Fantôme Hiver (Winter)

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

The subtlety and nuance of this wins me over. I really don’t always need to be pounded with some flavor or aroma, though this does have it all in droves. Lovely malt and the remaining complexity is really well beyond my description. At last a well loved beer that I can appreciate with all the others. Delightful.

Pours dark orangish brown with more head then beer. This is a subtle beer and the character only comes out at full room tempature. Aroma is of medium roast malt, and a bit of chocolate. Flavor is of cola, a bit of chocolate, and some underlying spiceiness. It is a gentle, cohesive flavor which has alot of depth if you look for it. This is one of those beers that because of its subtles you can’t break it apart, but you know that it is complex and quite pleasent.

Deep dark murky orange, tiny white head gone in an instant. Soft nose of citrus fruit, spices, black pepper, with a hint of earth and musty barnyard. Crazy, but I'm getting wet forest too. Additonal soft flavors to boot of sour citrus fruit coverd with peppered chocolate. A little odd sounding, but true. Can even get some of hints of wood (Kinz said cedar, and I get that) It’s extremely complex once it opens up. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, sweet, semi-sour, semi-dry finish. It’s a thinking beer, but absolutely worth the extra brain power.

creamy thin off-white head, thick at edges. head goes quickly. beautiful cloudy copper color all through. Leather, kumkuat (KUMKUAT??) and yeasty sweet nose. Gjetost cheese aroma. GJETOST?? yes, carmel goat cheese. actually wish I had some to go with this. (ski queen brand is great). fizzy start, piney citrus and floral hop flavor, then the spices. clove, cardamon, only the fantome knows! a little watery, but just a great break into the peppercorn spiciness. alcohol and malt sweetness keeps me happy, but still on the dry side. peppery aftertaste. what a great trip through the woods!! like great singletrack in the Ardennes!! this one wins mega style points.

Didn't strike me remotely as a saison, but then again this was different from anything else I had ever run into before. Murky copper orange with a big, loose head that faded completely. Aroma faintly of oranges and an almost barleywine like malt. The flavor started citrusy and sour, became abruptly sweet with thick malts, and then notes of cedar and toffee dominated the finish. Very rich in body and flavor, this was an interesting brew. Sort of like a malty Scotch ale having a collision with a wit.

Cloudy orange brown color, thick off-white head, tiny particles. Aroma is cheesy, fruity orange, spicy. Sweet yeasty and spicy taste, quite complex. Lasting palate. Nice brew.

Cloudy golden coloured, huge head, lots of carbonation. Very cheesy aroma and flavour, a lot like Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux. Saison is not really my kind of style i think, but this is ok.

Aroma is yeasty, cheesy, citrus and very full. Cloudy, orange coloured with a thick white head. Very beautifull! Taste is yeasty, spicy, citrus and sweet-sour. Aroma is definately better than taste.