Fantôme de Noël

This had to be a baaaad bottle, but I’ll rate anyway. I was so looking forward to having this on Christmas Day. What a dissapointment. The appearance was wonderful: creamy head that was mostly lasting. Nice dark color. The aroma was absolutley awful. Cider, soap. more cider, and cardboard. I knew it was bad at that point. I’m nut sure how the bottle went bad. There was plenty of pop when I took the cork out and plenty of carbonation. I hope I can get another bottle and update this review as I love most all Fantome beers.

Cold 25.4 oz corked bottle: Pours a hazy reddish brown amber with off-white bubbles around the edges of the glass. Aroma is of rich malts, alcohol, light fruits, caramel and spice. Taste is of rich malts, cinnamon, light sour notes and apricots. Watery texture, mildly carbonated and smooth. Ending is malty with notes of grassy hops and light fruit.

Foggy deep brown, nice tan head. Aroma is yeast, caramel, coffee, alcohol. Taste is yeast, cinnamon, caramel, and coffee.

Almost black colour, with a very good head. Aroma is mainly tart, reminds of wooden cask where wine has been madurating. I feel mainly the same in the mouth, very tart and acid, like some champagnes or generous wines. When you get used to the massive acidity, you note some molasses, citrus and spices in the nose. In mouth, chocolate, spices, and the acidity you usually find in kriek beer. A diffcult beer, but a very pleasant one.

Bottle; Hazy dark brown with a big, glass-lacing tan head; Nose of caramel, tartness, and spice and banana notes; flavor shows the caramel, banana, pepper/coriander and some tartness; the tartness lasting to the finish along with a little alcohol warmth!

750 ml bottle. Pours a very dark amber color with a massive tan head. Aroma is peppery with hints of banana,clover,dates,prunes, and wood. Taste is pleasantly carbonated pepper with hints of fresh yeast,dates,prunes,chocolate malt and a dry woody finish. Very good.

Tasted at YeHA! 2006 in Montreal. App.: deep brown, tan head, clear. Aroma: lots of molasses, malty darkness, dried fruits, cat pee, wood, yeast and red wine. Palate: med.-low body, astringent with med. carbonation. Flav.: PEPPERY, a little malty, a bit sweet. Rated after the fact (one too many...ooops).

Draught @ Kerstbierfestival 2006 in Essen, BE. Hazy dark yellow brown color with a litle white head. Aroma off yeast, banana, medicine and pepper. Flavor is sweet and spicy (peppery) with some notes of the medicine aroma, witch i did not like.