Fantome new Road...

[beeraroundtown1]

I have too many “new to me” ones currently in the fridge that I wanna investigate.

However, no less than 2-3 times in the last couple months I considered pulling out a dusty but then guilt sets in if I dont share the experience with someone. Good or bad, its a lot more fun to have someone else along for the ride when dealing with the real old buggers.

Can I fly out to PA and get tome drunk?

 

[beeraroundtown1]

Zero actual info, just purely speculative, but I do think the last year or so of releases are over bitter due to higher hop utilization from the new system. The last few rounds of fresh tomes have been very bitter, some bordering on hard to drink.

As to the House character, that has been a diminishing thing over the years, sure, you find some incredible ‘tome’n’ batches like Diapes 1, Blanche 14, Sante 15, Ete 17, etc. But a lot of the house character has been cleaned up, I think this started in the mid 00s though.

Don’t matter none, still in for the ride and enjoying every release

 

[stakem1]

Can I fly out to PA and get tome drunk?

When our new home is built and I am finally able to host people comfortably, I would love to have a Fantome bash at my place inviting other folks as well who might be willing to make trek and get weird on ghost juice.

 

[skrip]

When our new home is built and I am finally able to host people comfortably, I would love to have a Fantome bash at my place inviting other folks as well who might be willing to make trek and get weird on ghost juice.

IN!

 

[BadJustin]

View attachment 5339
Picked this up from the discount shelf at my local liquor store. It cost $9.99 and was the last one. I had stayed away from it for so long because I remember hearing of poor reviews. Nice earthy citrus notes. The back end is a little to bitter for me but overall it’s an enjoyable bottle. I’m happy to have tried it.

This is priceless timing considering Garrett just posted in this thread an hourish ago.

I am guilty for saying some very negative things about this brew when it first came out. But ive had it 2 more times since and have enjoyed it exponentially more each time. Was fun to drink it in a side by side with the Jester King’s version.

At $10 a bottle, I would clear the shelf if given the opportunity.

First bottle of this I had, I loved. Second one, had to have been an off bottle as it was NOTHING comapred to the first experience. I've got a couple left and that was well over a year ago. I think I will bang one today, gotta break in the new (to me) glass anyways.

 

[lazerviking]

Drinking a B1 Diapes as I type, and holy hell this beer still slays. From the nose, I would have sworn it was lambic when I popped the cork. So glad I have a few more of these.

 

[skrip]

Drinking a B1 Diapes as I type, and holy hell this beer still slays. From the nose, I would have sworn it was lambic when I popped the cork. So glad I have a few more of these.

i've heard soo many good things about this beer from funky cherry limeade to Lambic! i think i need to find one of these

 

[stakem1]

I have no idea what to say about this. Im gonna wait to finish the other half of the bottle when I get back from my trek around the mountain. I’ll try to be descriptive about what I perceive in this then.

 

[mjohnson171]

View attachment 5420

I have no idea what to say about this. Im gonna wait to finish the other half of the bottle when I get back from my trek around the mountain. I’ll try to be descriptive about what I perceive in this then.

Need details. Just grabbed a few and going to pop one soon.



In the meantime working my way through these single hopped Saisons.

This is wonderful. I LOVE Simcoe so I anticipated liking this one. It’s hoppy in a bittering way but does not overpower the Saison. Almost an aged hop effect in that it adds a bit of musty, cheesiness with the bitter. Not a fresh dry hopping aroma way. Really great beer.

Anyone know exactly how old this is? I’ll post a pic later but there’s some handwritten numbers on the bottle which appear to be a date. I think it’s Dec 2018.

 

[MooseLang]

View attachment 5420

I have no idea what to say about this. Im gonna wait to finish the other half of the bottle when I get back from my trek around the mountain. I’ll try to be descriptive about what I perceive in this then.

I dig this out of the gate. First fresh Tome for me in a while that isn’t awkwardly bitter.

Tastes like a 50/50 mix of Printemps and Strange Ghost. Has sage for sure. Can’t put my finger on the other herbs / spices. I’m a sucker for sage though, and that’s why I like it already.

Has some potential if the ..,secrets,,. find their way into the bottle.

 

[stakem1]

Anyone know exactly how old this is? I’ll post a pic later but there’s some handwritten numbers on the bottle which appear to be a date. I think it’s Dec 2018.

December is very possible based on the folks at etre picking it up and listing it for sale in January.

If by hand writing, you are referring to this, I believe it to be their first time hand numbering bottles xxx outta 650 for these single (dry?) hop’d versions. In the pic below for example, this one is number 585 of 650.

I dig this out of the gate. First fresh Tome for me in a while that isn’t awkwardly bitter.

My tongue must be broken from not drinking much this year because my opinion is opposite for the 30th anny. I mean, I dig it too and its pretty hard to describe it but I would say it is quite bitter...like what id imagine its like to put pine tar in your mouth or attempt to drink dandelion sap. Its also more boozy feeling and has a very plain/typical/clean saison yeastiness with the usual suspects of clove/bubblegum and cracked pepper.

 

[MooseLang]

December is very possible based on the folks at etre picking it up and listing it for sale in January.

If by hand writing, you are referring to this, I believe it to be their first time hand numbering bottles xxx outta 650 for these single (dry?) hop’d versions. In the pic below for example, this one is number 585 of 650.
View attachment 5434



My tongue must be broken from not drinking much this year because my opinion is opposite for the 30th anny. I mean, I dig it too and its pretty hard to describe it but I would say it is quite bitter...like what id imagine its like to put pine tar in your mouth or attempt to drink dandelion sap. Its also more boozy feeling and has a very plain/typical/clean saison yeastiness with the usual suspects of clove/bubblegum and cracked pepper.

