Fantôme Printemps

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

Serve in Tulip

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Rating # 275
Vintage 2000 or 2001?
I don’t know how old this beers is but I can assure you it is old, it was covered in dust so I know it’s not light struck either.
Hell Yeh, I just had the perfect pour into my Trois Pistoles chalice, it looks like something out of a Michael Jackson book. A rich copper, more orangeish body, fluffy cream colored head that slowly subsided into a velvety cap and ring of lacing.
The aroma and flavor are incredibly earthy, smells of those gigantic bales of hay, very rural and woodsy. Huge notes of wheat, rather; my new terminology, “barnyard.” Quite yeasty; this is strange but it reminds me of family vacations where we went spelunking, Printemps gives off this musty mildew stagnate impression found in caves. Noticeable notes of clove, coriander, rosemary, apricots, black pepper, and more pronounced remarks of Granny Smith apples. Ending with a nice fizzy champagne like palate with a dry bitter sweet tart apple finish.
This is a rather complex but enjoyably creation, I probably would not spend $13 on another 750ml bottle, but I Highly Recommend trying it at least once!

Hazy copper, loosely formed but long lasting and large light tan head. Aroma is surprisingly restrained, with notes of apple, orange, wet pennies, and very distant funk. Smooth mouthfeel with a definite toffee malt note, undefined fruit, and some bitterness on the finish. Almost English somehow. This is a Fantome with training wheels. Big thanks to matta for sending this one!

Bottle: Poured a cloudy beige color ale with a huge foamy off-white head with some good retention and some good lacing. Aroma is somewhat vinous with some sour notes with some weird floral-like notes. Taste is a mix between some strong Belgian style malt with some funky and sour notes and a strange herbal/floral ending. Full body with some strong carbonation and no apparent alcohol. The last few Fantome I have had have been somewhat disappointing but this one was different and very tasty.

15 celsius in a trappist glass: Hazy liquid gold appearance, marvelously shiny. 1cm head that could last longer. Pure fresh cut grass emanes from this holy grail. Ridiculous amount of fine herbs (Chives, alfalfa, parsley) gives this seducing nose an almost botanic feel. In mouth, a weird fruitiness joins the blend, red bays, currant, coriander, sage. Quite hard to describe and original like any other of the house's creations. Finish also keeps this kind of herbal fruitiness and you just can't help but feel this has been made from quality water from a good well or straight from a pollution-less cascade. Different and refreshing in its wet hay acidity, but I doubt I'd buy again. Props to Martin for that generous sample!

2001 bottle. Cloudy amber color, nice creamy thick white head. Apple, spice, sweet herbal woody yeast aroma. Soft buttery cinnamon apple taste. I liked this one.... not too much of anything, and nicely delicate.

UPDATED: AUG 12, 2009 Pours a pale cloudy yellow, very active, nice fluffy white head that dissipates nicely with a careful pour. Aroma of spice and some fruit, along with some old fermenting funky grass. Flavor is everything from the aroma along with some hay. A nice grassy, spicy saison, solid. Saisons are so refreshing, all seem to have similar characteristics, and yet remain unique.

Hazy amber colour, like unfiltered apple cider. Spicey and fruity aroma with hints of yeast, brown sugar and apple. Flavour is quite complex, and it was tough to find all the good stuff in there from just a small sample in the middle of a session of tasting 30+ beers. Nonetheless, it was very good.

Gold color with a quickly falling medium head. Aroma of wheat, banana, a light breadiness and some floral hints. Strong, dry wheat flavor. Some muddled floral notes. Light yeast character. A very light, tart lemon towards the finish. Ends dry.

Bottle @ RBSG 04’ Grand Tasting
Clear orange color, nice head & lacing. The aroma has bright hops & a decent barny malt & brettanomyces nose. The flavor is full & yeasty with some fruity light hops. Fresh & clear for Fantome, but still good.

Poured a hazy golden color with a medium sized, white, fluffy head, that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of barnyard, spicy citrus, light clove, and yeast. Taste of lemon, grapes, and other citrus fruits, very light sweetness, and a long dry finish.