartness up front on the nose, with some lemon pith and pear skins. A nice burnt caramel comes in to balace the fruity and lactic tones. Great hay funk.

Taste: Follows the nose, but improves it. Big lemon tartness and a superb funk hit to start. A sweet molasses and caramel balance, but in just the right amount - sweet would be the last word I would use to describe this. Nice lactic sourness. Some funky eggs. Finishes tart with lemons and a nice dryness.

Mouthfeel: Really nice and drinkable. Good carb, and great tartness. Can get very slightly cloying if you drink too fast (which is a dilemma because it taste SO good and is dry). Finishes dry.

Overall: This was amazing. I've heard good things about vintage Fantome, and this just confirmed all of them.
---

2011 bottle poured into a tulip.

Pour: Hazy straw orange body with three fingers of slightly off white, incredibly puffy head. Finally recedes to a thin head, and leaves really sticky lacing. A flawless looking beer in my opinion. (5.0)

Smell: Heavy yeast breadyness, with a lemon zest and grassiness in the background. A slight funk and pepper are in there as well. (4.0)

Taste: Very, very bready yeast with a very hefty lemon zest. These flavor really dominate the palate, with some pepper, funk, and grassy hops mixed in on the back. (4.0)

Mouthfeel: Very drinkable, and this goes down quick and easy. Lemon zest isn't too cloying. (4.5)

Overall: A pretty good saison, and one I'd get again. I look forward to having more Fantomes in the future. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 19:09:15 | More by cfrances33

chaduvel

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The stand out of the Mettler Casa Taste-Off 2003. Thanks to Alexgash for this one. Cloudy orange tea color with a fizzy but sticky head. Smell is as complex as they come. Some barn, sour, honey, citrus, pepper, earth and red fruits. Taste matches the aroma. Honey, sour fruits, mango?, sod, pepper, spices etc. Carbonation levels of a lambic, and a fine malt and yeasty backbone that reminds us that this is a beer, a magical spooky beer. I can't wait to try the rest of the Fantome's.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2004 19:51:57 | More by chaduvel

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this bottle for about 8 months, purchased during Christmas in Chicago. Large green Fantome bottle, cap over cork. The beer is dark copper color with a very thick off-white foam, spitty and wet looking, lots of wet lacing on the glass. The smell is musty, funky barnyard or something, very difficult to pin down. There's a pine needle aroma in it, not from hops but maybe from actual pine needles. Also some ginger bread-like spices, this gives the feel of winter or late autumn. The taste is stunningly good, I'd guess it would be difficult to improve on. It tastes tart and a little sour, some gingerbread coming through again, and all kinds of funk like other Fantome beers I've had. The mouthfeel is smooth like a cask ale from a beer engine, extremely easy to drink. If you like saisons then any Fantome beer is a solid choice, this one might even be the best of the bunch for me so far.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2008 02:35:53 | More by TurdFurgison

Rumrunner

California

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle. The ghost on the bottle has the I know something you don't look on his face.

I just want to say this beer happily caught me off guard. It has a gotcha quality to it.

It pours a dirty rusty amber. A giant head. Thankfully I have the Belgian over sized glass for this one. The frothy bubbly foam sinks slowly and creats an off white covering on top of the beer. The lacing is small speckles around the glass. The scents are deep musty earth and moss. Followed by a sweet hay and candy scent. Some alcohol on the nose as well.

Holy ... I do not know where to start. So many flavors. Sweet candied malts start us off. There is some licorice, peppermint and a salty flavor in the middle. Deep ripe dark fruits taste like a surrounding flavor that is present but they do not reveal themselves for specific identification. Pepper and other herbal spices form a flavor bouquet and give the beer some nice hoppiness. A very nice sasafras flavor at the end puts a final finish to the flavors. Excellent. Once swallowed the aftertaste is extremely mellow. At the end of the first tastes there was a nice scotch alcohol ending to for the flavors. As it sits and warms a bit the scotch and the peppery spices become less present. A crumbly chocolate brownie quality appears as well. This is a nice change to the beer. A very friendly and creative set of flavors to this beer. I am sure I missed some, for many flavors taste combined with other flavors to create new flavors. The I know something you don't know is very important to this beer.

