Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

750 from my Secret Santa - thanks, Santa!!! Well I must say that this one is quirky, even by Fantome standards. Pours light brown and translucent, with a modest head and minimal carbonation. The tart apple aromas coming off of this one just scream cider. But while the sours are certainly to the fore, there’s a mild spice here (very *unlike* most autumn ales, thankfully) and this very bizarre dry finish. In fact, I can’t quite put my palate on the strange, musky note I get in each sip. Part of it is saison funk and farmhouse earth, but there’s something else - almost a combination of mint and mushrooms. I like it!

Bottle. Like other Fantomes, quite aromatic. Yeasty dryness, grassy hops and a pleasant oaky tartness, Pours cloudy light copper with a big creamy white head. Flavor leaves something to be desired. Dry, tart with a definite yeast presence. Crisp and refreshing. A hint of sweet malt and some grassy hops. Medium bodied. Finishes with an earthy, leafy dryness.

While I understand the saison/farmhouse ale style is a mile-wide, this beer struck me as having pretty significant similarities to a barley-wine, although not a great one. It has an intensely malty flavor and lots of alcohol esters, but I didn’t really enjoy it. This beer poured a rather unimpressive hazy orange brown with a soapy head. The beer had little to no aroma to speak of. The flavor reminded me a great deal of barley-wine like flavor in that it had a slightly sweet malty, alcohol ester-y, astringency to it with some intensity. However, mouthfeel was thin and I wasn’t really all that taken with the beer overall. Not recommended.

This one comes courtesy of Todd at the Abbey bar. This poured a deep amber color with a thin white head. The aroma was of spices, citrus fruit, and some sour funk. The taste was much the same with the funked out citrus fruits and spices. It definitely had some sourness in there as well to go along with the earthy tastes of a saison. I would like to try this one again. I liked all the funky flavors it had.

750ml $11.49 Binny’s Orland Hiver pours surprisingly clear for the first glassful and surprisingly it’s a bright glowing copper. Tinycarbonation bubbles stream up the sides of the glass to the 2+ finger head. The head shrunk to a thick creamy cap of off-white. Leaves sheet lacing down the glass.. The smell of this saison is craziness. I can’t hardly figure out what the aromas even are. Definately some dry and wet musty hay. Damp wood. Cobwebs and dirt along with a field that is on the brink of making me sneeze. I don’t know what to make of the aroma. As it warms the aroma softens. Flavor is along the same lines as the aroma. Still has all that old barn character but the flavors meld moreso than the aroma. On the finish there’s a pleasant fruity sweetness (peach) along with a caramalized malt character. Medium bodied with a creamy texture. lively carbonation tickles the tongue and cheeks. The interesyting flavors really work your mouth. A couple glasses in a sitting is enough for me but it is disappearing quickly. This beer is really throwing me for a loop. I can’t make up my mind if I love it or hate it. It’s definately funky and interesting. I wish I knew what went into making this beer, I’m sure I’d be surprised if I looked at an ingrediants list. The flavors and aromas really evolve as this beer sits. 9/1/07

Rating #300. Bottle. Pours a clear amber with a one finger lasting off-white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma of Fantôme yeast, caramel, toffee, peppery phenols, and light acidity. Taste is Fantôme yeast, caramel, toffee, light earthy notes, and light acidity. Medium body with a mild amount of bitterness and light spicy finish. Another wonderfull beer from Fantôme.

25.4 oz bottle. Murky amber brown with light tan froth. Yeasty lemon and Red Zinger tea; honey and mild spices. Milky body with very faint carb. Taste of bruised apple, brown sugar and lemon peel. Oatmeal with nutmeg lingers. Funky spicy good.

1/15/05 750ml. Plaza Liquors. Amber with large rocky beige head. Mild sour, yeasty aroma. musty malty taste. smooth with some alcohol present.