Fantôme Printemps

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

Serve in Tulip

(Bottle) Pours orange red with an off-white head. The aroma is dusty dry, still some room for fruity undertones. Notes of damp basement, mild lemon, grapefruit peel, horse blanket and wood. The flavour is dry and light to medium acidic with tones of wood, light horse blanket, mild citrus, dust, basement and a tiny whisper of earth. Nice dry maltiness. The mouthfeel is dry tart with a medium carbonation. Woodsy and acidic citrus lingers. A light alcohol note do not blend well with the light and crisp malt profile. Medium bodied.

UPDATED: JAN 20, 2012 75cl bottle. It pours a slightly hazy golden colour with a big fluffy white head. Aroma is on the sweet side, with yeats, grapefruit, citric notes and a slight amount of funk. Some spices too. Taste is on the sweet side too. Some breadiness and yeast presence with notes of grapefruit and citrus, and a nice funkiness. Slight alcoholic presence. Bitterish finish and some spice to it. Lots of spice whn it gets closer to room temperature. Good amount of carbonation and medium body. Very fruity, this brew reminded me the Fantome Blanche Pamplemouse, like an imperial version of it.

750 ml bottle into tulip, no best before date notched. Pours hazy golden straw color with a fairly dense 2 finger white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass; plenty of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big tart apple, grape, pepper, hay, lemon, earthy spiciness, and big funk. Incredible aromas here with good strength and complexity. Taste of lemon, tart apple, pepper, hay, citrus, grass, bread, herbal spice, and some funk. Fairly dry finish; with lingering notes of lemon, apple, pepper, spices, and light tartness on the finish for a bit. Medium bodied with fairly high carbonation; with a fairly prickly, yet smooth mouthfeel that drinks easily for 8%. Alcohol presence is pretty much non existent. Overall this is definitely an excellent saison offering from Fantome. I would not expect anything less.

2011 vintage pours brilliant clear gold with dense creamy head that stays for the whole glass. Aroma is very light and floral with pilsner malt sweetness to complement the floral sweetness. Taste is light bubblegum, clean malt, honey, herbal grassiness, slight spice, marshmallow, bathwater, spruce, serious umami, but mostly tastes like a bouquet of flowers. Chamomile maybe? Body is light, frothy, velvety, softly but firmly carbonated, intensely floral bone dry finish. Overall, this beer is absolutely indescribable. Part pilsner, part saison, part.... who the f knows. Basically, if you’ve ever smelled a meadow of flowers after a heavy rain in April, that is what this beer is like. Ethereal. Fantome continues to dazzle me!

Bottle to a New Begium glass. Pours hazy pale amber with a white soapy head that slowly fades to a foamy film. Aroma is lemon citrus and I get a very faint bubblegum scent and some rind. Taste is lemon and orange peel with a smooth yeast and biscuit finish. Palate is thin to medium with a nice crisp carbonation with a chalky dry finish. Solid brew, very nice.

Bottle shared by portableparty! Hazy yellow poue, ongoing carbonation and a nice aroma of floral lemongrass. Flavor is bubblegum, light hay and herbs and finished effervescent with a little citrus. Thanks Jeff!

Bottle… Fantômepalooza 2011… Pours hazy and yellow with flashes of orange and a large, frothy, white head. Fantastic retention. The aroma is a spicy, fruity mélange of toasted grains, lemon peel, coriander, white pepper, pineapple, ginger, dust and light barnyard funk. Light to medium-bodied with dancing carbonation. The flavor is a well-balanced offering of mildly sweet candy sugar, spicy ginger, moderately acidic funk and earthy, lightly bitter hops. Finishes crisp and clean. Very nice. Bottle courtesy of Beerlando!

Another fantastic offering from Fantome. This one is lightly fruity and does indeed taste like a lighter champagne with amazing clean finish. Respect the ghost.