A medium to heavy body. A bit of a bite at first on the tongue. A nice smooth crispness to follow up and then a nice dry finish. This beer drinks extremely well. I was caught up in the flavors and I did not even notice how easy it was to drink. If not for the 8.0 % alcohol one could drink quite a few of these.

In my humble opinion this is one special beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2003 07:09:08 | More by Rumrunner

Cresant

Kentucky

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Poured this 750mL green bottle into a Tripel Karmeliet glass. No date but I have cellared it since 10/08. The body was a cloudy but bright butterscotch color. The head was eggshell white and a cap remained throughout. More speckled yeast appeared on the second pour.

Smell was interesting. Wet concrete. Fruity and earthy. Lychee. Spiciness seemed to increase as it warmed and again on the second pour.

Taste was pears. Apple peel. Puckering tartness. Mild black pepper. 7-Up - like or party punch flavors. Drying finish. Very nice.

Mouthfeel was medium to light in body. Moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 13:42:44 | More by Cresant

rye726

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A rich woody bronw with a silky tan head. Nose has citrus fruits, candy malts, spices, peppery yeast and earthy hops. The taste is also quite fruity and sweet yet well balanced by the herbal hops and yeast strains. Crisp medium body with a delicate carbonation. Another delicious ale from Fantome. Not quite as spectacular as their original Saison, but pretty close.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 00:41:10 | More by rye726

SammyDavisJrJrJr

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark apple-cider like appearance, with lots of head and no lacing. Not bad, not great...

S - The aroma seems to focus on fruit (apricot, prune, banana), with some spice (Jamaican Jerk spices), but every time I seem to spell something a little different... This is fun, what beer is all about.

T - Started out very tart, apricot and grape, black current focus, with strong alcohol notes in the finish, and a brown sugar quality in the finish. As it warmed I picked up more malt in the entry, with a more floral quality in the mid palate, and more fruit (grape/pear) in the finish. Again, all over the place with this beer, Wonderful complexity.

M - Nothing really too exciting here. The bottle I got was not really crisp, not really flat, not thick or thin, a little silky do to the alcohol, but nothing to write home about...

D - I just noticed that I'm killing off a bottle of this stuff by myself... Thank God it's a cool night, this will warm me right up. This is just what one is looking for when one picks up a Fantome, something to relax and ponder...

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 04:54:42 | More by SammyDavisJrJrJr

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle

A: Deep golden, a little murky, inch of white head. Spotty lace, head dies down to a very nice creamy layer. Beautiful beer, looks like a mead or cider with a think layer of cream on top.

S: Sweet with a bit of earthiness, not just earthy yeast, fruity, apple mostly, spicy.

T: Sweet up front finishing in a very noticeable spice (sage perhaps?). Fruit, earthy yeast mixed in. Very good taste, love the spice. A bit sour, mild bitterness.

M/D: Medium bodied, very little carbonation, not nearly as dry as my other Fantome experiences. Very good drinkability.

I hope that I am not judging too quickly (3-4 offerings), but Fantome has rocketed up to the top 2 spots of my favorite breweries. It's incredible to see what one brewer can do with really one style (Saison).

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2008 23:39:52 | More by NCSUdo

jwc215

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml cork and capped bottle poured into a tulip glass. Freshness label not notched (though years run from '07 to '12, so I'm assuming its a safe bet to say that it is fresh.) I was careful in pouring near the end of the bottle to leave the sediment in the bottle.

Pours hazed golden with a huge white head that descends to a lasting thick cap. Uneven rings of lacing adorn the glass.

