Everything Fantôme

Every Fantome I've had for the past 10 years has been skunked.

 

Dalmatienne might be the best saison I've ever consumed, but Hiver was also very good. I've heard great things about Triple Gourmet and Magic Ghost, but they're harder to obtain.

Let it be known that when you purchase Fantome you never really know what you're getting. He uses various herbs and spices without identifying them and most of his bottles are wilder than Miley Cyrus. That being said, I love Fantome. =). Good luck chasing the ghost!

 

When I joined my first beer website fantome was the shiz. Coveted, sought after and why? I finally found some at my local shop . AND as much as I complained about . . . and drank every last drop of . . . bris bon bons I finished it; and I can say the same for many other fantome beers that came to me in a state of utter imperfection.

 

I need to pick up Fantome Saison one of these days but I'm always afraid of getting one of the bad bottles. I know the standard saison is hit or miss, but it's great when it's on. Not sure about the others though.

 

The one consistent thing about Fantome is they are WILDLY inconsistent with their beers...

When they are off... they are WAY OFF... but when they are on... they are REALLY ON fantastic stuff... just wish they had some consistency..

 

Same experience here. When its good its damn good, but man when they miss the mark, its by a football field margin. Due to the wild inconsistencies I have experienced over the years, I too, avoid them albeit sadly.

 

I think the blue one is Hiver.

 

Weird, I've never come across a blue label on the standard. Cool.

 

I don't find them particularly inconsistent at all. I've probably purchased about 15 bottles of various Fantome beers, both here and in Belgium, and of those 15, about 11-12 have been disgusting gushers and completely undrinkable.

So that puts them at an 80% fail rate. I have an Ete in my fridge which I might consume tonight if it doesn't taste like poison. But given the rather strong consistency with which Fantome tastes like poison (80%, remember), I don't have my hopes up.

When I have gotten good bottles each of Hiver, Saison, Printemps, and Noel were very nice. But I don't think they come close to standing up to the other stuff that's out there in the Saison family. I honestly wouldn't recommend any Fantome to anyone. But that's just me.

I'd take Tank 7 or Saison de Lente any day, even if I know the Fantome's aren't an infected mess.

 

For you, 11-12 out of 15 have been undrinkable/poison... the remaining good ones have not been up to the standards set by "other stuff that's out there"... and you currently have one in your fridge! Around here, bottles go for $15-20. Why on earth have you purchased so much?

 

The following post is from a different thread. @stakem stated that he's had 83 different Fantomes. When I asked if he had any favorites, this was the response:

 

Either a gross exaggeration or you have the worst luck with beer in the history of the world.

 

FWIW, out of the three I've had, the only one I can say I actually enjoyed was the regular saison. The Hiver I had was medicinal and a bit smoky but I thought it was just okay. The Brise Bon Bons I had was incredibly smoky, almost like a straight up rauchbier. Didn't like it at all. The only time I'll ever pay money for one of his beers again is if I see it on tap.

 

About Fantome ... it has been the best and the worst saison ive ever tasted .

 

Because hype

 

El Rey, the collab with Jester King smelled and tasted like band aides. One of my very few drain pours.

 

Look for the glossy labels. The smokey bandaid problem has been resolved. Just had a Printemps. Baller.