Sauvage Arrivee! Brettxcited Dark Reserva
Brasserie Fantôme

Poured at fridge temp. Pours a murky brown with a solid inch or two of head that quickly dissipates. The nose is surprisingly minimal. It's almost hard to pick out any flavors. Some dark malts, toffee, oak, and maybe a hint of raisin.

The taste is really interesting. Big malts, toffee, bread, and an ever so slight sourness. Some raisin and cherry notes come through as well.

The mouthfeel is light and dry. A nice fruity aftertaste.

unique and weird beer, cool label, it drives me nuts how we never get any information about the beers from fantome, i have so many questions about this one, but it was for me my least favorite of the recent four bottles of theirs i was lucky enough to pop in close succession, reddish ruby to medium brown in color, not really sedimented until the bottom, short thick off white head but not quite as excited and lathery as the others were, a little chunky at the bottom of the bottle. it smells a little tangy for these guys, funky too, mature, bretty, weird, a little vinegar, raspberry and red wine, there is a bacterial thing, rich sweet malt but not heavy really, and some familiar fantome spiciness to the yeast, white pepper and allspice notes, autumnal and wintery, a little oxidation never bothers me in these. the flavor is tangy, but only on the back end, a unique sort of astringency rather than obvious infection or anything, and there is a wild component to the ferment too, but its not as cohesive as i am used to from these guys. nutty from the malt, honey and maple notes but not way sweet, almond and hazelnut, toffee, raisin, dried cherry, church wine, old wood, cherry candy. weirdly fast finishing for being malty and unique, but it sits a little funny in the belly beyond this being like my 10th beer of the day, also without the epic bottle conditioned effervescence i have come to expect from their beers. this is cool because its not like anything else, but i would not rank it among my favorites from the amazing fantome. still, a treat to get to drink this, uncommon to say the least.

 

Found an old Shelton imported bottle at my local and couldn't stop myself. Lot 19, best before end 2015, so keep that in mind! Poured from a caged-and-corked 750mL bottle into my Rodenbach flute.

Initially clear tangelo body with a champagne fist up top. Delicate soapy lacing; very good retention.

Lovely mature yeast aroma, fruity, floral, with gentle phenols/esters.

Faintly sweet palate entry with hints of chicory and burdock. Hard to identify savory/herbal elements are subsumed by a dusty grain note leading into a faintly peppery bone dry finish. Piquant around the edges with hints of walnut/elderberry. Interesting residual funk, like a distant memory of Brett, a long fallow farm, forgotten books.

A bit thin, almost sharp, but well carbonated, the ABV quite concealed.

Impossible to rate to style as the brewer's intent seems purely to confound. Surprisingly mild and free of oxidation.

Lot 25-01-20 bottle.

Khali tan head. Caramel copper color.

A bit of sweetness and a decent amount of Brett. Has a mint and sage spice. Caramel and toffee malts. Earthy, spicey (almost like rye bready. Some crushed pepper. Interesting blend. A lot going on with this one. Glad I drank it fresh-ish before the Brett really takes over.