Tasting notes - La Gourmande

From the never-ceases-to-amaze Fantome Brewery in Soy, Belgium, comes this recent addition (to our market, at least) to their line of curious, secretly spiced saison-style ales. This one comes on strong with a hit of lemon verbena in the aroma and a big, citrusy bite at first taste. It has a brief, sparkling existence on the tongue with the grassy, yeasty middle you'd expect from the style, but quickly returns to the lemon flavor in a long, lingering finish. A summer's beer for those whose tastes run to the farmhouse end of things? Or simply the brewer's 180° turn from the "plums and raisins soaked in port" profile of his Noël style? Highly recommended.