Product Reviews and Ratings - France - Munster d'Alsace from igourmet

Buy the Munster d'Alsace on http://www.igourmet.com

(based on 15 ratings)

Located in: Cheese, France

This is not the Munster with which most Americans are familiar. Alsatian Munster is another animal altogether. Munster is virtually the only regional cheese native to Alsace. It has a very pronounced, powerful aroma that is oddly reminiscent of fried eggs. Munster is smelly due to its washed rind. Cheeses such as Munster, Livarot, Pont L'Eveque, Taleggio, and Limburger are referred to as washed-rind cheeses. They are rubbed by hand with a cloth moistened by a brine solution of rock salt and water. This solution encourages the growth of the bacteria that give these cheeses their characteristically strong flavors and smells, while inhibiting the growth of mold. These cheeses have "red" rinds, which are actually closer to orange in color. Many cheese connoisseurs relish these cheeses, but they are certainly not for the timid. Their depth of flavor and character are difficult to match, and once you develop a taste for them they will surely rank among your favorites.

Made from cow's milk.
Best enjoyed within seven days of delivery.

More information for the Munster d'Alsace

Review Snapshot®

Avg. Customer Rating:

4.2 stars

(based on 15 reviews)

93% of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Customers most agreed on the following attributes:

Pros:

Buttery(3), Complex(3), Creamy(12), Flavorful(11), Pungent(6)

Best Uses:

After dinner(11), Hors d'oeuvre(11)

Describe Yourself:

Foodie(9), Frequent diner(6), Health conscious(4), Simple tastes(3)

Best Munster I Ever Had

By Some Guy Named Dave

from Near Philly on 5/3/2010

Pros:

Complex, Creamy, Flavorful, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

With beer IPA

Describe Yourself:

Awesome, Foodie, Health Conscious

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

This cheese was delicious and it goes really well with whole wheat crackers and Victory Hop Wallop IPA. It's pungent, flavorful, and quite soft at room temperature.

could be better

By Slim

from Eureka, CA on 2/4/2010

Gift:

Pros:

Firm, Nutty

Cons:

Bland

Best Uses:

Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Frequent Diner

Bottom Line:

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

This munster was good, but not as rich and creamy as the munster I had in the Alsace.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

Good, A little too aged when it came.

By CheeseFreak

from Westland, MI on 3/8/2009

Gift:

Pros:

Buttery, Creamy, Rich

Cons:

Overripe

Best Uses:

Hors d'oeuvre, With Condiments

Describe Yourself:

Chef, Foodie

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Straight up on a cracker, or with something acidic(try pickled garlic, Mission Figs) to offset the EXTERME creaminess. The cheese came VERY ripe, so had to eat it quick before it went bad.

a different and very good Munster

By Philliplebeau

from Decatur, Alabama on 1/19/2009

Gift:

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Smooth

Cons:

none

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre, Sandwiches

Describe Yourself:

Frequent Diner

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Much better than the typical domestic so called munster cheeses that I have tried.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

A very good cheese

By Philliplebeau

from Decatur, Alabama on 1/4/2009

Gift:

Pros:

Firm, Flavorful, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Frequent Diner

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

This is a very good cheese. It is not at all like the tasteless munsters that one usually finds here in the United States.
I highly recommend it to anyone that appreciates good cheeses.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

Wonderful Münster!

By Stinky cheese Stephen

from Redmond, WA on 12/17/2008

Gift:

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Rich

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

My mother-in-law in Alsacienne, so my wife introduced me to Münster after we married. IGourmet's Münster is as good as you can get in Strasbourg -- which is to say, perfect! At least, our batch was. We prefer to eat it with baguette, but put it on triscuits or wheat thins, it's all good. Wonderful stuff!

Just make sure that you and your honey BOTH eat it, or the non-eater won't be able to stand to kiss the eater! And if you have leftovers, make sure you store it in a container that seals very well -- or you had better like the odor of Münster permeating everything in your fridge!

(Btw, we had good luck freezing one and thawing it later to eat. I imagine that's not recommended, but it worked for us.)

