Fantôme de Noël

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

Cloudy and hazy dull reddish-brown color, huge frothy clingy off white head that leaves a sticky lacing in the glass, fruity green apple and yeasty aromas. Fruity and spicy with some caramel flavor, nice sourness in the finish. Medium bodied with a crisp and carbonated mouthfeel.

Balsamic sandalwood, dark cherries, yeast aromas with a sweet/sour barnyard character. Opaque brown with generous, fine-bubbled, fizzy, tan head that recedes to ring but persists. Plenty of yeast in suspension. Balsamic and wood notes very apparent with alcohol fairly noticeable (though not at all dominant) and a definite tartness. Wonderful collapsing, fluffy, structured body that I have come to love from this brewer. It seems a lot like a highly carbonated, lightly boozy flemish sour red. Bottle (enjoyed with MartinT, Rastacouere and some non-RB tasters).

Muddy brown, initially wearing a spectacular beige head for a 10% sour beer, but fully diminishing to a ring. Woody aroma and in its sense flanders sour ale like, but this is not aged in oak barrels, is it? Balsamic aroma, very earthy. The alcohol just comes out as a mild fragrance, you’d never guess 10%. Lots of nutmeg and cloves. Dark bread yeast character. Leafy cherries and raspberry tree branches fruity tones. Much more acid than I expected on the tongue, I like this. Fruity, woody, sour, spicy, well blended and very intense. Earthy, strawberry jam and vinegary flavors, big fantôme funk. Bitter spicy finish: lingering and warming. Typical airy and foamy body with lively carbonation and astringence from the puckering acidity. Delicious offering.

Pours a light brown, two finger-head that goes quickly leaving no lace, pour slowly. Some yeast left in bottle. Deep ruby color. Very good carbonation. Medium bodied. Starts malty and sweet, finishes with a good mix of hops and malt. $8.55 for a 750ml bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, Ma.

Pour deep brown with a wonderful pillowy head with wonderful lacing. Aromas of yeast, spices and raisins. Mouthfeel is mediumbodied with Flavors of oak, grapes, and lots of spice... A wonderful brew.

Pours a burnt caramel brown color with a nice big creamy head with good lacing. Aroma is vinous, woody, dark fruit, and farmhouse spiciness. Flavor is wood, cherries, sour barnyard and soy sauce. Body is dry. An excellent beer.

Deep orange with a pillow like head of tiny bubbles, very pretty. Winey aroma mixed with barnyard funk and a touch of prunes. Flavor is at first piercingly sour, which settles a bit as it warms up. Sour melds into full on barnyard, with a gentle malt sweetness in the background. Some dark fruit flavors work as well, lending the beer a bit of Christmas character. There is a lot going on here. Wonderful beer.

Aroma of dark fruit, berries and soy sauce. Flavor of dark fruit, soy sauce,with a bittersweet chocolate finish.