Fantôme Chocolat

Brewed by Brasserie Fantôme
Style: Saison
Soy-Erezée, Belgium

Serve in Tulip

750 Bottle ... hazy amber ... cidery nose ... very tart ... quite dry ... fruity ... again some cider tones ... touch of chocolate ... dont sense any chilli? .... really quite drinkable.... the chocolate builds as you get further in.

750 from my Secret Santa - thanks!!! Decided to crack this after reading the recent thread with its wildly varied impressions of this beer. I was expecting something much more dry, with some dark cocoa in there. Instead, this is a mostly tart brew with only the faintest hints of the promised cocoa and chilis. Shame, as I was hoping for something demonstrative, for better or for worse. What’s left is an enjoyable saison leaning to the sour side, with occasional flashes of spice, but nothing really resembling the advertised flavors.

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.

An interesting creation, although there is something to be said for the clean and crisp straight saison. Bottle cork popped with a loud and strong pop. The pour was nice, cloudy, amberish color, generous initial head (not ridiculous, though), great lacing. The araom was strong peppers, some citrus, sublte cocoa (probably only because I was looking for it, per the beer name). The flavor followed suit a little sour citrus up front, light cocoa (not chocolate or dominating, very nicely done) flavors, and the typical dry peppery finish that is the hallmark of Fantome productions. Did not specifically note any "chilli" peppers, seemed more like black pepper. The finish was a little acidic and dry at the same time, a nice selection for the middle of the tasting lineup.

Hazy amber pour, Aroma is loaded with yeast, citrus, some chalky chocolate. Flavor is herbal yeast, Sourdough, grass, finishes very dry with a flutter of powdered cocoa, Decent offering.

UPDATED: AUG 26, 2009 nose is of yeast flowed by a very atypical (for beer) scent of chocolate. difficult at first to place, then subtle but reminiscent of cocoa puffs or similar breakfast cereal, almost artificial. besides occasional whiffs, the cocoa element remains elusive. pours an almost ruby, definitely darker then the usual fantome or other cloudy saison. this is not the cocoa profile usually presented in a porter, or anything else for that matter. begins with belgian spice and bitterness, maybe a bit of alcohol, leading to a quick dry finish. it is only after the finish that the fantome reappears -- to bring you a fading delivery of supple, dark and barely sweetened nibs. unfortunately, cant say much about the chili outright, however that may be what tempers the chocolate down to such a background element. through it all, the yeast remains and keeps this wild (if slightly unsuccessful brew) firmly a saison. the dregs ("blood cleaner") at the bottom of the bottle taste much more strongly of chocolate.

750-ml bottle Wine Works Springfield, OH - Aroma: perfume, spicy, pepper, chili, slight coca; Appearance: hazy, yellow-abmer color, off-white head, laces; Flavor: spicy, pepper, chili, bitter, fruity, malty; Mouthfeel: medium bodied, thin texture, soft carbonation, long finish; Overall: complex balance of aromatics with a spicy, peppery backbone beer and a nice dry finish. Lots of coca powder at the bottom of the bottle. When remixed, it adds chocolate flavor and cloudy, tan-brown color.

UPDATED: APR 11, 2011 Nose is kind of grassy, funky, just all-around weird. A little bit of tartness actually comes through as the beer warms to around 55 degrees. Front of the palate is lightly sweet, middle has a very weird cocoa powder taste, finish is slightly peppery, a bit tangy, almost a bit rancid. Funky, bizarre, interesting, exciting. What the hell am I drinking? Do I want to drink this again? These mysteries, and many more.