Fantôme Printemps

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

Good golden cloudy, sharp fruits, acid, berries, apples, sweetness, little yeasty odor. Taste: peachy, very fruity, medium acidity, low bitterness, then more berries, tannic strain coming thru in the middle and end. Yeehaw. Fairly straight-froward: fruit and refereshment, little funk. Very accessible. Grainy note in finish. Tart. Good! Thanks, wunder!

Dark orange cloud with a hard glow in bright light. Solid medium sized lightly yellowed cap puffs up quickly to reside to a firm lasting cap of about a quarter inch always present. Lacing is lightly foamy and patterned in thick strings and a few spots. Aroma has a popping spice of lemon pepper with a slight musky rustic wave from the yeast action and a slight grassyness. Gently powering and adequately waftable on the nose. Taste is quite spicy and complexly driven by the yeasty stuff. Partailly souring with lemon juice and lime skin, a bit of tangerine sticks to the gums and tongue in parts of the late finish. Tiny bits of white pepper, corriander, metalic scrappings, and high toned grasses make for lots of added interest. Nothing to withstanding in length as the peppery notes and tin phenols are the only thing that seems to stick in warmth as it floats into the finish. A light citrusy center envelopes as it begins to warm. The spices are quite complexing, but not quite as impressionable for me as the malt body in this is shortened compartively to other Fantome brews I like alot. Although, If ya like spicy beers, this will definately float your palate boat. A little too spicy for my buds, but likeable in an intriguing fashion as it tends to grow on ya with a wonderful spicy warmth. Feel is firm and active with a whole lot of vibrant, mouth tenderizing spicyness. Mildly souring in a moderate tone of acceptable lemony-limeness and broadening yeasty grab and heavy texture. Dryness is also frim and moderate in tone, making for a slower session.

Hazy pale amber topped by the usual large Fantome head, white and frothy. Beautiful saison aroma, peaches and yeast. The flavor is also nice, the hops are much more prevelant than expected, dry fruity-spicy flavors mix well. Body is medium. The finish is dry with a touch of astringency. Maybe not the most complex offering from Fantome, but certainly an excellent beer! Man I love this brewery.

(750ml bottle) Pours a lightly cloudy orange body with a large rocky white head. Aroma is tart at first and then is musty like that of old books. Palate is soft, somewhat acidic, and bitter. Flavor is tart with spicy yeast, white grapes, cirtus, and other spices.

A murky coppery-brown orangey concoction that first seemed like aspicy apple cider. Further sniffing however revealed other fruits in there too - citrus and pear maybe, along with plenty of yeast. Had a great smooth sweet/sour blend through the cider flavour and a somewhat dry bitter finish. Definitely would drink this again - cheers to IPFreely and Dougshoemaker for this one.

2003 vintage. Bottle shared by beastiefan2k (I think). Pale golden pour with a thick, pillowy white head. The nose is lovely. Soft light sweetness and a touch of soft yeasty spiciness. Fairly citric and lemony with a touch of light oxidized malts that give it a bit more cobwebby rusticity. Funky and tart with lemon peel, grass/hay and a touch of brett cologne-like character. There is even a light touch of mintiness on the back. Excellent balance. A tasty, refreshing, quaffable brew.

750 ml. Pours a dusky golden yellow, half a finger of sticky, white foam head. Crispy sweet aroma of funk, and green apple. Flavor is initially laden with the carbonation, effervescent mouthfeel, and overall lightness. Then sweet/sour apples, grass, and something like anice-light kicks in. What a journey, I really can’t place the initial taste, but it’s strong and pleasant. This beer is above my paygrade in terms of trying to rate it, but it’s a special one. Thanks to the young lady at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido for steering me toward it. Upon further inspection, the inital flavor is almost like a sour apple, and banana? jolly rancher. Unreal. I like this a lot, but then saisons almost always float my boat.

From a 750mL Bottle. Courtesy of SecretSanta. Pours a hazy, pale banana gold color with a tremendous head of rocky white. Tons going on in the nose - pears, bright tangerine zest, herbal hops, yeast peppers. Amazing how the different aromatics come out as the beer changes temperature. Lots of spice and hops up front, but as it warms, the citrus really starts to come out. Lemons and ginger. Just a smidgen of rubbery yeast, but otherwise super fresh and inviting. Very light bodied, briskly carbonated mouthfeel with a dry, carbonic bite. A pleasing maltiness coats the palate briefly before being scrubbed away by the carbonation, bringing forth some doughy flavors. Nutmeg husks and lemons. Mid-palate, some gardeny Styrian Goldings herbal hops come forward with a cleansing bitterness. Hints of dusty funk in the finish, blending in with the other flavor complexities remarkably transparent. Light, citrusy, and floral. Tastes like spring. Thanks, Santa!