Oui Monsieur

Some things take their time to filter up to Scotland, particularly if they hail from the other end of the country. A couple of months ago, bloggers were in rapture about a collaboration beer brewed in Cornwall – Sharp’s Monsieur Rock (5.2%). Leigh from the Good Stuff: “Quite unlike anything I’ve drunk before”; Dave from Taste Sensations: “The first beer I have drank more than one in a row for a long long time”; Beer Reviews Andy: “One of the most delicious and drinkable beers I have ever had”.

Finally Monsieur Rock made it north of Hadrian’s Wall, and having read reviews like that we pretty much pounced on it. The culmination of a meeting of minds between Sharp’s Stuart Howe and Jean-Marie Rock of Orval – two men with more than a few natty ideas between them – the genesis of the beer began when Stuart visited Orval last year. Learning as much as possible about the techniques practiced at the iconic Trappist Abbey, Stuart invited head brewer Jean-Marie back to Cornwall in return.

From these visits over the course of last summer, Monsieur Rock was born. Hopped solely with Saaz, as something of a showcase, the brew was lagered for two months before bottling. It pours a clear pale gold and sports a fluffy white head. The aromas that result are just fantastic – soft citrus, a touch of grassy herb, almost perfumed. Creamy lemon comes out on the taste, with some Belgian herbal notes, before the dry, citric finish. Others noted a ginger touch to it, but I got mostly pale grassy lemon.

It’s so hard to pin down – it looks like a lager, but tastes almost like a Belgian Golden Ale. But then there’s not much bitterness, instead a creamy softness dominates – which is the wrong word, as nothing dominates this beer. Then there’s the 5.2% alcohol, I have no idea where that goes, the finish is really crisp and with a sudden touch of sharpness – like a lager. Which brings us full circle. Any way you cut it, Monsieur Rock is outstanding, and my colleagues from down South are spot on.

Sharps Official Website