Fantôme Saison

Bottle sampled at the 7/5/08 Bocky Bash locals tasting. Pours a murky yellow with white head. Nose is bubblegum, funky yeast and some sour citrus. Taste is Bazooka bubble gum, funk, cotton candy, yeast with a dry citrus finish. Medium mouth feel. Nice!

Pours a dark gold with a puffy white head. The aroma is sweet and citric with noticeable spice. The flavor is lighter than I’d expect and the alcohol is hidden very well. Very refreshing and an outstanding brew.

750ml. bottle. Can’t believe I have never rated this before. Hazy, dark golden color with a fluffy white head that left nice lacing. Nice funky aroma of wet grass, lots of lemon, black pepper and a hint of mint. Flavor starts off mildly sweet and musty, with some lemon, tropical fruits and freshly mowed grass before turning mildly bitter on the finish. Very nice.

750ml, cap and cork. I was excited to see this one on the shelf today. Hazy honey color with a fine white head. Funky and slightly sour/tart aroma. Bready notes are wonderfully balanced by the clean citrus (myer lemon, tangerine). Sweet tarts along with the light hops. Pithy citrus and slightly funky in flavor. Sour at the end, smooth and very sweet finish. Tiny bubbles. Tart citrus in the end. Honeyed malt. Marvelous beer - one of the best, if not the best, saison that I’ve had.

750ml capped and corked green bottle from The Lighthouse in Manchester. Pours a murky light straw yellow with a half inch of off-white head. Smells fruity - grapefruit, orange, and hints of apple, as well as hints of caramel malt. Tastes sweet, with strong orange notes, as well as apple, pear, lemon, pith, and malt. Wonderfully complex. Fairly dry and clean toward the finish. Medium in body with ample carbonation. Super tasty, wonderfully rich and complex, yet light and very drinkable. This beer disappeared well before I thought it would, and I’d gladly have this on hand at all times.

Golden pour with a two finger white head. Bratwurst on the nose. Sweet berries with apricot and malt. Slight hot finish.

750 ml bottle, courtesy of Gregis. Pour is golden orange and very hazy. Smallish 1/2 inch white head falls quickly. Aroma of funky mustiness, wheat, hay and the signature Fantôme yeasty smell. Nice, rounded nose. Taste is slightly sour, slightly funky wheat and more of the Fantôme yeast. The aftertaste reveals the mustiness from the nose as well as a slight medicinal herbal flavor. The body is medium and grainy. Overall, this beer is quite satisfying and features a distinctive aroma, flavor and palate for a Saison. It was quite interesting to try the "base" of Fantôme, as I have tasted several "flavored" interpretations of this Saison. Thanks Greg for bringing this one back from Beertopia for me.

Pours opaque yellow with good carbonation. Tastes of orange and funk. Quite complex. Nice soft mouthfeel.