Sours: Where to Start?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Michigan, Feb 20, 2013.

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  1. Michigan

    Michigan Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Michigan

    I have explored most facets of the beer world but I'm struggling to find my way into sours. Where do I start? I've had Duchesse De Bourgogne (did not like at all!) and a sip of HF Arthur (liked A LOT!) The only thing sold around me is that Lindemans Kool-aid stuff. Maybe it's out there but I don't know what to look for.

    GUIDE ME BA!!

    feel free to send free Cantillon (I hear it's good)
     
  2. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Do they have Lindemans Cuvee Rene where you are also? It's a legit gueuze and quite good. Not their typical sugary "beer" stuff.

    Anything by Boon is worth trying. Not sure what you have access to there.

    With sours, I think you just have to dive right in and keep trying things. I hated my first Cantillon. Now I love them; even visited the brewery.
     
    Revenant likes this.
  3. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,502) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Petrus aged Pale
     
  4. caskstrength

    caskstrength Zealot (705) Nov 26, 2008 Minnesota

    Rodenbach Grand Cru
    Lindeman's Cuvee Rene

    both pretty easy to find, not too expensive, and a nice introduction to 2 of the best "sour" styles. (flanders/bruin and gueuze, respectively)
     
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  5. Michigan

    Michigan Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Michigan

    Cool! I do have access to Boon and Rodenbach. I guess I'll have to begin the discovery process! Now what do I look for? I guess I don't understand the distinction between Farmhouse ale, Wild Ale, Saison, Lambic, Gueuze, Flanders, etc... Time to experiment!
     
  6. Lare453

    Lare453 Pooh-Bah (2,822) Feb 1, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Russian river shelf sours if you can trade for em.
     
  7. TooToasty

    TooToasty Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2013 Illinois

    I don't know if I had an old bottle but Cuvee Rene was by far the worst gueuze I'v had to date. I believe my first was Hanssens Oude Gueuze and I was instantly hooked. It's easy to find (for me at least) and relatively cheap when it comes to sours. A somewhat more mild introduction would be anything by Jolly Pumpkin as well, especially since I assume you live in Michigan.
     
  8. chanokokoro

    chanokokoro Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 Illinois

    Since you're in Michigan, some of Jolly Pumpkin brews are a good place to start especially La Roja which is similar to a Flanders Red and is a good drinkable sour especially for someone newer to sour styles. Goose Island's three sisters (Lolita, Juliet, & Madame Rose), and if you're willing to order online I highly recommend ordering directly from Cascade Brewing in Portland. Cascade brews some exceptional sours, some of the best the U.S. has to offer. Also, there are several places online that ship Russian River sours as well if you can catch them when they are in stock.
     
  9. cmmcdonn

    cmmcdonn Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2009 Virginia

    I wish I could like this twice. It's great having a sour at my disposal at any given moment.
     
  10. Michigan

    Michigan Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Michigan

    Jolly Pumpkin is overly accessible here. I need to fight my way through the countless bottles of it to get to the stuff I like. Come to think of it, I guess I've accidentally accumulated bottles of sours without realizing it. Do all sours (or none) cellar well?
     
  11. Mediczod

    Mediczod Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2012 New York

    I just don't get sours. I've had 3-4 different ones and they just taste like bad vinegar to me, but I've never cared for anything sour. Maybe my taste buds are just wired differently than others.
     
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  12. chanokokoro

    chanokokoro Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 Illinois

    Farmhouse ales and saisons are similar, however they aren't sours. American Wild Ale (AWA) is a catch-all style and each brew may or may not be a sour. However, AWA's are brewed using "Belgian-inspired" techinques that result in brews that display characteristics such as funkiness and/or sourness, etc. Lambics are sour ales brewed in the Senne valley of Belgium. Gueuzes are blends of younger and older lambics. Flanders brews are sour red/brown ales that evolved from porters and and were first brewed in West Flanders, Belgium.
     
  13. Michigan

    Michigan Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Michigan

    THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Thank You! You get a gold star. I'd give you two, but I'm trading the other one for a Rare...
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. chanokokoro

    chanokokoro Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 Illinois

    Do all sours cellar well? Depends on what characteristics you're looking for. Some fruit lambics may become more sour as they are aged, however the fruit may fade over time. Apricot and raspberry, for example tend to fade more quickly while cherries (such as those found in krieks) tend to have much more staying power. Grapes seem to hang around for awhile as well. Lambics and gueuze that have no added fruit consistently cellar very well.
     
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  15. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    If what you didn't like about the Duchesse was its sweetness in conjunction with the tartness, and how they seem to come from different directions, then you will love the Rodenbach. It doesn't have that left-field sugary quality, and all of the flavors/qualities are well-integrated. It's an amazing beer, especially for the price/availability.

    Another one to consider id Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge (around $20 a four-pack)- it's a bit richer and fuller than Rodenbach Grand Cru, with a touch less of that sour edge. Definitely on the same level, though- just a slightly different approach.
     
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  16. tommyz

    tommyz Initiate (0) May 28, 2007 Michigan

    Rodenbach Grand Cru is amazing..Just drank one the other night...If you are in Michigan, Grand Cru and Jolly Pumpking are all around..Jolly Pumpkin is Amazing imo..Most of their stuff..Noel de Calabaza is still readily available..I LOVE that beer
     
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  17. rgilbert

    rgilbert Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2010 New Jersey

    I'll second Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
     
  18. djrn2

    djrn2 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,308) Nov 4, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Oud beersel
     
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  19. Andygirl

    Andygirl Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 Michigan

    Another vote for Rodenbach. Also, if you really get in to it there is a beer store right outside Toledo called Marino's that gets some oddball stuff I can't ever find anywhere in SE MI.
     
  20. Brunite

    Brunite Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Illinois

    And a third. Great stuff.
     
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