8.4/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
If a 6 existed for the appearance, it would be for this one, that I poured in a giant glass of the original Cuvee de l'Ermitage.
Cloudy brown-amber color; rocky, giant, persistent, creamy head.
Very nice malt aroma, pretty barley-wine like, with a very nice freshness at the end, given by the hop and the spices (coriander, almost turning to black pepper); very good Belgian woody example.
The body is pretty much equilibrated, being enough malty, bitter and complemented by some pleasant sourness which makes of it more appropriately a Fall beer than a Winter one; some citrus fruits acidity at the end, introducing a final much similar to a orange peel bitterness.
Cloudy brown-amber color; rocky, giant, persistent, creamy head.
Very nice malt aroma, pretty barley-wine like, with a very nice freshness at the end, given by the hop and the spices (coriander, almost turning to black pepper); very good Belgian woody example.
The body is pretty much equilibrated, being enough malty, bitter and complemented by some pleasant sourness which makes of it more appropriately a Fall beer than a Winter one; some citrus fruits acidity at the end, introducing a final much similar to a orange peel bitterness.
Tried
on 23 Feb 2003
at 14:10
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Hazy, vibrant cherry with perfect foam. I have to use the word vibrant to describe bright colours because some dumbass decided "bright" was a cute way to say "clear" and now bright forever shall refer to clarity rather than intensity of colour. Fresh yeasty aroma - leather, sweat, cherry, glazed pear flan, styrians (?). Starts with juicy malts, kindling, sandalwood incense (unburnt), warming alcohol underneath, plus dashes of dried apricots, fresh bread, prunes. Dry palate - minerally, finish both alcoholic and hoppy but not too much of either. Like the Wolnzacher Hell I had a few days ago, this beer is beautifully subtle - nothing clubs you over the head but you know immediately that you're drinking kick ass beer.
Tried
on 11 Feb 2003
at 22:02
7.8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Fruity (citrus, peach) and spicy aroma Glowing warm orange with a huge creamy head and tiny bubbles. Oranges, a bit grassy and with a acidic dryness. Creamy and pleasant.
Tried
on 21 Jan 2003
at 10:51
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
The Santé range (every year a new one - +1 ! - is a particular breed: a special brew made by Dany Prignon at Fantôme on behalf of the "Heikantse Bierliefhebbers"; the profits are donated to a charity. The tasted example is 1 yr old (2001) and has developped surprisingly well. Colour is foxy-orange, with even an orange shine in the thick head (quite stable). Nose: vineous, no oxidation, some acids (lactic, malonate). Taste : very refreshing, tart, spicey (dried orange peel, confited orange, turmeric), sherbet-like. Something citrussey for sure, some acidity, never outspoken. Acids have yet foregone all oxidation. Mouthfeel: refreshing, slight tingling sensation at tonguesides. Aftertaste: surprisingly clean palate, maybe some ironoxide?
Tried
on 18 Jan 2003
at 11:59
2.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 3
Flavor 2
Texture 2
Overall 1.5
Tastes like carbonated grapefruit juice. Wait, no, it tastes like they crossed a belgian ale with a lambic. I really find it's tartness to be quite repulsive. I don't even want to write anymore about because I think it is vile and I want to dump it this second and get a good beer.
Tried
on 20 Dec 2002
at 19:05
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
muddy beige, spicy, malty, cinnamon; vibrant palate; slight acidity; citric, wheaty, white pepper and earthy hops. Thank God I can't taste the mustard seeds.
Tried
from Can
on 26 Sep 2002
at 09:44
7.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Blond strong ale; generous foamy head. Hop aroma, fresh, fruity, light malt. Dry, bitter, average body, the malt taste is overwhelmed; the flavour is interesting, like malt and hop upside-down. The hop (not too much aromatic) is so strong that the final may be considered excessively bitter.
Tried
on 14 May 2002
at 00:47
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Original rating: Opaque russet colour; nose of alcohol, plums, raisins, spice (paprika, white pepper), dried apricot, sandalwood; flavour is wonderfully barnyardy, with raisins, rodenbachish tannins, and an acidic finish. More recent samples have been less compelling, with reduced complexity and structural weaknesses. My rating has been downgraded to reflect this.
Tried
on 17 Mar 2002
at 12:02
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
On tap @ Monk's
Hazy, effervescent, straw coloured. Fresh, fruity aroma - pears, spice. Very bitter palate, dry, yeasty. Slightly ashy astringency. Fresh fruits. Served a little too cold, and maybe it's just the beer but I wonder if it suffered from not being bottle-conditioned, because it was the least complex, least inspiring Fantome I've had. Good thirst quencher, though, and I dig the assertive hopping. I just think there might be better ways to serve it.
Hazy, effervescent, straw coloured. Fresh, fruity aroma - pears, spice. Very bitter palate, dry, yeasty. Slightly ashy astringency. Fresh fruits. Served a little too cold, and maybe it's just the beer but I wonder if it suffered from not being bottle-conditioned, because it was the least complex, least inspiring Fantome I've had. Good thirst quencher, though, and I dig the assertive hopping. I just think there might be better ways to serve it.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 May 2001
at 00:13