Fantome Saison

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by RichD, Aug 17, 2013.

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  1. RichD

    RichD Pooh-Bah (2,318) Mar 18, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    There's a local shop that has some Fantome Saison that I'm contemplating buying. They're selling it for 13 or 14 bucks per 750. I couldn't find a freshness date on the label or bottle (quite frankly I wasn't expecting to find one.) I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it. There's is an absurd amount of yeast sediment along the bottom and it's been on the bottom shelf.

    So basically my question is, would you take a chance and drop 14 bucks on a bottle of this stuff? I've heard that this beer has some serious batch variations and I don't want to waste that much money (not that 14 breaks the bank or anything) on something that has the potential to be wildly inconsistent. Help me out, guys! (and occasional BA girl)
     
    #1 RichD, Aug 17, 2013
    FantomeOpera likes this.
  2. Albin

    Albin Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2013 Sweden

    I had a Fantome Saison that was about 4-5 years old. I liked it a lot. It was a bit sourish as I remember it. But definitley a great brew.
     
    #2 Albin, Aug 18, 2013
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  3. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    I'm not sure what the question is.

    As you said Fantome has massive batch variation and it sounds like you aren't willing to take that risk.
    I have taken the risk and been rewarded (and I also have had smokey/phenolic messes as well).
     
    #3 BrettHead, Aug 18, 2013
  4. FantomeOpera

    FantomeOpera Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2013 California

    My power over you grows stronger yet
    And though you turn from me to glance behind
    The Fantome of the opera is there
    Inside your mind
     
    #4 FantomeOpera, Aug 18, 2013
    xpimptastikx, Zach136, FidelCashflow and 7 others like this.
  5. rc51sport

    rc51sport Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2013 North Carolina

    Fantom Saison is going to be inconsistent from batch to batch. There may be a lot of variations. To me this is the fun part. You might get a good bottle or you might get a bad bottle. I would spend 14$ on a 750 easily with a smile on my face. Whether or not this is worth it to you is a question that only you can answer.
     
    #5 rc51sport, Aug 18, 2013
  6. barleywinefiend

    barleywinefiend Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2007 Washington

    I have one in the cellar I should go sip on.
     
    #6 barleywinefiend, Aug 18, 2013
  7. FantomeOpera

    FantomeOpera Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2013 California

    You know all you gotta do is tell me what you're sipping on.
    And I promise that I'm gonna keep it coming all night long.
     
    #7 FantomeOpera, Aug 19, 2013
    BorisKarloff, harrymel, riemster and 5 others like this.
  8. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Yes.
     
    #8 UCLABrewN84, Aug 20, 2013
  9. VladTepes

    VladTepes Initiate (0) Oct 18, 2012 Finland

    Sounds weird to me, that it is funny, that 50 % are bottles drain pour.
     
    #9 VladTepes, Aug 20, 2013
  10. DimensionX

    DimensionX Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2010 Oregon

    Drainpours are the spice of life.
     
    #10 DimensionX, Aug 20, 2013
    harrymel likes this.
  11. rc51sport

    rc51sport Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2013 North Carolina

    I think some past bottles had some type of trouble with infection. And I believe Danny said he got the problem cleared up
     
    #11 rc51sport, Aug 20, 2013
  12. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Try to grab a bottle from the back of the shelf where the least light is. If you have never had one before, then I suggest you give it a go. This is my personal breakdown of the bottles of Fantome that I have had (probably around 20 or so):
    60% = DELICIOUS
    25% = unique and interesting
    15% = WHAT THE FU@# DID I JUST PUT IN MY MOUTH!
     
    #12 paulys55, Aug 20, 2013
    clegolfski likes this.
  13. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    He took the band-aids out of the brew kettle.
     
    #13 UCLABrewN84, Aug 21, 2013
    AlexFields, BrettHead and rc51sport like this.
  14. RichD

    RichD Pooh-Bah (2,318) Mar 18, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I went to my local shop today and passed on it again. There's at least 3-4 bottles of it that look like they aren't going anywhere. The labels are starting to peel off. My main concern is the cork that is under the bottle cap. Hopefully it doesn't fall apart, because cork in beer is very off-putting.
     
    #14 RichD, Aug 21, 2013
  15. JRBecks

    JRBecks Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2012 Illinois

    IMHO Fantome Saison is def worth the $14 price tag, one the best saisons Ive ever had!
     
    #15 JRBecks, Aug 21, 2013
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