Session # 195
Fantôme | Printemps
Saison / Farmhouse Ale | Soy, Belgium | 8% ABV
One year ago: Craft Beer Paintings
The last time Tim and I got together to review a Fantôme beer, the results were worse than what we’d hoped. Upon opening their flagship Saison (reviewed here), we couldn’t help but call the beer “vomity.” After having the Printemps, however, we are both convinced that the bottle we opened before was infected (in a bad way). This beer poured the exact color you would expect from a Saison, bright and warm yellow with a touch of cloudiness and a soft pale white head. Strong aromas of lemon, grass, and Belgian funk started to appear as we lowered our noses to the glass. THIS is how a Belgian Saison should smell. As we sipped, the lemon took center stage, with a very astringent and bitter lemon peel behind it. The grassiness and spiciness from the hops wasn’t far behind. The mouthfeel was pretty light for an 8% beer and we both felt that this was quite refreshing and drinkable at that ABV, too. Now I’m ready to track down more Fantôme beers since this was much better than our last experience!!!
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
Listening To: Stephen Malmus & the Jicks “Tigers”
Let us know your thoughts by rating and commenting on this video.
Posted by Barry Grass (@theBGrass) on August 30, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Vindication! Never doubt me again.
Man oh man do I love Fantome. The last three vintages of Printemps are so different from each other. You guys are right on when you talk about the batch-to-batch and vintage-to-vintage variance in Dany Prignon’s beers, about the true artisanal quality to them.
I’ve got an essay about Dany and Fantome in the latest issue of the fantastically-designed literary journal, Annalemma (that’s right, I’m bringing beer writing into the world of serious literature). If anyone is interested, you can pick up a copy at http://annalemma.net/print/issues/annalemma-issue-eight-creation
Posted by thehopry on August 30, 2011 at 9:22 AM
** still waiting on Saison book **
Posted by polemile on February 26, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Thanks Man !!
dany
Posted by Cara & Louie (@beerpaintings) on August 30, 2011 at 1:15 AM
I must say, I love it when you review a beer that I haven’t tried yet, but happen to have two bottles of on hand. I’ve had really good experiences with their flagship saison and I’m looking forward to trying this one… right now. Cheers!
Posted by Cara & Louie (@beerpaintings) on August 30, 2011 at 2:45 AM
Wow, this one is very refreshing – more than the regular saison. Huge lemony nose on it, too — great, spot-on review!
Posted by thehopry on August 30, 2011 at 9:23 AM
I saw you posted a picture on Facebook. You’re a night owl aren’t you? ha…
Posted by Cara & Louie (@beerpaintings) on August 30, 2011 at 11:58 PM
Yeah, we can get on a roll sometimes. Plus, sometimes I watch a great beer review, realize I have said beer, and have to drink the damn thing!