Founded in 1988, Brasserie Fantôme has gained international attention and a cult following among lovers of craft beers. Owned and run by Dany Prignon, Fantôme is known for its unique variations on the Saison style of farmhouse ale, often involving the use of herbs, spices or fruit juice. Within the craft beer community, Fantome saisons are considered highly desirable and have developed a significant audience in the United States and United Kingdom. Ironically, while their complex, earthy, and herbal flavors have caused them to be sought out by connoisseurs outside of Belgium, Fantôme's products are difficult to find and not well known in the country of their origin.
This saison has been brewed with a melange of herbs that give it a strange green color in the glass reminiscent of a good absinthe. The smell and taste are bitter and grassy, with the slightly sour saison underpinning it all. Although it looks like absinthe, it doesn't have that licorice note, nor is the bitterness really intense like an amaro- just a nice herbal note. Quite good!
