Is Fantome "back"?

[stakem1]

The completionist tendencies are strong in this one.
I have 26 more to add to this talley and dont know how much longer I can hold off my curiosity on opening them.

 

[furley]

The completionist tendencies are strong in this one.
I have 26 more to add to this talley and dont know how much longer I can hold off my curiosity on opening them.

how have most of these beers not been "archived" and how have you not received a warning for.... something... reviewing too many beers from the same brewery or something as arbitrary.

 

[beeraroundtown1]

The completionist tendencies are strong in this one.
I have 26 more to add to this talley and dont know how much longer I can hold off my curiosity on opening them.

Maybe wait till CBC is in PA next year, I can volunteer to help you open them.

 

[owens99]

Ok, I was going to open a bottle of this last night:

But when I took it out of the fridge, the bottle had a ton of gunk at the bottom. When I tilted the bottle, the gunk just floated around like a horrible nightmarish snow globe. I tried taking pictures, but they are potato quality:

I ended up putting it back and drinking a Tilquin. Anyway, is this the ropy stuff that people have been talking about during the bad-era Tomes? Is it likely to go away? Should I increase my life insurance before trying to drink it?

 

[FTowne1]

Ok, I was going to open a bottle of this last night:

But when I took it out of the fridge, the bottle had a ton of gunk at the bottom. When I tilted the bottle, the gunk just floated around like a horrible nightmarish snow globe. I tried taking pictures, but they are potato quality:

I ended up putting it back and drinking a Tilquin. Anyway, is this the ropy stuff that people have been talking about during the bad-era Tomes? Is it likely to go away? Should I increase my life insurance before trying to drink it?

It's just yeast. Let it settle for a few hours and pour it gently.

 

[owens99]

It's just yeast. Let it settle for a few hours and pour it gently.

If so, this is the yeastiest vessel that I've ever come across.

 

[FTowne1]

If so, this is the yeastiest vessel that I've ever come across.

As a homebrewer, I appreciate that thick layer of yeast in the bottles. Comes in handy!

 

[PurityControl88]

It's just yeast. Let it settle for a few hours and pour it gently.

Surprised there aren't any Fantome boxes. Someone should make some with that little ghost stamped on the front part.

 

[Spanner1]

Ok, I was going to open a bottle of this last night:

But when I took it out of the fridge, the bottle had a ton of gunk at the bottom. When I tilted the bottle, the gunk just floated around like a horrible nightmarish snow globe. I tried taking pictures, but they are potato quality:

I ended up putting it back and drinking a Tilquin. Anyway, is this the ropy stuff that people have been talking about during the bad-era Tomes? Is it likely to go away? Should I increase my life insurance before trying to drink it?

Drink it... The ropiness is kinda cool experience... Fantome Jello

 

[Pneill3161]

Came across a Magic Ghost online today so I bought it. Any idea on how old it is?

 

[tosh1]

Came across a Magic Ghost online today so I bought it. Any idea on how old it is?

Latest batch was late last year/early this year - I bought some online in January and I think I bought them as soon as they hit etre(?)

 

[stakem1]

Came across a Magic Ghost online today so I bought it. Any idea on how old it is?

on a semi-related note:
I donno what type of ectoplasmic goo he uses to make that beer green but holy jesus has batch 1 turned bitter/tannic and almost undrinkable. Thats difficult for me to say because I loved that beer and bought a case immediately after drinking my first bottle.

 

[archagon]

So... newbie question. Is plain old Fantôme Saison common in California? 'Cause I'm seeing Winter, Summer, and even Coffee and Chocolate on shelves, but no original. Does it only get released during certain times of year? Is it more rare than the variants? And why did I see no Fantôme at all in Belgium only to come back and find it all over the place at home?!

(Also, I see a few recommendations for the Coffee Ruby... anyone else corroborate? Sounds a bit odd and coffee beers aren't my absolute favorite, but if enough people love it might as well give it a try. My local bottle shop has like 20 of them.)

 

[tosh1]

So... newbie question. Is plain old Fantôme Saison common in California? 'Cause I'm seeing Winter, Summer, and even Coffee and Chocolate on shelves, but no original. Does it only get released during certain times of year? Is it more rare than the variants? And why did I see no Fantôme at all in Belgium only to come back and find it all over the place at home?!

(Also, I see a few recommendations for the Coffee Ruby... anyone else corroborate? Sounds a bit odd and coffee beers aren't my absolute favorite, but if enough people love it might as well give it a try. My local bottle shop has like 20 of them.)

Where in California, north or South?

Regular certainly shows up, it has been a few months in NC since I have seen it, but it doesn't fly of shelf that quick.

Coffee Ruby is not a regular coffee beer. I hate coffee. I would buy a case of Coffee Ruby.srs

 

[LukeAleTime]

on a semi-related note:
I donno what type of ectoplasmic goo he uses to make that beer green but holy jesus has batch 1 turned bitter/tannic and almost undrinkable. Thats difficult for me to say because I loved that beer and bought a case immediately after drinking my first bottle.

When was batch 1? Whatever bottles I have are slowly picking up a bit of tanin. Not unpleasant yet tho

 

[archagon]

Where in California, north or South?

Regular certainly shows up, it has been a few months in NC since I have seen it, but it doesn't fly of shelf that quick.

