Fantôme de Noël

A dark belgian ale, very tasty. Complex flavors and a yummy nose. Some spice, lots of malt, and other flavors I’m not sure how to describe.

thanks to stumac for this oddity of a weird brewery ... is a tad weird .. good ... very enjoyable aroma... is refreshing and upfront .. weird but good aftertaste .. some spices .. intriguing ..

750 ml bottle shared by Tmoney99. Pours a hazy dark orange amber color with a medium creamy beige head. The aroma is complex and interesting: chocolate and caramel sweetness, spiced sweat, herbal, funk, with an overall earthy quality. The flavor is just as complex: it is at times a farmhouse ale and others more like a lager. Spicy, herbal, caramel, sometimes a little sweet, sometimes a little sour funk, wait is this 10%, there was discussion about ginseng but I’m still not sure. What I do know is that Fantome never makes a boring beer.

75cl bottle at home: Pours a dark polished walnut wood or mahogany. Sudsy tan head turns to a creamy film. Wow aroma! Many things going on here but everything is crisp, not muddled.Bright red grapes, dark raisins, touches of tobacco and cedar remind me of a humidor. Vinous and oaky components. Dark fruit compote and Luikse Siroop. Mixed winter spices and fresh grated ginger. Oh and of course dark caramel and deep malt, but those need to be swirled up now and then. Very light cola aroma too. Once it hits the tongue the tartness pops out from behind a dark malt and fruit blend. Notes of unsweetened chocolate compete for your attention with the vinous tartness and the spices. Flavor is very nice but a bit more muddled than the aroma. Touches of wood or tree bark, not sure. Some green herbalness can be picked up towards the finish, hiding behind the tartness. Alcohol wants to let you know its there but the wild character is keeping it in check. Quite dry. At some moments it is just a bit watery... but then it comes back to life.

2/11/2009: Fantome de Noel is uh......... It’s good, but I have no idea how to describe what this beer tastes like. Like all Fantome beers, you will just have to try it for yourself to understand what I am talking about. I’ll try to describe it, but I don’t think I have an adequate vocabulary... It pours a deep golden color with lots of sediment suspended in animation with a creamy ivory head. The aroma is earthy? (not quite but I really have no idea how to describe it), herbal (maybe, but not in the usual sense), and B.O./sweat? I really have no idea. The flavor is just as intriguing. It is soft and smooth like a lager/Pils (some sort of European-style lager mixed with a skunky Mexican lager) in the front and then becomes more herbal and impossible to describe. Tom thinks it is like Ginseng root, but I have no idea since I haven’t had straight Ginseng before. I’ll take his word on it. Regardless, this is a good, drinkable beer, but doesn’t really seem like a holiday/Christmas beer to me. In the end, I guess it doesn’t really matter. Even though I can’t describe this or any other Fantome in any meaningful way, I still really enjoy drinking them because they are some of the most interesting and different-tasting beers available.

0.75 l capped and corked bottle (alc. 10% vol.) shared by Tmoney99. Thanks! Rating #440 for this beer.

Bottled 75cl. Courtesy of bierkoning. Appearance: It pours a beautiful murky deep nut brown beer with ruby reflects and a fair tanned head. Some lacework. A lot of sediment. Aroma: Very complex. Hints of sherry, mince pies, cork, honey, cherry, plum, vinegar, cranberry, pepper, brown sugar, apricot and spices (which include ginger?), caramel and some grassy components (maybe even dandelion?!). Nicely sour. Flavor and palate: Very pleasant. Low carbonation. The alcohol is nicely hidden. Smooth. Good balance and complexity. Woody. Moderate sourness. Cherry, wood, plum, Christmas cake, cherry, ginger, apricot, vinegar, cranberry, pepper and brown sugar showing up. Some marmite sneaking in. More sourness showing up with the swallow. Dry acidic finish which is surprisingly malty and reminiscent of marmite and raisins. Overall impression: The spicing is extremely sophisticated. Complex. Rather pleasant. Good. Thanks a lot bierkoning!

Draft @ Capone’s: Poured a dark amber with not much head. The aroma was sweet malts, dark fruits and spice. The flavor was smooth, dark fruits, pepper, sweet malts and sugar. Overall, this one reminded me more of a Belgian Strong ale than a Saison, but excellent nonetheless.

pours a nice hazy amber color with a thick white head...poor retention. aroma is mildly sour with some musty perfume qualities. nice flavor too...leathery and musty with mild spice and sourness. light mouthfeel is a bit tart on the tongue and the finish is leathery and musty. very interesting for a saison!