The smell is of lemon, barnyardy, hayish mustiness/funkiness, lemongrass, a touch of caramelish graininess, and that spicy touch that this brewery is so adept at doing that makes it tough to describe but a pleasure to smell (cinnamon? pepper? something(s) else for sure. Whatever it is, it is wonderfully rich and complex, yet soft. Very appealing in its uniqueness.

Like the aroma, the spicing is tough to pinpoint, but adds a wonderfully delicious balance to the citric/lemony/orangey tartness, barnyardy yeastiness, herbal/earthy bitterness (which stands out quite a bit) and carmelized grainy sweetness. The complexities intertwine nicely, giving it a great balance. Complex, yet soft and refreshing. Alcohol very well covered.

The feel is light, almost airy, yet with a solid body. Pretty amazing.

Once again, Fantome has created a work of art. After a bit into it, it seems to say - stop analyzing, and just drink and enjoy, as I'm too tough to "figure out" what makes me so wonderful anyway!

Very drinkable. A winter release that I could easily enjoy year-round.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2008 12:28:58 | More by jwc215

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Dark orange-caramel pour with some nice fantome floaters. Nice head and lacing down the glass.

Smell: Lots of spices, perhaps some cedar and apricot? Lots of lemon as well

Taste: Outside of the cedar, apricot, and lemon I can't pin anything else down (coriander?), but this one is loaded. A mystery with each sip, making it a work of art. Nice sourness too it. Nice touch of funk (cat piss possibly, in a good way). Reminds me more of an autumn day, or the end of one after spending the sunlight hours apple picking with a crisp afternoon shade chill just setting in.

Mouthfeel: perfect carbonation, one tick down from the perfect mouth coating

One of my favorite Fantomes, very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 02:39:02 | More by craytonic

merlin48

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle pours a dirty amber body with a 2 cm beige head that has excellent staying power and laces moderately well. Typical Fantome aroma is earthy, spicy, fruity, herbal, lemony, and yeasty. Some exotic spices seem to be lurking underneath, maybe grains of paradise. Mouthfeel is medium with a spritzy and velvety carbonation. Taste opens dry and herbal, with some caramel and floral hops. White pepper and coriander, maybe a pinch of ginger add a nice spiciness. Something exotic here, as well. Fresh orange notes creep into the profile midway through and stay to the end. Finishes dry and herbal. Wow! A masterpice of pastoral simplicity with an exotic complexity. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 17:17:18 | More by merlin48

Sam21

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Cork and capped 750ml green champagne bottle with no bottling date, although there are numbers on the label to make this possible. They are simply not notched, which I have heard is the common reality of the Fantome Saisons. Purchased for $15 at Grand Cru Beer and Cheese Market in Rhinebeck, NY. Poured into a tulip.

Appearance - The body of this beer is a murky orange with some subtle suggestions of light brown towards the edge. Beautiful color. The head is quite nice and fluffy following the pour but recedes over the course of a minute or two down to a thin sudsy cap. No lacing from this first pour. On the second pour I get the same looking head, but with a few wisps of wet lace that stick around for a bit.

Smell - There is a nice clovey Belgian yeast note right up front that mixes in with some strong fresh citrus bite. I'm noticing a nice lemon citrus twang biting through the soft and familiar Belgian yeasty aromas. The lemon twang seems to dissipate in connection with the head. I'm also noticing some ripe bananas coming through in the sweetness of this beer. There is a definite musty funk character that permeates throughout, although it is restrained to the point of being present without overtaking. It smells like a dusty basement rather than a brett farmhouse funk. This may actually be part of what I am perceiving as bananas.

