Alpine Beer Company Chez Monieux

I weep a few tears as I write this review. I bought two bottles at the release, and now one is gone. It’s hard enough to spend $28 of a beer, and even more difficult to buy two. Especially, when you are not sure how it will taste. I brought a bottle to Dr Bill’s tasting tonight. So did Chris. I opened my Briscoe first, which is a small preview of the Kriek. Then Chris opened his Monieux. Thanks Chris! Then as I was leaving the crowd had doubled and many didn’t get to try the first Monieux, so I opened mine. So I got to taste it twice tonight. The second time a nice glassful. Pours with a small white head that fades quickly. Perfect temperature of around 50-55degF. Light red-orange color. Aroma is mild. Some sour acetic/lactic aroma. Little or no funk. Lots of cherry in the flavor. Very well balanced sour with a hint of sweetness. Yum!! Carbonation is mild and soft. Super easy to drink. No acetic throat burn. A large glass of this is too small. There is a decent chance I’m going to drink my second bottle in a small crowd of 1 or 2. Evil. Tasted side-by-side against Sellins Grove Phoenix Kriek, I like this a little better, but both are great. Also clearly this is better than Briscoe. I’m sure the ratings will show this in time. Can’t wait to get a pint of this on tap at the Alpine opening.

Bottle from brewery. Clear red golden with a fizzy white head. Great earthy cherry sour and oak, leather, and candy aroma, outstanding. Wow taste is equally amazing. Sour cherry with orange notes, vanilla, perfectly tart, tobacco and leather notes, dry and oaky with an earthy finish, well balanced. Excellent.

I need to give props to Pat & crew...If Pat is still the crew, who knows...it’s been a a while since i paid any attention to the brewing industry, but in any event...They deserve praise for doing this beer. Alpine came out of nowhere with its "Pure Hoppiness" and blew the IPA fans away...Then, they beat us over the head with Exponential Hoppiness before double IPAs even became a normal thing...You never really saw two many belgian ales come out of Alpine until somewhat recent...at least, not that i ever saw...Then there’s the Chez Monieux..This cloudy playdoh/blood orange fluid is damn right inviting if i do say my damn self. The nose was a floral garden of vinous cherry with old citrus/ruby red grapefruit waves. Flavors were vinous and slightly citrusy with floral sweetness riding along. Its perfectly clean throughout with no major flavor flaws...the floral fruitiness is down right fun...the sourness is solid, and well, the beer is fucking cool man, shit.

Bottle from Zinister, sampled at his tasting. Thanks!
Pours a solid white shiraz red/pink with an aroma of biting cherry. Solid cherry with a glint of raspberry. Tart and mouthpuckerin’ on the tongue. Great kriek.

Many thanks to spacecyote for this treat. Cherry and brett funk in the aroma. A sweet body with a very tart flavor for an american sour. A beautiful red color with a faint cloudiness. One of the best American sours I’ve had on par with offerings from the Lost Abbey and Russian river. Alpine continues to impress as one of the best breweries I’ve ever tried.