The usual presentation, 750mL corked and capped.

Chestnut brown pour – conker like. Thick, ice-cream, cream colored head. Well retained, some decent lace. Head nice, color less so.

Nose has mainly a slightly cheesy, funky acidity. Nice horse-blanket notes.

Tastes offer a little of the nose, plus some fruit that seems overripe and dark. Medium bitterness, some herbal medicinal notes in the finish. As it warms we get some more fruit elements that are hard to nail down, but a little, woody cherry seems to greet me. I guess the candy sugar will hit a little different for everyone. Bitterness in the back end is a feature alongside some healthy acidity.

If I’m brutally honest this isn’t especially interesting. There are no flaws, nothing wrong with it per se, and like me I am sure you will enjoy it, but maybe a lack of complexity here which unusual for a Fantôme beer of any type. Maybe I need a few extra bottles? I’d gladly take them!