Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

Original review date 4/1/2009... 750 corked and caged. Let sit for about 20 minutes before opening. No pop of the cork whatsoever before it hits the Ommegang chalice... Steady carbonation rises from the slightly cloudy honey-colored body to a surface of yeast wisps that was preceded by a 1/2 finger translucent whitish-blue head. Pretty typical look for the style. Nice - ample amount of horse blanket acidity in tandem with huge yeast and wheat electricity. I can’t place the softer, sweeter tones - a little bit of honey caramel stewed white fruits - maybe a pear? There’s a metallic tinge that needs to burn off for a while. The aforementioned saison electricity really could use a little more carbonation to diffuse properly. The hop bite has a little more Saaz than I would like...the malts are stewy and maybe a little too sweet - even some prune in here...OK, the metallic tinge is gone and carbonation is picking up. Still, the flavor profile is a little less funky and bends a little on the side of red wine vinegar. Bottle doesn’t look compromised by any means - just a flatter sensation than what I’m used to. After a while it picks up, and I get a little more clove-ish and peppery spice. Interesting ad well-crafted; maybe not my thing but the construction is good. As this rounds into form it develops a solid palate presence for the style. Typical carbonation bite and tingle tempered by the darker fruits and spices, with a slight acetic tinge. Feels like an old-school saison, only a little less dry and bright. This one is definitely crafted in an Old(er) World style for a saison. It has a few flat notes and imperfections from wild ingredients that we enjoy and sometimes even cherish. No beef on the construction; the electricity comes through in the end but I’m thinking the residual sugars and the acetic tone are a little too much for me and they obscure the bright yeast and wheat tones I enjoy in a saison. This ultimately takes on fruit cake spice notes. But what the hell, it’s a winter Saison...whaddayuexpect?

750 ml bottle from Cracked Kettle. Pours orange with a orange head. Smells of glüewine and fruits. Tastes of hip berrys and spices. Easy to drink if you don´t want to analyse it!

Bottle. Ap: Really strange looking. Special thick brown-orange colour with a big but short lasting white head. Hazy! Ar: "Glögg"(swedish mulled wine), clove, banana candy, something a little sour, and some funky mushroom thing. Fla: Fruity! Some christmas spices. Some chocolate. Small sourness in finish.Ov: Really fresh! As complex as refreshingly easy to drink.

Amber color and taste. Saison, though, with a clear bend of the style.Slight trace of funk. Lots of fruit and spice but an intense lingering taste of amber that works well.

The look is muddy, orange in color, and has a decent beige colored head. The smell is yeast, spices, fruits, sort of typical decent saison. Not really special. The taste is the same as the smell.

A really good saison, a lot like a Dupont but less spiciness to it, which isn’t always a bad thing.

Bottle. Pours clear orange with a large, off-white head, lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (hay, straw, bread), light hop (grass), heavy yeast (earth, horse blanket) with notes of pepper, pear, and dust. Medium bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation, and a chalky finish. Average duration, light sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

750mL green glass cork/cap finish. No date ticked off on label. Just came into VT a week or so ago. Appearance: Poured into my Le Merle tulip. Thin white head fades quickly by leaves a thin layer. Wonderful cloudy amber/brown color with hints of orange and yellow. Nose: Citrus fruits up front, lots of lemon and orange. Some sweet spices, leather, tea, wet grass. Palate: Lively and spicy, but still somewhat sweet. Has this flavor that reminds me of sweetened ice tea with a lemon twist. Earthy, yet sweet with citrus. Finish is spicy and crisp. Notes: Really refreshing, especially for a "Winter beer!" There’s this hint of sour/wildness that comes out way on the finish that I love. Balanced, reserved and elegantly refreshing. Not as spicy as a lot of saisons.