Beating a dead horse named Fantome

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by JustBill, May 4, 2013.

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  1. JustBill

    JustBill Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Vermont

    My first bottle of Fantome was Hiver. It tasted like vomit. Drainpour. My second bottle was Pissenlit. It was ok. My third bottle was also Pissenlit. Tasted liked, well, remove the "enlit" and add some smoke. Drainpour. Fourth bottle: Fantome Saison. Smoky. Weird. Yuck. Drainpour.

    It's one thing to be inconsistent yet consistently good, but this is ridiculous. I understand green bottles, old bottles, skunk... whatev. None of these bottles were skunky, just bad. How is this brewery still held in high regard? Or even successful period?

    I won't be buying another bottle of Fantome anything. Ever.

    Also, I hear 5 Sciences didn't condition? Flat as fock. WTF?

    Happy Derby Day. I hope no horses die.
     
    #1 JustBill, May 4, 2013
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  2. dachshunddude86

    dachshunddude86 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2012 Florida

    Believe it or not each person has their own tastes. Enough people's tastes differ from yours for them to be highly regarded and stay in business.
     
    #2 dachshunddude86, May 4, 2013
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  3. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    Apparently because they can get you to buy 4 bottles even when you don't like them.
     
    #3 Herky21, May 4, 2013
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  4. Rochefort10nh

    Rochefort10nh Pooh-Bah (1,840) Sep 30, 2005 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My bottle of 5 Sciences was perfectly carbonated!! And tasted damn good. I believe it just needed time to carb.

    Oh yeah, and I love Fantome!!! I've only ever had two off bottles in 50 plus. Guess I'm just damn lucky:wink:
     
    #4 Rochefort10nh, May 4, 2013
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  5. JustBill

    JustBill Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Vermont

    Each person has there own tastes? No way! And they may differ from mine? Get out! I do not believe any of that.

    My point is simply that I'm befuddled by the quality control issues that this brewer seems to have, yet it's still held in such high regard. I'm sure they have, and will continue to produce great beers. I sure haven't thad one. I've heard and read about many experiences similar to mine.

    What if three out of every four cuts at your favorite steakhouse were rancid? Would you keep going back because that fourth was really tasty?
     
    #5 JustBill, May 4, 2013
  6. GuzzLah

    GuzzLah Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 Illinois

    Because Fantome, bro.

    [​IMG]

    If you don't "get it" now, you never will. Consider yourself lucky. :wink:
     
    #6 GuzzLah, May 4, 2013
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  7. dachshunddude86

    dachshunddude86 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2012 Florida

    Have you had any bottles from Fantome that you liked? It seems like you have only had 4 bottles from them and disliked all of them, but say that none of them showed any signs of deterioration (skunking, oxidation, infection, etc). Believe it or not the flavors that you find bad could be what the brewer was trying to produce.

    Personally I don't like shorts beers. I've had a few in different styles and some were ok, but most just didn't suit my tastes. I'm not about to question how they stay on business. Obviously a lot of people like them, I'm just not one.
     
    #7 dachshunddude86, May 4, 2013
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  8. JustBill

    JustBill Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Vermont

    Let me clarify - I think three of the bottles I had weren't what they were "supposed to taste like." Not sure if they were oxidized or infected or old, I was merely saying they didn't taste "skunky," per se. Just kinda foul.

    I really want to love this brewer. I'm a saison junky, and seldom am I disappointed by the style. I have another bottle of Fantome Saison and one more Pissenlit in the cellar. I will open those with the same excitement and anticipation that I've opened previous bottles. Fingers crossed.

    And while I don't review beers, I've had many o' saison. Most that are available in VT (including 84.9876% of HFB saisons) and many that I've enjoyed on frequent travels. I understand the range, diversity and subtleties.
     
    #8 JustBill, May 4, 2013
  9. surfcaster

    surfcaster Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    Fantome is like playing craps:

    (Referencing the come out roll)

    You get a lot more 7s and 11s than crapping out (2,3,12)

    7 and 11s feel good (a good bottle) and the player has the advantage on the come out roll

    2,3,11 is the price you pay for the excitement of the win.


    It is fun more often than it is not.
     
    #9 surfcaster, May 5, 2013
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  10. zac16125

    zac16125 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,432) Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Every Fantome beer I have had has been either very good or excellent. To each their own.


    On a side note, anyone who drain pours a Fantome Saison is dead to me.
     
    #10 zac16125, May 5, 2013
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  11. jmmy3

    jmmy3 Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2010 Massachusetts

    Craps ain't beer, fuck Fantome.
     
    #11 jmmy3, May 5, 2013
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  12. DVMin98

    DVMin98 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,125) Nov 1, 2010 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I love Cilantro. Some people say it tastes like soap. I still like cilantro. To each their own.
     
    #12 DVMin98, May 5, 2013
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  13. JustBill

    JustBill Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Vermont


    C'mon now. Let's not confuse beer with Kool-aid.
     
    #13 JustBill, May 5, 2013
  14. JustBill

    JustBill Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Vermont

    I like cilantro too. Except that time I had slimy cilantro.
     
    #14 JustBill, May 5, 2013
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  15. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hate cilantro and parsley. I don't think it tastes like soap, just like bitter grass (and not the good kind). Only had one Fantome so far (Hiver) and it was pretty good although a smokey saison was a bit surprising. Will report back after I have my bottle of Brise-BonsBons.
     
    #15 Immortale25, May 5, 2013
  16. TheRealDBCooper

    TheRealDBCooper Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands

    Fantome has issues. Jealous of all you who haven't experienced this yet, but like Alpine's barrel aged beers I just won't buy them anymore. Too much money for it not to be excellent every time.
     
    #16 TheRealDBCooper, May 5, 2013
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  17. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    :slight_frown: I wish the Fantome horse lived at my house :slight_frown:

    Sadly, none really to be found anymore either in mid-MO or central IL (the two places I've access to)
     
    #17 BedetheVenerable, May 5, 2013
  18. sacrelicio

    sacrelicio Pooh-Bah (1,838) Feb 15, 2005 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I think you had bad bottles. The only Fantome I have had was the "regular" saison, and it was incredible. Unique, like nothing I have ever had in a beverage. A top ten beer for me. It was funky and very different from other saisons, but it still tasted very good. If you like saisons, a good bottle should taste fine.
     
    #18 sacrelicio, May 5, 2013
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  19. MattSweatshirt

    MattSweatshirt Initiate (0) Jun 29, 2011 Texas

    I've had two outstanding bottles and two meh bottles. Had the Noel in Belgium and it was smokey which was just weird with the sweetness and spices. Seems like smoke is the big gripe of recent batches. Can't risk splurging on a current bottle now :slight_frown:
     
    #19 MattSweatshirt, May 5, 2013
  20. Danny1217

    Danny1217 Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2011 Florida

    I recently had a Fatome Saison that was slightly smoky. Is that normal? I'll be drinking another bottle tonight
     
    #20 Danny1217, May 5, 2013
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