Fantôme De Noel
Brasserie Fantôme

Fantôme De NoelFantôme De Noel
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brasserie Fantôme
 
Belgium
Style:
Saison
Ranked #512
ABV:
10%
Score:
88
Ranked #14,508
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 13.52%
Reviews:
364
Ratings:
649
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 08, 2023
Added:
Dec 03, 2001
Wants:
  35
Gots:
  85
This ever-evolving offering is said to be spiced with honey, caramel, black pepper, coriander and (per usual with Fantôme) a number of other special secret ingredients. A rich, dark-flavored beer with lots of deep-roasted chocolate malt, but still fairly dry, with a hint of sourness at the core. It is very spicy, with some winter spruce flavor in the bargain. The wild yeast sourness also adds to its welcoming character.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kkipple:
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.82/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Hello.

750ml bottle got on sale at Total for $7. I mean, why wouldn't you?! Not sure how people are telling the vintage as I see no year, notch, or other identifying marks on this bottle. Onward!

A. Full and russet, foamy, dense, varied size bubbles create a half inch tan head. Some active carbonation displays itself as small bubbles in my oversized wine glass. Everlasting head retention. No, really.

S. Oh gosh, here we go again. Musty and spicy Belgian funkbox. Malt sweetness, nuttiness, lots of pepper, fig, some evergreen hop, a touch of skunk. Booze? Not sure. Hints of caramel sweetness, wrapped up in a very phenolic and Belgian-esque nose, earthy and sour in places. Tart and Saison-like, but has that ineffable, bizarre and fun Fantome character - God only knows what exactly. A very good and complex nose, but odd.

T. Ugh, what is it?! Fantome walks the line often between "this is obviously spoiled" and "this is amazingly brilliant and well crafted". Where you land determines your enjoyment of the beer. Having never had this beer from the source, and never mind that no two Fantome are EVER the same, I'm not sure if this beer is drinking "as intended"... but it is drinking. This is a malty (for Fantome), dried out Belgian-Saison thing, lots of creamy carbonation, fig, date, some hops (??!) and a pervasive sourness throughout, not acidic in the least, just sour... borders on unpleasant, really, especially in the finish, so why can't I stop tasting this? Maybe because more flavors come out over time. Tart apple, unripe fruit, a bit of vomit (alas, true), brett-funk, some barnyard too, toasted malt as you exhale, soft, softer, can't taste any booze, no sir, is this really 10%? C'mon. Hints of chocolate malt. Pretty sure this bottle has seen some sunlight, but it's not any more offensive than what I've already described. As it warms, the sourness fades somewhat and becomes more nuanced. What's left that's NOT in this beer? I dunno... does it work? To a point. I feel like the sourness here is a little too pervasive and is distracting, but there has to be a major flavor, I suppose.

M / O. Carbonation level is fine, and low, creamy, the beer, despite supposedly being fermented to heck and back to get the 10%, is still quite wet and even boasts a little residual sweetness that duals with the sourness in the finish for a while before conceding defeat. I did finish the entire bottle... still not convinced of the advertised ABV.

Fantome de Noel is just so “out there” that’s hard to recommend to anyone who is not well versed in the delightful insanity coming out of Soy, Belgium. This is recommended, but with major reservations… that said, if you can get it for seven bucks, do try it.
Jan 22, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of MikeWard
Rated by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Chocolate first, some dark fruit in the middle, and a lightly sour finish. Actually, quite tasty.
Feb 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Dec 11, 2022
Photo of kevanb
Reviewed by kevanb from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle, marked as reserva vintage, best before 2028, poured into a Fantome chope.

The beer pours a burgundy brown color, a little cloudy with a khaki head that has good retention and spotted lacing. The aroma is pleasant, lots of figs, raisin, peppercorn, caramel, hearty grain with some brown sugar and floral yeast. The flavors are good, rich and wintery, fig and raisin, caramel, toffee and brown sugar with a nice snap of peppercorn, grain, coriander, herbal Belgian yeast, light alcohol and a bit of toasted character. The mouthfeel is good, coating, lively, crisp, softly tart with a dry finish.

Verdict: A nice hearty winter saison from Fantome. Offering lots of rich flavors counterbalanced with a nice spiciness and plenty of signature yeast character.
Jan 06, 2021
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.74/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Capped and corked 750, (of indeterminate vintage, but I've had it several years at a minimum) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a nice ruby-ish brown color with a half-inch of tan head that low-moderate retention and no lacing.

Nice, rich malt aromas, with a hint of chocolate in the background, and some nice Belgian yeast spice notes.

Pretty similar on the tongue, with a light touch of alcohol heat at the finish.

