Fantôme de Noël

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

Serve in Tulip

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.

750 ml bottle is at least a year old: color is a rich warm garnet/mahogany color with a light tan quickly fading head. aroma is sour, spicy and earthy. lemon and lime. black peper and balsamic vinegar. a fair amount of sourness and acicity in this x-mas beer. lemon and lime tartness. dry cocoa and rosemary. sours grapes and caramel. maybe a hint of cedar. dry finish silky smooth.

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!

Holy crap, this is a good beer! Pours a wonderful brown, with exquisite lacing. Flavor is dull raisin, strong spice, and a variety of fruits, most notably strawberry. Complex, yet simple. I’ve had this beer before, but this version surpasses others. Not much different than a spring seasonal, but what the hey. I’d love this one again. Awesome!

750ml bottle, i believe this is from 2006. pours muddy ruby with creamy tan head into fantome tulip. nose is oaky vanilla, hints of funky brett notes, caramel and chocolate notes, a spice i can’t put my finger on, and pepper. awesome nose. flavor has that great fantome house character, caramel and slight cocoa, hints of spice, touch of sourness, slight brown sugar finish. the alcohol doesn’t even warm. wow this is so light and drinkable. each sip really begs for another. at times it reminds me of Jolly Pumpkin Fuego but this is uniquely fantome and one of their finest.

Clouded ruddy amber dark murk with a soapy head of off-white. Pears and vinous notes with currants, cream, raisins and gentle brandy. Creamy and nutty. Peculiar leathery wood yand earth, with Sanka coffee. A note of orange peel dipped in milk chocolate, with a rough cheese (something pungent, soft and french) mingling with oats and grain from a horse barn. The delectable wild spontaneous lambic-like qualities really light me up, with some touches of sourness, cherries and soft leather. Delicious! Palate is sweet, but the alcohol was pleasently hidden until the finish, with nutty dryness. A little thin texture.

Bottle. A - Dark garnet chestnut color with an average sized, foamy, sticky off-white/toasted marshmallow color head. Decent retention with a nice layer of sticky lace. S - A lot of dark fruit, especially a plum, fig, and other vinous, jamy fruits. Also plenty of spice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and some clove and pepper. A bit of a sweet bready aroma as well. Somewhat Christmasy with a spiced sweet bread aroma, but it isn’t overly Christmasy. T - Similar to the nose with plenty of dark fruit and it is pretty plumy and slightly vinous. Good amount of spice with cinnamon and nutmeg being the strongest with some clove, pepper, and anise as well. Fair amount of Christmas flavors, especially the spices. Some sweet, dark bready malt base. In the background there is some more traditional Saison/Fantome spice and yeast. M - Medium body with medium to high carbonation. A bit of a zesty feel, but a touch of smoothness as well. D - Pretty drinkable beer with the ABV very well hidden. Spice and dark fruit combine well with the typical Fantome/saison flavors. Doesn’t overpower the palate. Notes: Tasty offering from a great brewery, although this is not my favorite of their beers. Fairly Christmas like in the spices and dark fruit, but it didn’t necessarily strike me as a Christmas beer. All together this was an interesting offering from a good brewery, but I probably wouldn’t get it again, but it is worth a try.

Very strong saison. Muddy brown sloshy pour. Nose is basement aromas, earth and must. Taste is nuts, roasted malts, caramel and cereal. Great beer. Rated 2/9/03