Fantôme de Noël

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

Bottled. Really dark brown, thick light brown head. Very spicy aroma of anise, wormwood, ginger, mint and alcohol. Foresty impression in flavour, some, leaves and moss with notes of coriander and bark. Herbal, spicy and foresty aftertaste. Finishes dry and pleasant. .

Bottle. A light brown pour. I thought it was a little light. Tastes like a nice warm Saison. Sweet and light. Pretty solid beer.

750mL bottle. I assume this is from 2005. Different label than that in the picture. A muddy reddish brown pour with some floaties and a nice sandy head. A weird combination of aromas. The typical musty funk of a saison is there along with some roasty malts, chocolate, cinnamon, brown sugar and a little molasses. The caramel scents really become noticeable as it warms. Same with the honey and coriander. Full-bodied. Some sweet sugar and cinnamon flavors kick things off and transition to some cocoa and coffee with cream. The finish is slightly warming, fairly bitter and dry with a touch of pepper. A decent amount of yeasty sourness by the end of the bottle too. This one really exudes the full gamut of flavors associated with holiday brews. Hard to believe this is 10% ABV.

750ml bottle.
Pours a hazy dark reddish brown with a a great big fluffy white head that refuses to make any hint of a departure until rinsed out of the bottom of the glass. The room fills with musty, earthy, spicy slightly acetic aroma once the bottle is opened. Flavor is earthy, nutty-yeasty, hop-spicy, peppery, light to moderate hop bitterness, hint of sour grass, and a dash of licorice. Hard to find a more complex flavor profile than this, especially one that comes together so well. Big thick palate. What a wonderful winter treat.

Dark brown and copper colored body with a medium khaki colored head. The aroma is rich with that typical funky fantome nose. A little bi of lemons along with some barnyard and then a little ginger thrown in for good measure. This makes me think of Christmas chocolate candy that has some orange flavor. The taste is dry and strong with the barnyard leather. There is also some orange peel along with some milk chocoate. There is some ginger bread in the finish. The alcohol is well hidden. The is fairly dry like most Fantomes. Very interesting.

This is just one of those brews that is hard to pigeonhole. Sweet aroma of baking chocolate, fruit, spicy. The flavor is of a chocolate liquer with blueberry, a little spicy, dry. Really good

Pours with a bubbly head, deep brown color. Smell reminded me a bit of champange, sour grapes. Dry, light body with a sour, aged cheese taste.

1 pint, 9.4 fl oz bottle from www.belgianshop.com. Pours a very rich brown mahagony and maple hue with a small frothy tan head, kind of creamy. Sour fruit (berries) and lightly smoked caramel malt aroma, earthy and barn yeast notes round out the nose. Sweet wheaty yeast (dough) flavor, light chocolate notes, malt and lightly smoked, oak and cellared, earthy flavors with a light bitter and acidic finish, berry notes. Medium to full bodied, spicy and fizzy palate. Darker than the other saisons I’ve had, but a very good brew, pairs well with steak.