Fantôme La Dalmatienne

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

Pours with a slightly cloudy, brownish-orange body topped by a thick lasting head with some lacing left behind. It’s sweet, malty and grassy with a nice spiciness and good honey notes. Light bodied, dry and crisp.

This golden/orange ale poured with a foamy off-white head and an herbal aroma. There is a funky sweet and sour flavor with lots of herbs. This is a unique blending of hops and malt that results in a unique style typical of Fantome.

Pours a semi-hazy medium-brown with a nice head. The aroma has tons of grass and herbal spice. When you take a sip, the nose has a "full" quality that I find elusive... if the hops and herbs can be described as light, there’s something else there that’s just... fuller. ’Meaty’ comes to mind, but that’s too heavy a term. There’s some of that quality in the flavor, too. Nice and refreshing. Feels great in the mouth... a bit spicy, full yet light. Kind of reminds me of the first bottle of Chocolat I had... has some slighty bitter qualities, though this bears no resemblance to an IPA. Saisons aren’t really one of my favorite styles, but Fantome makes such imaginative variations on the style, I’m forced to declare my allegiance to farmhouse ales.

From a 750mL Bottle. Pours a hazy, caramel gold color with a fizzy head of off-white. A pleasantly dry, caramel/biscuit malt aroma is livened up by some ginger, rose petals, and peppery phenols. A bit of a dusty character adds further complexity amongst the brighter qualities the malt and spices bring to the bouquet. Medium bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a spritzy, prickling palate sensation. Toffee and cookie malt flavors up front on the palate, along with some husky coconut flesh. Some woody, spicy nutmeg and a light, musky acidity come out mid palate. Finishes moderately dry, with a lingering woody spice and biscuity malt flavor in the final smack. Pretty malty for a Fantome beer, but it works well.

Shared by Dickinsonbeer (thanks, Paul!) - cloudy orange/gold - kind of a musky aroma, with some apricot and citrus tartness, and that flowery Fantome character - medium tartness, with peaches, apricot, mild funk/brett - some light floral aspects - a mellow tartness throughout - I’d like to try this in a year or so to see if the funk develops some more.

Bottle: Thanks Dickinsonbeer: Nice hazy orange, copper color with a creamy off white head. The aroma has some sweet fruity esters along with yeasty phenolics. Creamy body with a sweet and sour flavor. Has a great balance between sweet yeasty fruitiness and a light tart background. Finishes clean. Pretty nice stuff.

Bottle, thanks to dickinsonbeer. A usual Fantome aroma comes form this one. A bit sweet and a bit sour. Some flowers and funk as well. Mellow spices help the funk come through. Sour fruit but more citrus sour like lemon and sour orange. Pretty good.

Bottle, thanks to dickinsonbeer. Light orange, opaque pour with some white head. Aroma is sweet caramel malt, candy sugar, and spices. Flavor is also sweet malt, a little citrus, and sugar. Tasty and sweet.