Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

Winter 2007 / 2008 Release; Sampled February 2008
A very dusty yeast as it is roused quite easily in the short trip from fridge to counter. As soon as I pop the cork it begins to gush, though not s fast that I am not able to get all of the bottles precious cargo into my glass. A careful pour produces an almost three-finger thick, pale white head. The beer is quite light for a winter brew (definitely lighter than when I last had this) and it would be reasonably clear if not for the clumpy dancing yeast chunks that populate the well carbonated brew. The beer is a slightly amber tinged, honey color. The aroma has a distinct bread-like / biscuit like malt character to it up front, but then quickly picks up fruity notes (that are accented by a light tartness) of melon, lightly tart plums and perhaps a touch of apple. An earthy, herbal spice character also plays a significant role with notes of distinct cumin (so much so that it makes me think of Mexican food), some light citrus peel, perhaps a touch of coriander like aromatics and a touch of yeast-spiciness.

Lightly tart tasting, but still has just enough sweetness to help accent fruit flavors. The beer is quite light bodied and has a zesty carbonation to it that provides a smooth, peppery bite. A distinct, earthy spice note really lingers on in the finish; it is a sort of cross between milk weed, cumin and coriander stalks. The fruit notes provide flavors of star fruit, touches of tart plum, green melon, some tropical fruit note that is not quite ripe and notes of green grapes. What ever the origin of the spice notes, it leaves a touch of a tannic, slightly astringent, mouth coating character that really lingers on the palate for quite some time after each sip. As the beer warms up a bit it picks up soft notes of anise and with the herbal notes even something like a fresh fennel bulb. The malt plays a slight role in the flavor, but does provide a nice bready grain character in the finish, as well as some grassy grain flavors, sweet malt notes and a touch of soda cracker dry malt flavors.

I really like this years release, the slightly under-ripe tropical fruit note pairs quite well with the earthy spice notes and the light tartness. It is a perfect example of a Saison (even for the Winter Season); a rustically refined appearance, flavors that are quirky, dynamic, characterful and complex, this beer keeps me engaged and interested in the flavor combinations as it flows across my palate.

Sampled November 2004, Winter 2004 / 2005 Release
4.1 8/3/9/4/17
This beer pours a hazy amber-plum color. The head is creamy and frothy and has a light brown tint to it. The aroma is nice and fruity with notes of crisp apple, tart plum, tamarind, and raisins. There is perhaps a hint of other aromatics such as molasses, chocolate, and damp earth, but the fruity notes definitely dominate.

The taste is lightly sour up front and finishes with a crisp bite of apples, with a late hit of roast coffee bitterness. This beer is quite well balanced and much more tasty than the Fantome "Winter" that I last had. This beer is quite light on the palate, as all of Dany’s beers are, and the rich flavor notes make this a perfect Winter Saison. There are definitely notes of chocolate in this beer, but the fruity notes dominate like in the nose. I get notes of plum, raisin, fig, and apple. There is also a certain woodiness here, which hits the back of my mouth. This beer is really quite good, it is so perfectly in balance right now. I am not too sure how this one will age (given its perfect balance right now), but you can certainly count on me stashing a few away to find out.

Sampling of old bottle, pre-new corks; August 2004
3.4 7/3/6/4/14
Sampling of old bottle, pre-new corks Pours a hazy amber color with a tan head. It has a slightly sour aroma with some strong notes of real cloves; it reminds me of a rich, dark, dense spice cake. I also get hints of a fruity raisin aroma, but the sweet clove really dominates the aroma.

The taste is tart up front and then the clove kicks in. The clove seems almost too much at first. The front of each sip is quite enjoyable, it is just the phenolic clove finish that brings this beer down. There is a lingering toasted malt note to this beer as well. As I get deeper into my glass the clove begins to be tamed a bit as my palate becomes used to it.

While certainly the worst beer I have ever had from Fantome, it is still pretty enjoyable. I can’t even imagine having a young un-aged version of this beer, the clove must have been overpowering. I will certainly have to try another years sample of this.

From a 750mL Bottle. Pours a hazy pale gold with a fizzy layer of white head. Floral hop bouquet with some confectioner’s sugar maltiness and a floral violet petal note. Some dandelion petals add further complexity to the springtime garden bouquet, along with some bready yeast and a faint touch of caramel malt. Medium-light bodied, softly carbonated mouthfeel. Floral flavors with a bready yeast character to build up the light malt base. Toward the finish, some dryer dandelion dimensions come out before concluding in an herbal hops finish. Very floral and light; I could see this being a grandmother’s favorite beer, but I kind of like it too.

750ml - 2006 vintage. Ruby red color, small tan head. Well constructed, with mild sourness layered over a Bock-type profile.

Pours a light brown with a nice, big head. Aroma has lots of citrus and grass. Flavor is more of the same... very similar to the regular Fantome Saison. Excellent, but not as flashy as some of their other beers.

Bottle@Dr. Bills. Poured cloudy with a thin head. I got mint/spearmint from the fruit and spice which finished dry.

750 ml bottle from BevMo: Hazy pale peach color with floaties and a generous bright white head. Aroma is a mixture of spices and tropical fruit. Flavor starts with a combination of spice flavors followed by mixed fruit (peach, green apple, orange) and a tangy dry (orange rind?) finish. Medium body is smooth and creamy with moderate carbonation.

pours copper with a thin off white head, did not pop but there is some carbonation, aroma is earthy spiciness I get tammarind , honey,and tea tree ,the taste is rosemary , its sour and tart really refreshing,a thin body Drank with some muenster Delicious!

Cloudy amber body with a large off-white head. Crazy spiced nose, I have no clue what it is. Smells like something I might put in a soup. The flavor is lightly sweet, moderately tart with flowers, herbs, light caramels, honey and limes. Medium body is soft with moderate carbonation. That Dany is one crazy mofo.