Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

dirty orange color, like the rust from my trusty first car. theres a lot of cheesy funk to this one and a hint of fish. some woody flavor, (honestly doesn’t taste like oak to me it tastes like birch or something...) and then theres some corriander, some anise, and some apple and white grapes. a nice alcohol warmth to it that, in my opinion, is why it was saved for winter.

Vintage bottle ’98 sampled at Delilah’s Vinatage Beer Fest 07. I went back for several of these, this was mine and many others favorite of the fest. Pours a brown cloudy color. Sour funky aroma, bretty, musty, and inviting. Fruity sour flavors, oak grapes, apple, earthy hops, and alcohol warmth that’s glowing inside me. Drying finish, excellent beer.

Poured a very very cloudy orange/brown color with okay head and lacing. Aroma was very peppery and lots of other spices. Flavor was much them same, very different then i was expecting from this style was funky but pepper funky.

Vintage 1998

Pours orangish/whiskyish in color with a frosty opacity under a thin, cream-colored film above. Barnyard aromas sometimes turn lemony, othertimes turn dung-like above a base of caramel malt. A bit dank with sharp astringence and a sour bite, malts and yeasts compete for the base flavor which lead the way to a dry finish.

<font size=-4>Sampled at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Events-Detail.asp?Eve Vintage Beer Fest 2007</font>

Pours a murky orangey color with a nice initial head, but manageable (surprising considering the loud chirping pop upon bottle opening). Lacing was only ok. The aroma was strong peppers, even some hot peppers, crazy spicing. The flavor was strong black pepper, hot peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables, surprisingly a very excellent blend, a great way for a winter beer to head, learn something American ginger and spice Christmas fools. Mouthfeel was well-carbonated, hearty, full.

Bottle. Big aroma, lots and lots of spice and yeast with a strong winey complexion and a heavy dose of cherry. Cinnamon and coriander top spices here, but there seems to be more of a general sense of "spice." Cloudy and highly carbonated dark amber body with a foamy lacing beige head. Vinous, crisp mouthfeel, medium-full body. Dry spicy aftertaste, long spicy middle, and a touch of harshness. Light tart orange, mild acidity. Wood and dark fruit and a light malty breadiness underlie the restrained cherry, light alcohol as a warming but gentle base. Though the overall impression is of mild sweetness, a nice rindy-spicy bitterness takes us out. Subtle and complex!

Pours clear bronze with a rocky / soapy tan head. The aroma is fruity, earthy and spicy with hints of black currant and black currant and lots of wild yeast. Medium body that is fairly grainy with a moderate amount of carbonation. The taste starts spicy and grainy with a darker, more roasted malt taste than most saisons. The dry black currant is very apparent. There seems to be a chocolate undertone at times on the finish as well as dry spices giving it a sour / tart flavor. Very well done interesting and unique beer. Recommended

Amber colour, light haziness and a thin off-white head. Aroma is spicy, earthy/dusty with light cinnamon and nutmeg as well as some lovely leafiness and a touch of bready malt sweetness. Warming brings up some lovely spicy hop aroma. The flavour is well-balanced, fresh earthy malts, dusty spices and a dusty yeast with strong yeasty breadiness as well. Spicy hops and a touch of wild character over light apricot fruitiness. A minerally flavour accents the spices and lean malts. Light minty finish. Another winner from Fantome!