Fantôme de Noël

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

750ml bottle, vintage unknown, but most likely 2006. Brown and purple hued body, with a small film of an off-white head. Oxidized nose of cardboard, sweet plum and wood, and a flavor that it up front sweet and starchy, then turning sour and lactic when the Fantome yeast is noticed... overall it’s a bit confused and detached, feeling thin in the mouth, weak and watery on the palate, never coming togethor with that rich frothiness that you find in other Fantome. Sharp, astringent at times, and cloying, it’s too messy. The finish especially is hard to deal with - the moldy cardboard and biting yeast.

Dark nutty brown with a HUGE creamy tan head, the nose presents a whirlwind of spicy scents atop a sweet caramel base. Raisins and chocolate blend with pepper, coriander, clove, a hint of mint, and the gods know what else Fantome threw into this Saison. This softly creamy drink has flavors to match the aroma with perhaps some pine and nuts and a definite alcohol zing to boot. It finishes on a spicy but slightly soured note. Very, very good drink.

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Deep hazy golden color with a frothy white head. Farhouse yeast aromas along with sweet/sour malt and wood. Flavors of sweet and sour fruits throughout. Something seemed off to me. I’ll have to try another to be sure on this one.

Vintage 1999. Cardamon, cherry and some chocolat aroma. Cloudy, red brown color, light brown head, good lace. Complex, very spicy, cinnamon, cardamon, fruity, cherry, light sour. Burning sensation and thick.

Dark hazy brown color with lots of whit head and lacing that stays for a long time, lots of carbonation. The aroma has a lot of caramel and toffee with some sweet maple and nice belgian qualities to it. The flavor is very semi-sweet with a touch of alcohol and sweet fruit/fig/raisin/brown sugar; delcious. The finish is moderate and average with a bit of alcohol. This was a great BSA, I was thinking more like a dark saison, but it's tasty and delicious.

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.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Sweet malty aroma with hints of caramel and spices. Sweet malty and slightly earthy flavor with hints of spices. Also some tart hints. Malty finish with some warming spicy hints in the aftertaste.

Big thanks to beeryum for this one. Pours turbid ruby/magenta with medium, off-white head. Aroma of malt, dark fruit, hops, cabernet, chocolate....prize winning aroma! Tastes malty, spicy, with some citrus, merlot, cinnamon, chocolate, and a complex, dense finish. Outstanding!