Coffee Ruby is not a regular coffee beer. I hate coffee. I would buy a case of Coffee Ruby.srs

Yeah, NorCal. Will keep an eye out for it! (Will also pick up a Coffee Ruby.)

 

[stakem1]

When was batch 1? Whatever bottles I have are slowly picking up a bit of tanin. Not unpleasant yet tho

2011

 

[oregone1]

I don't remember the last time I saw anything other than the most recent release of Hiver in Oregon.
Which is sad. Because I was not a huge fan.
Any other northwest people know if regular makes it here anymore? Like, ever in the last two years?
Just need to fill my belly, and bathtub with it.





All you people from other states with access to not just the reg, but a broad selection are living the dream. I have many envies.

 

[simont1]

Fantome Ete 2014 should be carbed, mine was a gusher.

 

[archagon]

Hooray, found some original Saison at a store near me. They also had Dalmatienne and BBB Dark White — anyone tried them? (They even had Black Albert, yet another beer that I couldn't find in Belgium that was sitting on the shelf right here in California. And a bunch of 3F Oude Geuzes. WTF?)

 

[tosh1]

Hooray, found some original Saison at a store near me. They also had Dalmatienne and BBB Dark White — anyone tried them? (They even had Black Albert, yet another beer that I couldn't find in Belgium that was sitting on the shelf right here in California. And a bunch of 3F Oude Geuzes. WTF?)

Both the Fatome are good. Not mind blowing, but worth the purcase for sure.

 

[phing]

Hooray, found some original Saison at a store near me. They also had Dalmatienne and BBB Dark White — anyone tried them? (They even had Black Albert, yet another beer that I couldn't find in Belgium that was sitting on the shelf right here in California. And a bunch of 3F Oude Geuzes. WTF?)

Strange that you couldn't find Black Albert or Fantome in Belgium. They are everywhere over there. I don't think there was a store I visited that didn't have both.

 

[archagon]

Strange that you couldn't find Black Albert or Fantome in Belgium. They are everywhere over there. I don't think there was a store I visited that didn't have both.

Admittedly I only really looked in Bruges. But when I asked for Fântome in Bruges' biggest bottle shop, they couldn't find anything. And when I asked about finding Black Albert, they told me that it always sold out quickly and was hard to find. None of the other shops produced better results. Also, the Wikipedia article for Fântome says that the beer is much less known in Belgium than abroad. So yeah, dunno.

 

[furley]

the Wikipedia article for Fântome says that the beer is much less known in Belgium than abroad. So yeah, dunno.

this has always been my understanding

 

[Quatz]

Admittedly I only really looked in Bruges. But when I asked for Fântome in Bruges' biggest bottle shop, they couldn't find anything. And when I asked about finding Black Albert, they told me that it always sold out quickly and was hard to find. None of the other shops produced better results. Also, the Wikipedia article for Fântome says that the beer is much less known in Belgium than abroad. So yeah, dunno.

I didn't know much about Fantôme before I joined this site, had only tried a couple of bottles and didn't really like them. I imagine most of the population doesn't even know this brewery exists.

I have only seen Fantôme in some of the bigger (better) bottle shops in Flanders, they seem to be more prevalent in Brussels though. No idea about availability in Wallonia. And Black Albert usually sells out pretty quickly in the stores I visit.

 

[owens99]

Ok, I was going to open a bottle of this last night:

But when I took it out of the fridge, the bottle had a ton of gunk at the bottom. When I tilted the bottle, the gunk just floated around like a horrible nightmarish snow globe. I tried taking pictures, but they are potato quality:

I ended up putting it back and drinking a Tilquin. Anyway, is this the ropy stuff that people have been talking about during the bad-era Tomes? Is it likely to go away? Should I increase my life insurance before trying to drink it?

Following up, I opened the bottle up this weekend:

Again, plenty of gunk floating around the bottle as I moved it around. But when I (very gently) poured the beer into the glass, everything looked nice and clear; the gunk stayed in the bottled. So how was it? The good news is that there was no hint of the burnt tire/rubber smell that I was afraid of. The bad news was that it smelled to me very much like Italian seasoning - parsley or oregano or basil or whatever. Certainly not what I think of when I think of flavors I want in my beer.

That being said, it tasted far better than it smelled. I couldn't taste the spices as much as I could smell them, and they were offset/complemented by more pleasant flavors (mint?). As I opened and made my way through the bottle, my opinion moved from "This is going to be terrible" to "This tastes better than it smells" to "This isn't bad at all, and I might even like it" to "I think I'm really enjoying this bottle".

So, overall:
- Gunk was present, not consumed
- Scent reminded me of a spaghetti dinner
- I enjoyed the bottle, but have no idea how to describe the taste or why I liked it
- Would bang again

 

[tosh1]

I enjoyed the bottle, but have no idea how to describe the taste or why I liked it

Ladies and Gentlemen - I present you, Fantome in one short, succinct sentence.

 

[FTowne1]

Ladies and Gentlemen - I present you, Fantome in one short, succinct sentence.

Beat me to it!

 

[Josh2]

I'm currently drinking my third bottle of coffee ruby.
I can't recall the last time a beer has caused me to edge this hard.

Tempted to buy the remaining 13 bottles the store has.

 

[tosh1]

I'm currently drinking my third bottle of coffee ruby.
I can't recall the last time a beer has caused me to edge this hard.

Tempted to buy the remaining 13 bottles the store has.

Agreed. Is it not fantastic?