Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

22oz bottle from the Solan’s Mom throwdown courtesy of mcbackus. 2002!!! Let me say up front that if this is how Fantome’s age I am gonna start cellaring the damn things right now. Pours a hazy straw color with a tiny white head that hangs around. Aroma is Mint, Pepper, spice and some sour tartness. The taste is just incredible, in the realm of tastiness this is probably one of the best beers I’ve had. Sour apple and cherry seem to be the main players here but alot of black pepper as the beer warms. A touch of caramel, vanilla, and corainder. I detect some clove in there as well. This is just crazy complex, wish there had been more of this to go around. Was my favorite of the throwdown.

2002 ? bottle pink and blue winter label from dickensonbeer: pours a good golden colour small white head. aroma is great sweet cotton candy, mint, chocolate, good malt, fruit, alot going on that all seems to blend well together very different adn fantstic. flavour was very tart, good apple adn just a mice sour flavour that i love, some sweetness does come through.

2002 bottle at orlando throwdown thanks guys tart fruity maybe apricot malty spiced coriander black pepper cotton candy sweet tarts copper in color if it makes sense the flavor does not match the aroma but it does taste good

Bottle from Binny’s in Orland Park, May2008. Citrus in the aroma and in the flavor. Started sweet then dries right up with an unpleasant after effect. This bottle may have been too old. It Grew on me as I drank and I look forward to trying nezxt year’s in about February!

Bottle. Although I’m beginning to think that the Fantome yeast strains just don’t jive with me, this one was light enough, airy enough, and spicy enough to get the job done for me. The earthy sourness that can get to me was nicely blended with the fruit and spice notes to create a refreshing result.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy amber with no real head. Aroma of light fruits and spices. Flavor strongly of spices (especially thyme and oregano, which I’m not sure is used in beer...but that’s what I got...), some wort spoilage, pear. A surprisingly light mouthfeel. I thought the spices combination was odd at first, but as I continued to drink, I enjoyed it more and more. One of the better Fantome’s that I’ve had.

750 ml bottle sampled May ’08.

Pours a murky light orange. Characteristic Fantome yeast underly the aroma, and along comes some surprisingly savory notes and some unusual spice - perhaps sage? Gently funky, gently sour components to the aroma. he flavor is likewise gently soured, lemon juice cutting through dusty yeast-driven depth, again that spice. Very nice beer, and it goes down quickly an easily without ever a hint that it is anything above 6% abv. Not my favorite fantome concoction, but certainly well worth drinking and well worth revisiting should I have the opportunity.

Bottle is undated, but the range of best by years goes from 07-12, but none are checked. Dusty and fruity with sour cherry pits, a little green/tropical plant/floralness. Flavor a touch thin, mildly sour with a lemony citrus component. Somewhat tannic cherry pit twang as well. Moderately refreshing. A touch thin near the finish. Feels over the hill, but still a neat beer in many ways. Cloudy dark orange color. Foamy khaki head, heavy wet lacing.