Fantome Brewing Vertignasse Blanche Saison single bottle 750ml

Vertignasse is, among other things, a grapefruit witbier, and this is the very first time its ever been bottled. Aside from a small keg batch, this was previously only available at the brewery.

This one was definitely a fun (and vaguely challenging) release from brewer Dany Prignon at Brasserie Fantmebut, as many of you know from the brewerys other delicious and often unexpected offerings, this is par for the course. So… this beers green. Not a subtle hue, with hints of occasional green here or there. Its definitively, gloriously, shamrockingly green. And if there were ever a time and place set aside to assemble all the green beers of the world (and we dont necessarily think thats a great idea, to be honest), were fully confident Vertignasse would crush most of its absinthe-colored competition. Its delicious. A solid, off-white head caps it, with firm retention and lacing. And the beer beneath goes way past any expectations.

This is the part of the notes where the greenness trails off. Both its aromatics and flavors are fully focused around that core Fantme yeast characterwhich some of our RBC members will notice from the aromatics alone. Theres a complex pepperiness that forms the focus of the yeast presence: featuring both white pepper and bits of clove at the edge, along with that assertive, almost-lemony citrus. Theres some endearing funk, too, but its much more subtle and seamlessly integrated than youll typically see elsewhere. Fruity, peppery and refreshing.

Rumors are that the green color comes from spinach juicebut Fantme typically prefers to keeps its special ingredients a mystery. Theres nothing vegetal in the flavor, for sure, as soft grapefruit acidity and potent pepperiness continue from the aroma. The carbonation is right on, adding a bit of lift without fizzing things out, and theres a whole lot of complexity here that gradually asserts itself beneath the pepper and fruit: almond and hints of vanilla, toasty malt, subtle clove-and-banana hefeweizen character…all packed into a great green vessel. Another unique Fantme offering, for sure, and one were proud to offer to our members.