 jhumphries69 (656), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
Nov 6, 2007 Updated: Nov 7, 2007
750ml capped&corked bottle. Pours a very dark and cloudy brown/black with a thick tan head that quickly fades into a thin, wispy layer of small bubbles. The aroma is alarmingly similar to Jolly Pumpkin’s Madrugada Obscura: a mix of spices, dust, chocolate, sour apple vinegar, and alcohol. The sour vinegar smell seems strangely inappropriate with the earthy musk and chocolate. The flavor starts dry and dusty with semi-sweet chocolate - balanced by hints of fruity acid. The combination seems a little more successful on the tip of the tongue than in the aroma. The middle of the tongue detects some funk - the acid builds and is paired with dry, musty notes - but is strangely lacking sourness. It is incredibly dry on the tongue at this point and leaves a strange, cloying mix of vinegar and unsweetened cocoa powder. The finish is hot with alcohol, very dry, and keeps going the odd combo of vinegar and unsweetened cocoa. The mouthfeel is pleasantly carbonated and surprisingly light for a beer of this strength - but the funk (brett, lactic bacteria, acid) gives a wicked sensation of dryness across the middle and back of the tongue. As the beer warms up (or maybe its the alcohol hitting my brain) it improves a little: the beer reveals flavors of roasted grain and prunes, mixed with the chocolate and must. Also, the dryness isn’t so distracting once the tongue gets acclimated to it. Overall, I’m a bit disappointed. I have really enjoyed a few other Fantôme beers (especially their signature Spring Saison), but this one is much weaker. I think this sort of thing - the funky, brett stout - just isn’t up my alley. I think Jolly Pumpkin’s brew was a little more successful than this one, though.
FatPhil (3139), Espoo, Finland
Jun 20, 2009 Updated: Jun 23, 2009Note - this bottle was fucked. I’ve had it before, it was my first Fantome, and was fantastic. This bottle was just a mess.
750ml bottle (Cracked Kettle, Amsterdam)
Dark brown, no head, though the bottle did open with a pop. Very watery, certainly not 10%, something’s definitely wrong. Sour aroma and palate.
TheEpeeist (1280), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA
May 31, 2009 25.4 oz bottle. Foggy brown with some forced bubbles. Nose is cheesy, funky, yeasty, moldy fruit and allspice. Been a while since i’ve had a Fantôme but one sniff and it’s immediately recognizable. Creamy, but not thick, with soft buzzy carb. Taste is gingerbread, apricot and woody orange peel. Dry bready finish with residual spice.
bitbucket (1910), Kirkland, Washington, USA
May 29, 2009 Pours cloudy brown with a lacy off-white head. Medium body and light carbonation. Lightly sweet malty taste with nuts, figs and spice.
ogglethorp (868), Ohio, USA
May 10, 2009 06 Bottle. Pours dark brown with a medium sized tan colored head. Aroma is honey, chocolate, prunes. Flavor is honey, chocolate, tart cherries, orange, grassy, hint of pepper. Palate is medium bodied, fairly heavily carbonated, finished dry and tart. Not sure if this embodies the holiday season or not, but I like it a lot. This has a ton of sour character from the wild yeast. I’d rather drink this on a hot day than by the fire in winter. Recommend to any sourhead!
plovmand (1195), Helsinge, Denmark
May 10, 2009 Bottle. Dark brown body with a small thin beige head. Very spicy aroma of coriander and pepper. Some tart subdued sourness as well. Flavour is pepper, spices, dark fruits and bit tart finish. Very dry finish. Bit thin on the palate. Alcohol in non existing in taste.
lb4lb (1950), Austin, Texas, USA
Apr 19, 2009 Pours dark brownish with a very short lived head. Smell is tart and herbacious. Taste is miny with rosemary and is dry and unique. Interesting but not a repeat drinker for me.
alexanderj (1975), San Diego, California, USA
Apr 19, 2009 On tap at PP Carlsbad. Color was orangey amber. Aroma was appley, yeast, spice, earth, must and funk. Flavor was musty and funky. Apples, earth, yeast. Slightly sweet. Fantastic beer.
BritAlesRule (82), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Apr 2, 2009 Poured a mutky medium brwn with lots of freebies at the end. Nice head and Saison nose. Very nice palate but then it got just a little weird with the dark malty character clashing with the refreshing Sason. i bow to the eternal wisdom of Dany Prignon, but this one didn’t really sit well with me despite my rating. I could leave my nose in the glass all day.
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