Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

Brewtopia ’05. This had a slight hazy body, brown in color. There were many differing flavors and aromas. Hard to nail it down, but for a saison, right on the money.

04.16.05 Brewtopia ’05 750ml bottle. Pale prune juice color with nary any head. Big stinky aromas of wood, toffee, marzipan, citrus, savory. The flavors actually match aromas nicely which I find unusual for Fantome but right on the money for saison. Very tart brew gets carried away with a bit too much candyish sweetness for my tastes but redeems itself with a good dose of herbal wood. Savory highlights. This one makes me think twice about what saison is supposed to be. Not much smack from the alcohol but it’s there enough to give a shiver at the finish.

750ml. bottle sampled at Brewtopia ’05. Murky, dark amber color with very little head. Aroma is both sweet and tart with some vanilla and citrus. Flavor is again sweet/tart with lots of spice and a great vanilla aftertaste.

Sampled at Brewtopia 2005. Poured a reddish brown with a small fizzy off-white head. Sweet aroma of caramel and candy, very enticing. Taste is very tart with tastes of citrusy lemon, as well as very spicy with touches of nutmeg. Very intriguing beer and very complex, but definitely something someone would have to "be in the mood for".

The beer after its departure from the 750ml green capped and corked bottle resides in the glass a slightly hazy crimson with tints of copper, the head is modest, creamy and a winsome light tan in color as the head fades away, the resultant lace forms a silk like skirt to surround the glass. Nose has the Fantome damp cave musky aroma I find pleasing, hints of over ripe sour apples, and a slight sweetness also present, the start is tart and the grain profile light with the top thin. Finish is stinging in its acidity, the hops mellow, the tart over ripe apple taste lingers long, desert dry aftertaste, and I must say that Fantome makes my favorite Saisons.

Dark amber body with a huge white head. The aroma is sweet gingerbread with some perfume and nutmeg. There is a deep musky, almost sexy character to this smell. The taste is tart apples with some spices of clove and nutmeg. There is a sour finish of lemons. This is a beauty to smell. Certainly interesting, but not my favorite from Fantome.

I’ve been wating for a warm day to crack this baby open, and the wait was worthwhile. Pours hazy orange with generous head. Aroma is of sweet fruits and yeast. Taste the same, plus some caramel candy to. Nice and sweet, with mininal bitterness, really dig this one.

(2002 bottle) Immediatly after opening, the fragrence of apples poured out. There were some sour notes in the aroma, but apples dominated. This had a nice orange colour that could almost border on brown. A perfectly formed, large white head formed and produced very nice lacing. heavy sour taste with some cinnimon and apples it seemed. This was tasty and perfectly paired with my easter feast.