The body was a touch thinner than I would have liked , but was smooth and even, with a medium-sweet finish that dried out after a moment.

Drinkability was excellent, no issues knocking off the bottle.

Overall, a very nice brew. A must try.
Mar 09, 2020
Photo of cratez
Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

3.89/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Rating from notes. Purchased at Beer:30 - San Marco in Jacksonville, FL. Consumed April 2014. "Enticing flavours and aromas, but a little more restrained than I expected. Still fun to try, though."
Jan 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.84 by Mikexw from New York

Jul 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

May 19, 2018
Photo of doktorhops
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia

4.48/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Season’s Greetings from those lovely chaps at Fantôme! Well, yes you’re right - it’s not Christmas, but for the first time in what feels like ages it’s starting to cool down in Queensland, perfect time to crack open a De Noel and feast on the (no doubt) delicious goo inside. I’ve only tried one Fantôme thus far, Pissenlit, which was rather excellent and enough to convince me that Dany Prignon and team have a special energy happening in Belgium, which for a country that brews the best beer in the world they still like to do things by the book (only difference being their book is massive and unique to the rest of the world). Another thing - this beer contains honey, and I do love the rare beers out there that utilise this valuable ingredient.

Poured from a 750ml corked and crown capped bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Aye she looks great: deep red/brown burnt umber body, possibly cloudy but hard to tell, with a nice bold Ecru head that thins out to a lace ring. Loving this colour - it’s like a murky forest waiting to be explored. 9/10.

S: Getting hints of dark fruits (plum, fig and sweet cherry) mixing with a woody and tart black cherry note, there’s a real forest floor vibe as well. Hints of honey and clove in the background... bit of cardamom pods too. This definitely strikes me, from the aroma at least, of a Saison that will peak when it’s warmer and more flavours/aromas come out to play. 8/10.

T: Nice! Flavour is somewhere between a Saison and a spiced Mead, with notes of: Dark fruits, woody (one might even say spruce - at least the label says it) tones, honey, clove, cardamom, pepper, and a touch of tart black cherry. Thankfully the tart cherry is more of a background attraction than the main star - as you well know my enjoyment of Rodenbach Caractère Rouge was soured [pun intended] by the amount of sourness in that brew. Finish adds a light herbal bitterness. As a winter warmer it fails in that the 10% ABV is very well hidden... or it succeeds depending on your views, me I like a winter warmer to give me a slight kick at the end if only to slow me down - Fantôme De Noel has little of that “kick”. 9/10.

M: Pretty luscious with a mid to heavy bodied and a creamy Weizen-esque carbonation, great stuff. 9/10.

D: All round another winner for Fantôme, who are quick becoming a favourite of mine. Their beers are deceptively simple and complex at the same time, Dany Prignon is a master of brewing. Gobias some more! 10/10.

Food match: If it ain’t turkey it ain’t worth eating with cranberry sauce.
May 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Apr 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by stephenlee from England

Apr 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by Kurmaraja from California

Mar 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by cjohns73 from Delaware

Dec 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.01 by coz from Illinois

Dec 25, 2017
Photo of lloydboss
Rated by lloydboss from Illinois

4.02/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 bottle enjoyed December 2017. opened on Christmas eve & thiscaged well
Dec 25, 2017
Photo of NolaHopHead
Rated by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

3.99/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Candy caramel malt, banana and berries, slightly sour, crisp n dry. Solid brew.
Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.4 by guild337 from Virginia

Jul 21, 2017
Photo of TX-Badger
Reviewed by TX-Badger from Texas

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from 2014. This has aged well. Pours a lightly hazed dark brownish color with tan colored head. Christmas spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, with some dark fruits, fig, plum, and a light earthiness on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with a nice dark fruit and spice finish, the aclohol is now very well hidden, does not drink like a 10% beer.
May 21, 2017
Photo of JayQue
Reviewed by JayQue from Virginia

3.99/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Interesting beer. A lot of Saison qualities but a bunch of other sensations as well. Poured from a 750 ml corked and capped bottle into a Timmerman stemmed half-pint glass. Pours a light amber/dark orange color with a bubbly light tan head. Head retention is average, leaving a filmy cover on the top of the glass. Little to no lacing. Aroma and taste include wild yeast funk, some candi sugar and spices and some sweet malt. A Saison with extras, a Christmas spiced beer with yeasty funk. There is a bit of everything here and it works pretty well. Mouthfeel is tart and both dry and sweet, with minimal alcohol presence. The spicing is interesting. A different and good holiday beer!!!!
Mar 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Feb 20, 2017
Fantôme De Noel from Brasserie Fantôme
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 649 ratings