Two Spring Arrivals from Brasserie Fantôme

If you haven't yet fallen down the Fantôme rabbit hole, consider this your invitation. Dany Prignon has been running this tiny farmhouse brewery out of Soy, Belgium since 1988 — and in that time he's built a cult following for saisons that are wild, idiosyncratic, and deeply tied to the seasons around him. These are not beers made to a formula. They're made to a feeling.

Fantôme Pissenlit (8% ABV) Every spring, Dany picks dandelions from the fields surrounding the farmhouse, dries the flowers in the sun, and steeps them into a dark, earthy tea that becomes the backbone of this beer. "Pissenlit" is the French word for dandelion — and yes, it literally translates to "wet the bed." We love him for it. The result is a deep golden, effervescent saison with notes of pear, green apple, cracked pepper, and that distinctive bitter edge you get from the dandelion itself. Complex, a little funky, and totally singular.

Fantôme Spring Spiritus (7.5% ABV) Lighter on its feet than the Pissenlit but no less characterful. This Belgian blonde is smooth and approachable with bright pear notes and a clean, pleasantly bitter finish — Fantôme's idea of a sessionable spring beer, which still clocks in at 7.5%. Great entry point into the brewery if you're new to them.
Both are in limited quantities. Grab them while the season lasts.