Fantôme Printemps

Lots of spice. Intense flavors. A saison that will knock you out. Very yeasty. Tangy. Fruity. Wow. Enjoyable.

Bottle. 25.4 oz. Split with Braden. Pours speckled, hazy orange gold with a frothy, white head. Aroma of pine, cork, citrus, hops, and wheat. Medium bodied with a tangy, fruity mouthfeel. Quick, tight finish. Average saison.

PoIRS a deep orange with dissapating white head. Aroma of yeast cellar mustiness and spices. This is meatier then lighter american made saisons I have had that are more peppery. This has other spices like oregeno. Ther is some breadiness and a bit of sour grape. Unique

750 ml bottle - purchased at Bottleworks; bottle has the pink lettering; no marking on side to determine the age; poured into a very nice Boulevard saison glass courtesy of the generous Theisti; slight pop and probably would have gushed over if I hadn’t started to pour; dark orange w/ 1/2" sustaining eggy white head; incredibly amount of floaties cycling to the surface via the carbonation; first aroma to hit is one of food - almost garlic chicken if you can believe it; I get a pleasant mix of ginger, rosemary, oregano, musky sourness and dried flowers;celery and some pepper with a little thanksgiving stuffing; never smelled anything quite like it; wow, silky smooth texture; super creamy and full bodied; floral, grassy, spelty wheat some lemony or grapefruit tartness; cheese and some mint too; get the ginger and just a touch of rosemary again; fruity, but in the grapefruit and grape sphere; some sort of spice, seems like ginger, pops out the most to me; earthy overtones and perfectly dry finish; strange, intoxicating and delicious all at the same time; I didn’t read any ratings before opening, so this was very different than expected; earthy notes trump the fruity ones; one of a kind across the board

Bottle. Pours clear gold with a medium white head. Funky aroma with lots of malt, some fruit and a bit of skunkiness. Banana yeasty flavor with sweet malt and a nice sour grape influence.

750 into trusty Duvel glass. I must confess: I’ve neglected Fantome until now. I was exposed to Fantome in my beer geek infancy, and I wasn’t ready. Too funky, too weird. Now, I don’t think it’s weird at all, simply beautiful. Uncorked this one with a pop and was immediately assailed by the funk. A nose in the glass discovers snappy carbon dioxide released from the bubbles and yeasty acidity I associate with older, well-aged bottles of Orval. As it warms, dark twiggy things come out in the smell. Flavor and texture in this piece are perfectly married. Initially there’s a rush of limey acid, mouthwatering, riding the tickling carbonation. The middle stays juicy, but other things come to play too. It doesn’t get bogged down in cottony yeastiness like other wild brews, but rather the cardamom and light spiciness stays light and vibrant. The finish is long and lingering, and different waves of flavors drop in to visit: honeydew, lightly buttered bread, light sea salt. Awesome.

750ml Bottle (Delirium, Brussels) - Amber/brown with a foamy head. Sweetish aroma with hints of apple, pear and some spicy malt. Sweet, fruity and malty taste with pear and spicy malt. Tasty and drinkable.

750. corked and capped. gotta love fantome. pours a hazy, coppery medium amber. thick creamy white head and dense wooly sheets of lace. big fragrant nose of sweet grass and pencil shavings. creamy medium body with firm bold carb. sweet delicious creamy grass, wildflowers, pencil shavings, and some early, pretty touches of funk. probably be even more delectable when it dries out. nice saison as usual.