Not the usual product

By Bobbo

from Naples, FL on 8/5/2008

Pros:

Buttery, Complex, Creamy, Flavorful, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Health Conscious

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Not up to its usual quality. The most recent shipment didn't get soft at room temperature and was actually crumbly and dry at the crust. Since I've purchased this product in the past, I'll do so again and just assume this particular shipment was too old or too young, or something which caused it to be unacceptable.

Now this is cheese

By Bobbo from Naples, FL on 7/15/2008

Pros:

Buttery, Complex, Creamy, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Health Conscious, Simple Tastes

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Served at room temperature, this cheese, spread on French bread or crackers, is truly wonderful. It smells, but don't be turned away by the odor; it melts on your tongue and leaves a great aftertaste.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

Bless Elsass-Loraine

By German eater

from Indianapolis, IN on 6/19/2008

Pros:

Barn-yardy, Creamy, Flavorful, Pungent, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre, On it's own, Sandwiches

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Frequent Diner, Loves stinky cheeses

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

This cheese needs to be around 80 degrees to really bring out all it's complex flavors and odors. I like it on a very simple bread like french bread, with butter under the cheese to really let it shine. Green onions are great with it. Sometimes I cannot help myself and just eat it in little bites all by itself. Soooo good!

SUPER STINKY

By TRAVELEE

from TOWSON, MD on 5/17/2008

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Intense, Pungent, Rich

Cons:

Nothing

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Frequent Diner

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

BOUGHT A STINKY MUNSTER IN GERMANY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR IT IN THIS COUNTRY EVER SINCE. THIS WILL END MY SEARCH. IT IS A WONDERFUL FULL BODIED CHEESE WITH AN INTENSE FLAVOR. IT HAS A CREAMY TEXTURE AND SPREADS WELL ON CRACKERS. I LIKE IT ANY TIME I HAVE A CRAVING FOR THE FLAVOR.
THE ONLY CON IS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN A STRONG CONTAINER OR THE SMELL WILL PERMIATE EVERYTHING AROUND IT.
I LOVE IT

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

You'll love this

By Bobbo

from Naples, FL on 10/18/2007

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Pungent, Rich, Smooth

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Health Conscious, Simple Tastes

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Spread on French bread or crackers, this is a wonderful, flavorful cheese that disappears much too quickly. One of my favorites.

GETTING CLOSER

By travelee

from Towson, MD on 10/3/2007

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Pungent, Rich

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hors d'oeuvre, Snack

Describe Yourself:

Foodie, Frequent Diner

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

This is a very tasty cheese but not quite as "stinky" as I had hoped for.

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

I would buy this product again and again

By L'Alsacienne60 from Biloxi, MS on 4/15/2007

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Pungent

Best Uses:

After Dinner

Describe Yourself:

Simple Tastes

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Growing up in Alsace I was introduced to Munster at an early age. I could not believe my luck when I found a very good one [...]...If it wasn't for health reasons I would order it on a regular basis. [...]

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

Hit or Miss

By pm cheese lover

from Denver, CO on 3/4/2007

Pros:

Creamy, Flavorful, Pungent, Stinky

Cons:

Overripe

Best Uses:

After Dinner, Hor d'oevre

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

I love this french munster. I had a great experience with it the first time I ordered it. It came up to temperature perfectly and had a strong flavor and slightly creamy texture. The second time I ordered this however, it was a slightly different transparency and I could not get it to come to temperture. It stayed hard and the full flavor was not recognized. I told [...] about it and they said it might be overripe? I am not sure if that was the problem, but they are sending me a new one. I will order it again, because I think it was a fluke.

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

Best value!

By Alex the foodlover

from Fruitland, ID on 2/23/2007

Pros:

Durable, Good Value, High Quality

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Munster d'Alsace:

Coming from Europe this is one of the cheeses I missed dearly in the U.S. Stinky smell, creamy texture and perfect with onions and/or caraway seeds on Bauernbrot. Thanks igourmet!!

Customer Reviews about the Munster d'Alsace at igourmet