Taste - Right up front I am getting a great mixture of mellow citrus, soft suggestions of clove, and a richer sweetness that I am interpreting as similar to a ripe banana. After the initial wave of flavors I am noticing that damp, woody, cellar character come out and mingle with some tart fruitiness. The finish is fruity with more clove and a subtle bitterness that makes a lightning quick appearance across the taste buds before being drowned by soft malt sweetness and a commanding palate dryness. As the beer warms, the beer seems to evolve ever so slowly in front of me, as a moderately strong peppery phenolic note joins in adding more depth. I am even noticing some subtle spices taking up place alongside the fruit. A hint of cinnamon? I took a little more time than usual to pick apart this beer and am impressed by all the little things going on. On a separate note, where is the alcohol? This might be the best hidden 8% I have ever tasted.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied with very soft, yet active, carbonation. It really glides across the tongue leaving no sense of thickness from the body. There is a light tingle of carbonation at the very end of each sip, but nothing more. Really impressive. Definitely not a super carbonated saison, but the carbonation is present and soft enough to really accentuate the mouthfeel.

Drinkability - First off, this is one of the most in-depth reviews that I have ever done of a beer. The drinkability of this beer is through the roof. Yes, it's not one of the prettiest saisons that I have ever seen with a head that lacked retention and lacing, although the color is beautiful. With that said, the flavors are so intriguing to me. Sweetness, musty earth, peppery phenols, and a quick kiss of bitterness amid a bone dry finish. I wish my bottle would hurry up and replenish itself.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 02:35:11 | More by Sam21

HappyHourHero

Indiana

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy chestnut colored beer with a small, dense, cream colored head that faded slowly leaving a few amoebas of lace. Quite interesting smell that bounces back and forth between tangy lemon and a unique cotton candy aroma. Tart lemony flavor almost becomes sour before the rich malty caramel base takes over. There are hints of floral hops throughout, and soft sugary (cotton candy, the blue one) finish. Light, fluffy mouthfeel. A freaky, crazy beer. Fantome makes the most unique beers I've ever had, and this one is currently the most warped one I've tried. I couldn't even imagine a beer tasting like this, but somehow they pull it off.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2005 23:59:31 | More by HappyHourHero

WesWes

New York

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The beer pours a hazy dark golden color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is fantastic. It has a really excellent pale malt scent and yeast aroma. It's light and fruity with just the appropriate amount of farmhouse funk. It's lightly earthy with a mild sourness. The taste is equally fantastic. It's funky as hell with loads of yeast character. There is a light earthy feel with a basic pale malt base. It goes down very easy. The alcohol is well hidden. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. Wow, these guys just produce the finest farmhouse ale around. They are incredibly drinkable as well as being intensely complex.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 22:17:42 | More by WesWes

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle. Date chart was not used, but this is from two winters ago.

Super high carbonation level. Raging bubbles. Straw color body. White head that holds nicely. The head actually slowly climbed 7" up to the spout of the bottle. Mountainous and alive looking head. A+ appearance.

Smells clean. Citrus and hay from yeast and bacteria. Almost has an industrial lager character in smell.

It even tastes similar to a lager. Slight sulfur notes. Noble tasting hops. Lots of pilsner grain/cereal flavors. Acid to the tongue, especially because of the carbonation. Both clean tasting and very flavorful. Balanced nicely - ABV, bitterness, malts, yeast. The only really outrageous characteristic is the high level of dissolved CO2.

Thin mouthfeel. Highly drinkable. I expected it to be more funky after a couple of years of cellaring. The funk shines more as the beer warms up. Overall it held up nicely to aging. I really enjoyed it.

Even though Hiver is "winter" beer. It is quite suiting for the spring and summer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 18:37:20 | More by mlazzaro

francisweizen

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml capped and corked bottle. No year noted on the label or cork, but this is their winter seasonal beer. This poured a nice dark red colour with an ample, white head. The aromas were hoppy, yeasty, spicy, and nice. The taste was very hoppy, crisp, refreshing, and different. The mouthfeel was crisp as well and the drinkability was excellent. This was a hoppy and very 'west-coast-ish' type of Belgian beer, that only the fine people at Fantome could churn out. Well worth the $10 plus I paid for the bottle, a nice treat!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2003 06:39:56 | More by francisweizen

marburg

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Memorandum
To: Me
From: Myself

Please stop overutilizing the terms "funky" and "farmhouse" to describe beers unless they are this particular Fantome product. To not cease using these terms would be a great disservice. Because this is truly a funky bitch of a beer.

