Fantôme de Noël

Pours a very dark brown with a small head that takes its time dissapating. The aroma is mainly yeast and some dark malts. The flavor is full of dark fruits... blackberries and cherries, maybe some honey and maple syrup. I tiny hint of sourness is there as well. The mouthfeel is my favorite aspect... wonderfully thick and smooth. Not my favorite from Fantome, but still a really good beer.

1/30/05. 750ml. Dark Brown with small brown head. Sweet Cherry aroma with some must. Sour spicy peppery taste. with some tartness. Some funkiness present.

750 ml bottle. Dark cola-like appearance with a fading head. There are grapes, apple, spice, wood and a whiff of chocolate in the nose - all of which pretty subtle. Flavor has a light note of red wine, a bit of chocolate, caramel, dark fruit/cherry, light brown sugar, pear and wood. Finishes dry. Medium, smooth body with fine carbonation - would have liked a little more carbonation. Overall, enjoyable.

750mL bottle, jasonp. Thanks, Jason! Pours a murky brown color; very small off-white head. Funky, sweet brown sugar and toffee in the aroma, with a light citrus tartness. Mildly tart upfront; brown sugar, nuttiness and warming alcohol in a medium-to-full mouthfeel; pleasant balance of citrus and chewiness, with a solid dose of characteristic Fantome funk. Lengthy, floral and brown sugar finish, with just a hint of funk left over.

Name: Noel
Date: 01/12/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

Appearance: hazy brown with ruby edges, whispy head,
Aroma: big spicy aroma,
Flavor: rich dark malt flavor with lots of spices, nice pepper, slight bitter character from the spices, very nice
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Name: Noel
Date: 12/04/2005
Words: ???? Vintage
Words: LAX Sheraton

Appearance: muddy rust, robust beight head that settles down to a whispering ghost,
Aroma: big musty aroma with a wide array of spices, upon warming a waft of overripe banana appears in the aroma,
Flavor: hugh complex flavors, lots of spice, a bit of funk, a trace of orange, nice bit of ripe fruit fades in and out,
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Name: Noel
Date: 01/19/2008
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 2007
Score: 4.1 to 3.8
Words: thirsty monk

Appearance: opaque dark red, dense beige head, lots of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma with a nice spicyness including cinamon and nutmeg,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, touch of sweet caramel has a fruity edge, spices and musty brett keep it balanced and dry, light bitter finish,
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Name: Noel
Date: 07/08/2008
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 2007
Score: 3.8 to 3.9

Aroma: sweet fig and spicecake aroma,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of dark fruit, dark caramel sweetness slowly grows to enrichen the fruityness, plenty of spices, nice cinamon, light bitterness along with the spices, breadyness gives it that spicecake character from the aroma, no mustyness, yeast shot makes it much breadier and works very well with the spices,
Overall: ages very well,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Dirty chocolate color, with a yellowish-green glow around the rim. Aroma of lemon juice, citrus rind, and grasses on the bretty hop front. Caramel, brown sweetness and some tart cherry skin unfold more expansively. Simple and dry lemon juice flavor, with which a bite of alcohol forces the suggestion of all-purpose cleaner. Some Christmas spices and sprucy bitterness, like wet mountain air on the tongue. Smacks a bit leafy and earthy, with a pungent boiled cabbage coating. Palate is slightly hollow and poorly rounded. Lacks sprightliness. Thanks for sharing, Jason! 6/3/6/3/13 3.1

2006. Aroma and flavor full of bretty stink and funky fruit sweetness; soured fruits, horseblanket and sweat, boot, chewy chocolate malt and lazy spices underneath. Burly, forceful sourness in a fantastically thick body; uniquely gratifying. 8/4/8/4/15 3.9

Vintage probably 2004. Translucent brown color, has a definite sourness to it with apple and some spice. The flavors dance around on the palate. Medium bodied and warming.

Wow, this was not what I expected. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve had from Fantome - but somehow when I see Belgian + winter I expect something much more malty, heavily spiced, etc. Well, once I got my head past my expectations I just fell in love with this wonderfully tart, subtly spiced concoction. The winter cousin of a Flemish sour, this one has very tastefully integrated notes of dried fruit, graced by faint traces of spice and just a touch of hop flavor. Really just so, so good.