So here we are with the final session of Saison Week. I had a lot of fun recording this week’s beer reviews and got to experience an amazing variety of the Saison style. Hopefully you liked them too because I’ll be having Mr. Pratt on the show more (time permitting) going forward. Now, on to the review… Let me preface this by saying that the beer really does have a vomit-like characteristic. I know I’m going to have to defend this because a lot of people are going to say, “How can you rate a beer an 86 if it tastes like vomit?” Here’s my answer: the sour, funk, and acidity combined in this beer produces an aroma that I couldn’t deny as being what I called “vomit-y.” I just don’t know how else to say it. If a beer smells like cat piss, I’ve said it (Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA), if a beer smells like leather, I’ve said it (HOTD Adam), and the Fantôme Saison smells like vomit. End of story. Now, there are a lot of redeeming qualities, too. The tartness level balanced with the sweetness is very nice. There is the definite Saison character in there as well. But the obvious aromas is the main problem for me. Ultimately this was my least favorite of the three. While the other two had some spicy and brett qualities that were true to the style, Fantôme leans a little too close to Gueuze territory for my taste. While I like a good Gueuze, this beer just didn’t seem to be on the same level as the other two. At the end of the day, I found myself most appreciative of the Saint Somewhere Saison Athene for its soft funk and intriguing spice component. In retrospect, this is interesting knowing that its two competitors are two of the most celebrated beers in the style. This is proof again that you should like what you like and not be afraid to stand behind your own opinion. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Up next: Mikkeller It’s Alive.
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros “40 Day Dream”
Brewery: Fantôme
Beer: Saison
Style: Saison
Location: Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
ABV: 8%
Rating: 86/100
Thank you for your continued support. Please tell a friend…
Posted by Barleywhiner on May 21, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Had one of these a couple of weeks ago, didn’t get any vomit, fortunately. You’re right about not liking something just because it’s hyped or rare or whatever. Good to see this available in KC.
Posted by thehopry on May 23, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Did you have yours on tap or from a bottle? Did you get it here in town?
Posted by Barleywhiner on May 24, 2010 at 9:01 AM
It was from a bottle. I picked up a bottle of the saison and Black Ghost in St. Louis in March, before it became available here.
Posted by theReaper16 on May 21, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Fatome products are best reviewed keeping in mind that it can be a very different beer from bottle to bottle. Fantome beers are brewed by one man, Dany Prignon, who doesn’t even work from written down recipes. They are probably the most artisinal beers on the planet.
I’ve had a bottle of Fantome Saison that was pretty meh before – unbalanced flavors and suffering from a lack of complexity. It happens and it may have happened with your bottle. Thankfully, I’ve had bottles that are very good and I’ve had a couple of bottles that were pretty much the best beer I’ve ever had. The beer SHOULD be reminiscent of a guezue but with an incredibly diverse fruit sweetness and a deep non-vomit funkiness to balance.
I’d recommend drinking another one but if not I can always take any extra bottles off of your hands. ^_^
Posted by thehopry on May 23, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Hey Barry –
I hate to disagree, but the statement “Fatome [sic] products are best reviewed keeping in mind that it can be a very different beer from bottle to bottle” is not something I (or many people) are likely to do. First impressions are important, and with as hard as these beers can be to find, I think they better make a good impression right off the bat. I don’t always want to just keep spending money on beers that have a “vomity” characteristic in hopes that one day it might not.
The point I’ve tried to make with this review is that of all the beers I had lined up for the week, this was the most anticipated for me based on perception of the breweries beer (and also because I rarely see them). I was extremely let down and I feel I have to be very honest with my reviews. Otherwise people will just think I’m full of shit.
Even with that said, it is highly likely that I will buy more beer from this brewery. I do like the fact that they are true artisan beer makers, but I have a feeling too that I’ll only be burned so many times before I just give up and move on. The Saint Somewhere is something I’d buy over and over again…and soon will, too.
Thanks,
Mark Starr
Posted by theReaper16 on May 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM
I’m not knocking your for giving an honest review. I’m not knocking you for anything. My point is that this is an artisan beer (as opposed to a craft beer) – it does not have the consistency from bottle to bottle for any single review to be definitive. One can expect your review for, say, the Saint Somewhere Athene to ring true for any viewer who drink a bottle themselves. There is a bottle-to-bottle consistency for most beers that allows for reviews to even be worthwhile endeavors. Fantome simply doesn’t have that.
Posted by thehopry on May 24, 2010 at 8:59 AM
I didn’t take it that way. I enjoy the good dialogue.
Posted by Jamison Moeckel on May 22, 2010 at 5:48 PM
I just now am drinking Fantome Hiver and its damn good, real complex and tart sour cherry and lemon notes along with rustic funk.
Posted by thehopry on May 23, 2010 at 10:11 AM
I have not seen the Hiver here – only the regular version and the Noel. I will have to look online to find some of the others since I’m obviously open to trying more of them…
Posted by Big Mike on May 25, 2010 at 7:22 PM
lol at pausing to remove a spider from the glass and lmao at “yea I said fuck it on the show for the 1st time”. Awesome session!
Posted by thehopry on May 27, 2010 at 2:19 PM
This was definitely an interesting (and fun) session…
Posted by tomcaroscio on June 16, 2011 at 7:02 PM
You are pronouncing saison incorrectly. It’s like “season” with an “a” sound instead of an “e” sound. I think you are getting confused this with Vidal Sasson who was a purveyor of trendy shampoo back in the 1970′s. If anyone knows where Vidal Sassoon is today, please respond.