 jhumphries69 (656), 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.
SledgeJr (2890), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Jun 28, 2009 In the 750 mL green glass bottle. Pours a cloudy flaxen gold with a poofy white head. Pears, peaches and oranges to the aroma. Yeasty bready flavor and a mild lemon taste that seems less like citrus and more like flowers. A sustained measure of candy flavoring without the overt sweetness. This just has a lot going on in there.
SamGamgee (1140), Isla Vista, California, USA
Jun 14, 2009 75cl bottle shared with larryLSB, pre-grad. Bright, hazy gold with a big white head. The flavor has bursting fruit and funky yeast with tropical and peach standing out. The flavor has the same intense fruitiness, with a funky, lightly tart edge, and a nice hop balance. Dry and refreshing on the tongue. Medium bodied with perfect carbonation that livens up the palate. This was just beautiful stuff that I’m already craving more of.
jonno (357), Japan
Jun 14, 2009 Really really good. Funky and lambicy, but with oodles of flavour and character. It was a dark orange unfiltered pour.Taste is of a myraid of fruit, spicy and sour. Full body for the style. A great summer thirst quencher (at 8.5%!). Left a lovely hoppy note on the way down that I could still taste, even after drinking an imperial stout. Pure class.
pete4999 (14), Grand Island, New York, USA
Jun 11, 2009 Appearance - A hazy golden brown. Nice bubbling, and it looks like sediment. Upon first pour, it looks like piss yellow, but once it’s in the glass, you can see the nice deep gold come through. A nice head on this one, whitish yellow, lasts for awhile.
Smell - Almost fruity. It smells kinda sweet, actually, but you can tell there’s a little bite to it....a little spicy smell...pepper, maybe (I’m not good at discerning the individual scents...)
Taste - Almost perfect. Perfect balance of sorta fruity sweetness with a delicious aftertaste. It’s a little spicy at first, but that fades and leaves a smooth, sweet flavor with a no offputting aftertaste like some beers.
Mouthfeel - Crisp...nice aftertaste...not sure what else to say here.
Overall: I’d definitely recommend this, and I WILL buy it again. Next time I do buy it though, I’ll have to age it....I only held this one for 2 weeks before drinking.
Note: first time drinking this beer, this review on a different site as well, same writer
buzzoven (270), Japan
Jun 11, 2009 Popped the cork and released the mist. Poured a solid pumpkin Halloween orange with no residue and a white sudsy soapy head. Smell was faint but could get some apricot, orange peel, dishwater. I really like the mouthfeel of this beer...feels thick, low carbonation, and almost has a custardy appeal to it. Taste echoed more of that apricot smell along with some lemonade, apple, flower petal and sour cherry. Finish was smooth, well-rounded and a bit dry. This pleasantly surprised me as I was expecting more grass and funk. I had been eyeing bottle of this at Tanakaya for years now and glad that I finally took the plunge. Want more of this brewer’s fine goods.
jake65 (1543), Williston, North Dakota, USA
Jun 7, 2009 Bottle: Golden with a light haze. Modest beige head. Aroma is lightly floral, with some citrus and Belgian spices. Taste is crisp, yet very balanced. Orange peel, coriander, cloves. Light amount of yeast. Nice finish of citrus and vinous fruits. Smooth. Very tasty.
JAXSON (187), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 3, 2009 750ml botlle, says "Bier Artisinale Sur Lie" on it. Hazy apricot pour with a creamy, medium head that sticks around. Really nice on the nose -- there is a spicy kick of saison-type yeast, something like candied citrus fruits, espeically oranges, and a healthy sour edge. Some ripe apples in the nose. Beautiful. Flavor is a bit of a hybrid between a typical farmhouse saison and a yeasty strong belgain ale with a sour edge. Nice. Kick of hops on the finish. There’s an element of stewed peaches in here that’s really refreshing. This is not unlike Bullfrog Unique Singel in it’s distinctive tart edge, especially the peaches bit. Awesome brew, probably underrated. Thanks to Pranerafox!
SudsMcDuff (1572), was CapeTown,SA-now Houston, Texas, USA
May 30, 2009 Finally get to try this brew.. . Pours with a crazy good head .. . is a murky gold, good haze .. . sour fuk .. . weird .. . odd sourness, some horse .. . did the mexicans get money today too??
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