Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

deep orange haze. nice frother head then leaving just a covering. spicey yeast aroma with light farmhouse funk. spicy with light pepper and nice yeast and light hops. dry and sharp in the finish. yummy "winter style" saison.

Red orange hazy pour. Initially a big head that settles into a thinner creamy head. Excellent aroma. Sour, barnyard, ginger, and vegetal notes. Interesting flavor. A dry finish, typical of the style. I like how the flavors meld together. Very unique. However, I sometimes get a weird artificial flavor that just doesn’t sit right with me. Some sips, I do, others, I don’t. Very odd. If it weren’t for the artificial (medicinal) flavor that sometimes appears, this would be a very solid beer. However, that flavor detracts from this, and so I have to deduct some points from the flavor.

Bottle shared by theisti at his Holiday Tasting on 12/28/07. Pours a murky orange-brown with a thin, creamy, white cap. On the nose are ginger and pleasantly funky Belgian yeast with sweet fruit and wheat notes in the background. Grainy/wheaty and medium-bodied with a short dry finish. Spicy, peppery and sour with a strong DMS (vegetable soup) note, the nose and flavor are pretty far apart. An interesting saison that would surely pair well with food, but, as a stand-alone saison, I tend to prefer a more citric/fruity profile. Thanks for sharing this one with us, Tim!

750 ml bottle courtesy of PhillyBeer2112, enjoyed at my Holiday Mini Tasting. Pour is slightly hazed orange with an off white head. Aroma of the Fantome yeastiness, licorice, black pepper and ginger. Taste is really bright on the tongue, interesting body, full yet super drinkable. The ginger, pepper and yeastiness really shine through on the taste. Also some wood barrel in there as well. Another good one from Fantome.

Light fruitiness, pepper, light ginger, damp cellar/cobwebs, vegetal/chili, nothing overpowering. Taste is woodsy, honeyish, chili skin?, black pepper, musty and spicy. very interesting.

My bud Anthony gave me this for Christmas. Thanks amigo. Hiver pours a beautiful hazed apricot color with a tall, relentless head. Superb hangtime with a lasting full downy canopy. Strong aromatics push hospitol medicine, clove, and aged citrus rind into the spotlight. Full nectar weight with ample "relaxed until aroused" style effers that come across as slightly creamy. A big malty backbone teaming with gentle spice. The coriander really stands out. This brew is dry with a defined bittering component created by a big hopsy profile. Flavor nuances of peach pit, dried stonefruit, leather, tobacco leaf, mild banana gum spice, ginger, vanilla, and clove. The finish is bittered well leaving the palate dry and ready for another sip. Let it warm up and you will be rewarded.

Light floaties in an attractive orange colored pour with a big, big head. Dusty mild guaze like funk with grains in the nose. Grainy unique flavor with some sort of unique spice/herb that I can’t place. Some fruity coriander hints too. Very unique.

Enjoyed from an ’05 or ’06 bottle poured into Trappist glass. Rich caramel color with red hue and light head. Almost zero carbonation. Medium bodied Belgian with semi-sour friut notes. Clean aftertaste. A little nutty and dry. Haven’t had anything quite like this yet... very nice.