750 mL bottle, corked and caged in the usual Fantôme fashion. Purchased on a recent trip to Portland, ME.

Quite a gusher, but I didn’t lose too much. With the carbonation comes a good looking, high head. It’s wispy, but persistent. Doesn’t leave a lot of lace. Mid-amber body with good clarity, and with strong light there is a bright orange color about the beer.

Nose doesn’t offer much more that some light bread at first. On warming, a touch more sweetness.

Tastes are some bready malts and then a persistent, light bitterness. The beer feels a touch old, with a gentle cardboard, but it is not pronounced and it doesn’t detract from the drinking. As it warms, it starts to open up and get more and more like a simple, English bitter that has been sitting around a little too long. That sounds a little unfair and certainly makes it sound much less appealing than it actually is. The yeasty character starts to come through more and more as it opens up.

The mouthfeel is definitely a little prickly, but for me that’s a plus. It makes it feel ‘alive’.

As the beer warms it becomes much sweeter and it really comes into its own. The beer is very tasty at this point. The light thread of bitterness still runs through the beer, BUT the sweetness compliments it beautifully.

Another quite tasty beer, if another one that is a little atypical for Fantôme. I think the beer can cope quit well at this stage, but 2 or 3 years ago may have been even more interesting.

lot 4 N (or maybe 11) 17, best before end of 2020. A old Shelton Bros. import.