Fantôme Pissenlit

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

Serve in Tulip

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Appearance: Pours up a slightly murky, dark orange body with a well-sized, foamy, white head. Smell: Touches of sweet-scented barley mingled with notes of freshly-squeezed lemon juice, spices, juiced apples, dialed down funk, and a long midday walk near the garden section of a Home Depot. Taste: Light base maltiness with a touch of mildly sweet toffee crumbles. While you are treated to a fruit taste of crisp, cut apples, it’s the tart lemon that is the real standout for me. Lemony, lemony, lemony. Delicate spice character, though you also get a meager taste of crystallized ginger. Sure, I do get plenty of strong floral tones, but my mind leaps to lilac or chamomile instead of the humble dandelion. Though I’ve had dandelions in a few salads and, in one curious instance, atop a pizza, I have not found the flavor to be overly appreciable. Emerging earthy grassiness upon slight warming. Subtle funk character. Lightly acidic. Finishes perfectly dry and with a very effervescent charge of bubbles. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Well carbonated - quite lively, I must say! Drinkability: Nice work, Fantôme. An excellent, highly refreshing saison! Like the standard Fantôme Saison, this one drinks incredibly well and I find I reach the bottom of my glass at lightning speed.

750ml Bottle: Aroma of citrus, yeast, slight pale malt, slight dandelion, light spices, Poured amber/light brown/deep orange in color with a tiny, fizzy, white head that disappeared immediately. Cloudy. Slightly sparkling. Full of tiny particles throughout. Flavor is lightly sweet and lightly tart. Tastes of light citric acid, light dandelion, light yeast, light citrus, grains, slight wood, and hints of barnyard and funk. Light to medium body. Thin, slightly dry texture. Soft carbonation. Dandelion, tart fruit, and grain finish is a bit dry and a tad sticky. 8%ABV is undetectable.

Bottle, c&c, from South Bay Drug. Joey is the man! Pours a hazy light orange with no head, just three bubbles. Aroma is lightly sour, slightly funky, and suggests a hint of bacon. Makes no sense. Just my nose. Medium body with very mild carbonation. Flavor is citrus, floral and somewhat woody. The funk is not strong, but it persists. Kind of funk for the joy of it. It is so mildly sour, so mildly floral, so marvelously tasty. It’s a really, especially, good saison. With time some wood attacks the bottom sides of the tongue. Going damn well with coconut chocolate chip cookies. Well, one big cookie.

Bottle. Amber beer with an off-white head. Tart, floral, lemony aroma. Tart, lemon citrus flavor with light floral notes and a bit of malt. Borders on sour. Medium bodied. Lower carbonation. Light malt, tartness, and lemon lingers.

750ml bottle at Delirium, Bruxelles. Label says Spring 2003. Pours hazy amber with a small head, short retention. Nose of grain and yeast maybe. Taste is weird. A bit watery at firts but then it gets more tasty. Some bitterness with hints of peach. I was a bit disappointed by this one. Maybe the bottle was not top shape...

Bottle 75cl. @ [ Fastelavns Tasting Ulfborg ].
Clear medium orange color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white to white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, caramel, fruity, moderate hoppy, citrus, flowers, dandelion flower ! Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet, light acidic and sour, moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090221]

Paul shared this at the CL CDC release. Cloudy amber in color with a medium lasting off white head. Aroma of some brett, tart apple, earthy. Taste was mildly funky, earthy, tart apple, mild citrus, medium bodied with a dry finish.

Bottle of the 02 that Paul brought to the Cuvee de Castleton release at Captain Lawrence. My pour was a bit murky since it was towards the end of the bottle, but I had some of Paul’s as well, and it generally is a bit clearer. Brown amber with a thin white head. Light bretty funk. Somewhat spicy still, and finishes off with a nice bit of wood. Pretty good.

Bottle at Springslicker’s Fish Fry. Pours amber with a dissipating off white head. Aroma of Belgian funk and tart fruit. Lighter side of medium bodied with a light feathery texture and soft effervescence. Flavor of rye, biscuit, toffee, flower petals, and lemon. Nice balance on this one. Thanks to whomever brought this.

UPDATED: JUN 23, 2009 750 ml bottle (Cracked Kettle, Amsterdam) shared with Mirjukka and Janne - thanks!
Slight gusher. Deep hazy orange. Floral and fruity aroma, spicy. Very lively carbonation. Big hoppy bite too - it really tingles in the mouth. Acidity quite high - a really good aperitif with both that and the 8% alcohol (which isn’t noticeable at all). The body’s quite a simple maltiness, a touch grainy and some pleasant herby spiciness all in good balance. However, it’s the hops that are to the fore. Shame about the fizz, otherwise this would be heavenly in the mouth.