Fantôme de Noël

Pours very dark brown with a crimson tint and large rich thick tan head. The aroma has dark fruits, brett, barnyard, cinnamon, cocoa, anise, cherry, blackberry and chai tea - a lot of odd flavors that mesh incredibly well. Medium body with a good deal of sharp grainy carbonation. The flavor starts off with sharp spice, brett tartness, roasted chocolate malt, tannins and green tea. There is not nearly the fruit aspect that there was on the aroma. The finish is quite dry with some added oak, pepper, grapes, coriander and grains of paradise. Very crisp and refreshing for being a 10% monster. Big thumbs up on this winner from Fantome.

The wild yeast aspect makes it difficult for me to enjoy this completely. a slight spicy, slight acidic beer, with flavor of pine, mint and cocoa makes this good for the style

The aroma is spicy with pepper, cedar wood and yeast. The appearance is brown with a three finger tan head. The flavor has toasted malt, yeast, charred wood (smoke), and bitterness. It is only slightly sweet. The palate is somewhat thin but OK. The beer is unique but still not one of my favorites.

Cloudy brown pour becoming opaque in the glass. Huge head without much retention. Spare lacing. Very interesting aroma of dark chocolate and sour cherry kriek. Taste brings out some peppery spices. Medium to heavy body. Somewhat vinous, hot texture. Dry finish. Complex and very good.

Um... I don’t what I think of this beer. It is great in one aspect, but in the other it isn’t. I love the before taste, but the after taste has kind of a sweet/tangy almost sour taste to it. The color and head are great. The beer is creamy and smooth, but doesn’t have the flavor I was hoping for. Great alcohol content. The alcohol doesn’t get in the way of the taste. I don’t know maybe I have an expired bottle? The notches on the side don’t clearly indicate whether or not the beer is fresh, and the place that I bought this probably doesn’t keep track! From reading other reviews it sounds as though I am right in my assumptions.

Sampled at the O-Town Throwdown. Pours a dark burgundy with an off-white head. Aroma has hints of chocolate and some spices. Flavor is chocolaty with a smokey spice presence with a tarty mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden.

Bottle... O-Town Throwdown... Murky, dark brown ale. Chocolaty, spicy nose. Tangy, chocolaty flavor with smoke phenols and spice. Medium to full-bodied and milky with soft carbonation. Tangy, chocolaty finish.

Sampled at the O-Town throwdown. Pours deep amber with off white head. The aroma has sour notes and some berry fruitiness. The body is thin with some berry fruit, hints of sweet honey and sourness. Nice combination of flavor. No sense of the 10% ABV.