A crazy mix of blood oranges, golden raisins, honey, melon, and caramel. At times, the orange/caramel reminds me of an orange yule log-type dessert I had at an elegant holiday dinner. Fascinating. Begins on the palate with dried apricot and lavender. Spicy bread, mint cookies? Hints of smoked graham crackers? Dirt? Hell if I know. This might be beyond my powers to describe. But this beer really brings the funk when it hits the finish. A wild, lingering plant-like bitterness literally dominates the finish and rides on well past.

This is nature telling me that alcohol is good.

Raw, absolute, beer.

Thanks for your time, and again -- no overuse of the word "funk" on other beers.

Signed,
Myself

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2004 23:25:17 | More by marburg

twelvsies

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

OK I admit it, I am now officially totally obsessed with Fantome. I originally had their regular saison beer last fall and I remember thinking it was decent, but nothing spectacular. Since then my palate has been destroyed by many a great beer and I love the style now, I wish I could find that beer again. But I've been getting their other products, which are all fabulous. Last night the Black Ghost almost made me poo my pants... Anyway, on to the review. Appears a very dark almost totally red color in the light, but there's some brown in there too, with a nice bubbly head that doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Smell is typical Fantome (meaning anything but typical). I thought it was my smelly feet, but I think that's the beer. Not as stinky as some though. But very dusty and dirty. This dust flavor really comes out in the taste as does an incredible array of fruityness and woodsy tones. Also a bit of alcohol notes or some wine flavor. I love the complexity of a Fantome beer. Mouthfeel is super dry and also incredibly light and thin, in a good way. Feels great. I don't know how they do it. If you haven't had this, go out and get it, and any other Fantome product you can find. And if you have had it and didn't like it, still go out and get it, cause you're probably wrong and I bet you'll change your mind.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2005 01:03:53 | More by twelvsies

Sephiroth

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally, my first Fantome. The bottle was well pressurized. After going into a tulip, the beer appears to be a clouded auburn color, with a half inch of foam that isn't going anywhere. The final pour is a muddy brown. The smell is funkier than I was led to believe by the salesman, which is a good thing. The spiced malt refuses to be outdone, though, and reminds me of a christmas ale.

This is an excellent saison. It has the soft malts of a brown ale, with holiday spices and farmhouse funk. The flavors are well balanced, with no one flavor standing above the others. This one is just slightly sweet.

The mouthfeel is softly carbonated, and medium bodied. The drinkability could cause me to cause a scene this coming holiday.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2005 01:18:05 | More by Sephiroth

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fantome's Winter offering is perhaps one of the brewerie's best beers that I've yet tried... copped a large, 750 ML green, Belgian bottle with a blue logo sticker and a white ghost from Buy Rite on Oak Tree in South Plainfield... Just recently sampled Fantome's Spring / Printemps Saison, and compared to that one, this one is bursting with flavorful character... wonderful nectarine-hue with a large foamy head that exhibited impressive staying power... the nose was replete with grapefruit, citrus, and powerful florals... taste strongly mirrored the aroma, with a noticeable pear, apple, grapefruit, and citrus taste - strong lemon and coriander round out a very tasty and satisfying beer... like many Fantome brews, there is a noticeable spritzy, seltzer, champagne-like character in this one, a very refreshing and elegant beer that goes down crisp, clean, and smooth, without the slightest hint of alcohol despite the 8% ABV... one of Fantome's best brews... if you are a fan of this unique brewery, this sample is a must-try... Definitely recommended...

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2008 00:05:02 | More by dsa7783