Fantôme Strange Ghost

Brewed by Brasserie Fantôme
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Soy-Erezée, Belgium

Pours a deep amber under a yellow head. Nose is lemon and ginger with the suggestion of sour to come. The sour is there but not dominating or overpowering and the next flavor is a sage/oregano over the slightly sweet malt. Finish runs out to a dry sage/oregano, dry but unsatisfying with a little soapy flavor lingering. Palate is the big disappointment for me. It’s very thin. This beer is not complex or particularly interesting. I’m surprised that there would be repeat customers at $15 a bomber when you can get so many great beers for that.

Well, what surprises do we have here? Pours a luminescent but foggy copper with an ample egg-shell head. Nose is full of earthy, bready, funky, and spicy notes. Great earthy/yeasty flavor that is quickly complimented by ’strange’ herbal qualities. I’m picking up hints of chevril, mint, celery-seed, and who knows what else. Also has a nice cool cucumber aspect that helps clean out and unify all the ingredients. There is a ghost in this bottle, and its name is Innovation. I love Fantome for their eccentricity. I just wish that more than his ’core’ brews were readily available. I think this style (experimental/spice/herb/vegetable) is sorely underrated. A great offering from one of my absolute favorite brewers.

Thanks to Skyview for the bottle. Reddish cloudy brown pour. Menthol, moth balls, grapefruit rind aroma. Citrus, light malt and touches of menthol taste. Very light and very tasty.

Bottle.

Stovetop Stuffing in a box. That’s the name of the game here. Pours a deep and attractive copper with a modest head. Herbal nose, dominated by mint tea and sage --- which while fading in the midrange, comes back on the far long end of the palate. Very herbal-spiced, slightly sour, good malty midrange flavors, and that mint oil coming back in late as if I’d had a mint tea.It’s interesting, but I’m not sure it’s good. This is a bit over-the-top experimental in that I don’t really see quite what is the point of turning a potentially great saison into an herbal tea.

GABF 2008 at Dr. Bill’s tasting. Reddish bronze pour with than head. Nose of funky menthol with toasted malts and breads. Flavor is sweet citrus with good funk.

750ml thanks Crosling - Aroma is strong spice and not much else. Reminds me of Magnolia Weekapaug Gruit, which was another oddly spiced brew. There is some chocolate malt and subtle yeast sneaking in. Pours dark brown with a medium head and great lacing. Flavor is different... the spices from the aroma are there with some lemon, spicy yeast and bready malts. Palate is sticky and tart but a little thin. I gave an extra overall point for uniqueness, but it was missing the Fantome funk that I love so much.

750mL Bottle. Remember vapor rub? I’m a sick child in bed, covered in menthol grease. Some mint-flavored chapstick smears my nostrils. A blend of a number of leaves. Pours a darker clearish red-amber, with a soft soapy white foam. Flavor reminds me of sticking my head in an old medicine cabinet. Mint hangs on a little into the chemical land. This reminds me of wandering through a hippy store. The malt falls thin and then exposes a mix of meidicinal grass stems. Bouquet garni. A very different beer. Eventually, this warms up and develops a lot of complexity. The herbal character in the flavor lends to a refined palate. Mature. Finishes on a very nice yeast character flourish. Another very, very interesting exploration from Fantome. Thanks Matt!

Fantome may be one of the most underrated breweries on the site. Each beer comes across as being so well made and unique, while still being definitely Fantome. Strange Ghost pours bronze with a crimson hue and a moderate tan head. The aroma has an odd funk with herbal tea, menthol, lime, saltiness, rich earthy toasted malt, dry cracker breadiness and an odd basement funk - very nice. Medium / light body that’s nice and creamy smooth with very gentle carbonation. The flavor starts with a bright sweet citrus aspect, sweet / tart graininess, chamomile, rooibos, touch of giner, light sourness, odd mushroom and nice yeasty funk. The finish is a nice blend of everything mentioned with a very fresh taste even though this has a bit of age on it. This is so delightful it insane. the 8% is nowhere to be found ~ it comes across as about 4%. I wish this brewery was more available around where I live. It still gives great treasure when I find this on eastern road trips. I love Fantome!!