My second glass drank much more bitter, but nowhere near the recent Saisons / Sergio / Santes / etc.

Still picked up a lot of sage and other characteristics shared with Printemps.

Bitter? Yes. But to me, an improvement on almost every Tome I’ve had over the past year.

 

[Sage1]

I’m a sucker for sage though

Aww shucks!

 

[The Red Viper]

Krieken Awakes, Saison Amarillo, new batches of Blanche and Hiver, more Simcoe and Sorachi...all on Etre now.

 

[stakem1]

Sweet baby jesus with a bonnet on.

 

[Saind]

Krieken Awakes, Saison Amarillo, new batches of Blanche and Hiver, more Simcoe and Sorachi...all on Etre now.

I had them ship my box yesterday

 

[NClambicguy]

Pretty much a fantome newbie as it's been years since I've drank some. What would you guys recommend to someone trying to get on this bandwagon.

 

[stakem1]

I had them ship my box yesterday

I went from not buying/acquiring any beer in the new year to 3.5 cases of Fantome purchased in 25 days.

I have issues. I wonder if Jonathan at etre will just put me on the addicts list and auto-save me 3-4 bottles of anything/everything new from Fantome that comes in.

 

[stakem1]

Pretty much a fantome newbie as it's been years since I've drank some. What would you guys recommend to someone trying to get on this bandwagon.

Go on etre, add 2 of everything to a box. When box arrives drink 1 of each and tuck the rest away to forget about for a year or more. Then when you are curious, revisit them and regret not buying a case of each from the start to have more to revisit down the road.


At least thats how it usually goes for me....


For serious though, there currently is a really good selection available online. Id probably stay away from the super expensive old Sante bottles if they are still there. I also was not the biggest fan of Noel this go around.

 

[BingoBango]

I had them ship my box yesterday

Haha, same. Was holding out in case any new Tomes showed up and figured at this point they'd probably wait til the new quarter to post them anyway. S'alright though, definitely not gonna be sad drinking a few more Saisons than I would have otherwise.

 

[The Red Viper]

Has Fantome ever done a fruited beer before? It seems like there should be an example but I can’t think of one.

 

[beeraroundtown1]

Has Fantome ever done a fruited beer before? It seems like there should be an example but I can’t think of one.

Sante 11 with fruit? Skatouch, Dalmatienne dark a while back I think had cherry in it, la Gillmoure I think had mandarin or something

 

[stakem1]

Has Fantome ever done a fruited beer before? It seems like there should be an example but I can’t think of one.

Sante 11 with fruit? Skatouch, Dalmatienne dark a while back I think had cherry in it, la Gillmoure I think had mandarin or something

Blanche from more than a decade ago either had lemon juice or pounds of coriander/lemon peel. Blanche pamplemouse has grapefruit in it.

There has been many batches of classic saison that I strongly believe cannot be made without fruit/juice additions up to and including pineapple/orange/strawberry. I even have a batch marked with a star on it that I believe has limes added to it.

The collab with Hill Farmstead (5 sciences) was advertised in the Hill Farmstead social media account as having fruit containers added to it.

First batch of Tous Les D’iapes also had some strong lemon/lime juice feel.

All these fall under the “spice” addition on the label lol. The only ones I know that openly declared or showed fruit additions were Sante 11 “rose edition” which had cherry and raspberry but that beast was like a 20 bottle-ish release. And Gillmoure as beeraroundtown mentioned which certainly had an orange-ish character going on in it and was depicted on the bottle.

Dany spoke of their being a version of extra sour with cherries in the works years ago. And I think I even saw a label/logo floating around but dont believe it ever came to fruition. This recent kriek release stirred up emotions with some that it might be that long lost beer but alas, it is not. Its a new creation that was conceived in December.

 

[The Red Viper]

Sante 11 with fruit? Skatouch, Dalmatienne dark a while back I think had cherry in it, la Gillmoure I think had mandarin or something

What does Scatouch have? I have bottles coming but haven’t read anything about it.

 

[reverseapachemaster1]

There has been many batches of classic saison that I strongly believe cannot be made without fruit/juice additions up to and including pineapple/orange/strawberry.

I've fermented beer with the dregs of Fantome bottles and produced a lot of those same flavors, especially strawberry. Not saying there might not also be fruit added but a lot of that character is one of the yeast cultures used.

 

[beeraroundtown1]

What does Scatouch have? I have bottles coming but haven’t read anything about it.

Mango I think

 

[PurityControl88]

All the new activity on this thread (theories on yeast, fruit and recent additions on Etre) has me super excited to drink more tomes!

 

[stakem1]

Rumors circulating that someone who visited Fantome stole Dany’s infamous accordion style cork screw...

This is so sad/infuriating on so many levels. The history that thing has, the uniqueness of it and to have someone walk out with it? I truly hope they regret what they have done and find enough sense/balls to face their mistake and return it

 

[mjohnson171]

December is very possible based on the folks at etre picking it up and listing it for sale in January.

If by hand writing, you are referring to this, I believe it to be their first time hand numbering bottles xxx outta 650 for these single (dry?) hop’d versions. In the pic below for example, this one is number 585 of 650.
View attachment 5434
.

You are correct. The handwritten number denotes bottle count. 501/650 on this bottle. I was thinking of the Lot #, which here is f12 18, which I read as December 2018.

 

[PurityControl88]

Drank a Fantôme In Flowers this afternoon. Not unlike a refreshing herbal soda. Lavender and aloe vera. Super clean yeast profile. Enjoyable spices but the yeast didn't have the most unique character (yet). Kinda wish it hadn't been one per person on Etre.