 jhumphries69 (513), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
Jul 23, 2006
I had this beer at Milltown in Chapel Hill a few weeks ago. It was by far the best Belgian farmhouse ale I’ve ever tasted. I’ve been a beer lover for a long time and have had many different examples of Belgian beers. But this one has renewed my interest. I’ve been searching for other farmhouse ales and saisons lately (hennepin, dupont, a couple of others). None can match the perfect bottle of fantome I had.
The aroma was incredibly pungent with yeast. It overwhelmed the nose. The beer was golden, translucent (little hazy) with a decent bit of sediment. The sediment was even attractive - fine particulate instead of the chunks of ropey yeast I’ve seen in other bottle-conditioned beers. The beer had a nice white head. The flavor was fantastic - slightly grassy (but not in a bad way - like grassy beers that smell like horse blankets), malty sweet, intense bready flavors (though not near as yeasty as the smell), and a very mild bitterness that did an excellent job of balance. The taste also hid the alcohol content quite nicely - a fantastic beer and amazingly quaffable at the same time (dangerous for a beer of this strength). The mouthfeel was also nice - full body with a lot of carbonation.
pepperford (90), robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA
Sep 3, 2008 hazy yellow/gold like the sunrise. Bright white head, like foam off the surf in a cool lagoon. Aromas of distant dreams, lost loves, tangerine, lemons, sweetness, corriandro, and a hint of funk/newspaper. Lightly sour, orange, good amounts of carbonation, spicy hints from the hops, and a lingering sour/tartness. i love you casper, you magnificant bastard. But the fake eyelashes have to go.
tomthompson89 (1133), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sep 1, 2008 Hmmm not a fav but interesting, cloudy amber golden color, nose is odd earthy notes some old hops and a barnyard nose. tart apple and and funk, drying finish
malrubius (425), USA
Sep 1, 2008 750 ml bottle split in Duvel glass. Hazy orange with lasting white head. Spicy lemon tart sugary aroma. Delicate vanilla sugar sweetness with cherry/lemon popsicle fruitiness Spicy dry tart hi-carbonated finish. Great mix of flavors with no off-flavors or over-spicing. Medium-light body. Extremely quaffable yet strong and very complex. I just love a great saison, and this one is great.
illidurit (398), Santa Cruz, California, USA
Aug 31, 2008 Poured into a Duvel tulip. Cloudy gold color with a monstrous white head that leaves massive lacing. Aroma is of straw, lemon rind, myriad spices, and grass. Flavor is tart lemon with white pepper, dirt, grass, some tropical fruit, and an even crackery malt base. Nice complexity. Smooth and clean on the palate, good carbonation, dry finish, refreshing. One of the great classics of the saison style.
darkguardian (173), Florida, USA
Aug 31, 2008 22oz bottle. Pours a hazy orange. Incredible smelling saison with typical fantome funk notes. Yeast, coriander and clove but a nice tart cherry aroma as well. Very creamy on the nose. Carbonation as always with Fantome is spot on. Hay, yeast, some light grassy hops and spice come at the front followed by a brisk dry cherry tartiness. Creamy finish with caramel and banana. Very complex as per usual and as usual a masterpiece.
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