Fantôme Chocolat

2005 750 ml bottle. Pours copper color with a fluffy white head. Sour aroma with fruit, especially apple. Slightly sour taste with some caramel and bread-like qualities. Very crisp. Tight carbonation that cuts through the malt. A bit of heat comes through after a few tastes, and more after it warms. Not what I remember from a few years ago. I would like a more current bottle to re-judge.

Bottle: Pours a hazy golden with a very large dense white head that laces. Crisp fruit aroma. Bright, with granny smith apples, mild herbs, dried bready malts, biscuit notes, and a very mild touch of cocoa butter as it warms. Very subtle and elegant. Creamy fluffy feel. Crisp flavor of green apples, mildly vinous upfront, green grapes, and some hints of bread crust malt character. Later the flavor shows a very mild spiciness with a touch of Euro-hop bitterness. As it warms and you dig deep into the flavor you do get a touch of cocoa butter that meshes with the spicy finish. It’s extremely tasty and well crafted. This is a unique beer that’s all about subtly.

Bottled sample. Clear deep amber in colour with moderate spritzy carbonation. Fairly typical Fantome aromatic profile: a bit of funk, yeast, apple, lemon, wood, sweet grasses, and just a hint of chili pepper. Again, fairly straight-up Fantome saison in the mouth, with loads of grasses, apples, lemon, and funk. There’s a good refreshing acidity on the palate, along with a subtle bit of roast and creaminess. The chocolate is there, but very faint. I think it’s more apparent in terms of mouthfeel rather than flavor (if that makes any sense). This isn’t the chocolate-herbal-funky freakout that I’m sure most Fantome fans were hoping for, but this is still a very good saison.

(Belgium) Courtesy of AFI96, Thanks Waylo.... Pours a hazy orange color with a sm-white head. There is a citrus and fruity aroma to this saison with a strong grapefruit taste with a dry finish. I did not taste any chocolate which was very disappointing for me, but i will get over it.

Another shared with the Knights, thanks for bringing over afire! Poured a hazy orange yellow with a foam white head. Fizzy and citrus with yeast and a little spice. Where the chocolate came in was a little vague at first but towards the end I found it. The spice seemed pretty subdued as well. This was not the best for me so looking forward to try others from Fantome.

Cloudy amber body with a hefty beige head. Aroma is chocolaty, spicy, and lightly funky. The flavor has a delicate peppery kick, mixed with a creamy chocolate profile that creates a malt ball candy character. Very interesting.

Bottle shared with the Devonshire fellows. Pours is hazy yellow-orange with decent head. Smells of tart citrus and some cocoa lingering underneath. Taste has notes of grapefruit, lemongrass, cinnamon, and very tart. Feels light, spritzy, and refreshing but leaves a tiny bit of pepper burn in the roof of your mouth. Interesting and different but not the best from them.

Hazy amber with a big and bubbly off white head. Strong spicy aroma with pepper and chili. Dry and tart with a hint of chocolate and a little pepper hotness in the finish. Awesome combination of spice and tartness!