Fantôme de Noël

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

Serve in Tulip

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750 ml. bottle gratefully received from Marcus. Opened as a light gusher. Very dark hazy amber color with a fine beige head. Very fruity aroma (but not sweet) backed with spice. Full bodied with creamy carbonation. There’s a touch of sour, not much hop, seems to be mild funk, maybe some coffee or chocolate. Seems a little grapey. No heat at all. Finishes a bit woody. Notes like a mild brown ale. As time goes on it turns somewhat peppery. Quite the amazing drink.

Bottled: Dark amber coloured. Dusty. Dark beige foam. Plums and dates in the aroma. Light vinous. Reminds me a little of a dobbelbock. Has strong fruitscharacters in the flavour. Plums comes to mind again. Not as fullbodied as expected, but the alcahol is very well hidden. Dies quickly on the palate. This was provided by Jacob L and Martin K. Thanks for sharing, guys.

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.

very dark brown colour with a little and unregular foam, the aroma shows a solid complexity and a great balance, it is vinous, fruity (plum) and spicy (ginger, pepper) with a hint of alcohol; the malt body is robust and slightly oily without being too heavy, some sweetness and a late moderate bitter/sour touch; the finish is long and very malty, gently fruity and strongly spicy with late notes of cork and cellar - just splendid

Bottle from Belmont Party. Poured clear copper/orange color with an average frothy off-white head that lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate to heavy yeasty, herbs,and earthy aroma. Medium body with a dry smooth texture and lively carbonation. Medium to heavy sweet&sour spice flavor with a medium to heavy sweet&sour finish of moderate to long duration. Solid complex seasonal beer.

A Mes rate: 75cl bottle from Dranken Geers.
Lovely semi cloudy deep amber colour with an excellent white head and lace. Glorious yeasty sourness in the aroma. Almost wild yeast. Bready and earthy with some light fizzy citric notes. Awesome funky flavour. Like the barrel aged character you get in a Jolly Pumpkin but so much better. Amazing freshly milled wood, lemon zest, clear spicy malt and a beautiful tangy sourness. Odd chalky note in an otherwise awesome finish is the only let down.

UPDATED: OCT 9, 2006 Dirty brown snow. Very spiced aroma. Sour apples contribute to a tart acidic beer, in a geuze style, and somewhat pleasant result. 3/14/2004 8-3-8-3-15 for 3.7

Red burgundy brown with extra thick moka head. In aroma, buttery and peppery concoction. In mouth, a sweet buttery malt with loads of black pepper, treacle, rather strange and not as good as the one rated in 2004. Bottle from Bieropholie, via Ian G. 6-3-6-3-12 for 3.0

750 ml corked and caged. Light brown beer with orange amber highlights. The aroma is pure Fantome. Herbal/spicy yeast, oaky vanilla-ish aroma with nutmeg and cinnamon mixed in. A bit of brown sugar and molasses over baked apple warmth and fresh green apple acidity. Warming greatly improves the integration of of brown and dark malts with all of the warm baking spices. Also a leathery sourness that really starts to pick up as the beer comes up in temperature. Damp leaves and light toastiness. Herbal with notes of dill, orange peel, mint and more vanilla. Everything is very well-integrated. Bready and toasty with caramel and peppery alcohol. Further warming produces a beer with similarities to a Flemish Red, albeit one with more alcohol and less acid. Sweet/sour cherry, soft acidic notes behind a raisiny sweetness and a minty finish.. Loads of complexity. The warming feeling in my belly, just makes be appreciate it even more. Drink it around 10C for full effect. Awesome.

Dark ruby/light brown color and a fizzy tan head. Sour malt, barnyard, and roasted marshmellow aroma. Body is spicy with notes of coriander and grains of paradise mixed with a malty sweetness. Tart peppery finish hides the alcohol very well. Great complexity and perhaps the most unique beer I've ever had. A truly intriquing experience!

Slightly hazy red-amber; lightly amber coloured mixed head. Heavy, spiced and leafy nose. Coffee and mocca-cookies. Very bitter taste with again, coffe-like character. The first bitterness comes as a shock, because of its intensity (not hoppy!), but it eases off then. There's quite some sweet malt underneath, rekindling the "café-clair" cookies idea. There remains a herbal flavour somewhere, but very faint. Full bodied, some alcoholburn. This is a flavour profile D. Prignon often seeks. I can even call it balanced, but never my favourite.