Sour Beer Trending UP

Who eats BBQ with sauce?

 

Everybody except Texas.

It's a crutch, I know.

 

I beg to differ. Goose Islands sours are good but not in the same league as the best Americans or Belgians.. Rodenbach's 2008 Vintage is still the best I've had of the vintages and Flemish reds/browns. But it doesn't matter what other people think. If you enjoyed it that's the important thing.

 

I have spoken to many people who hated Salt Lick, but it's one of my favorite Jester King beers. It's so damn interesting.

 

Clearly not sophisticated enough...now adding your warheads to your beer...that is simply a sign of class and mystique.

 

but I hold my pinky up?

 

If it makes the mainstream consumer grimace when tasting it, like used to be the case with IPA's a decade ago, then it will be a winner among self-described beer geeks.

 

seems popular in portland. sometimes I'm amazed at how many people pack cascade. I know I'm hooked on the style.

 

I'm a big fan of them myself. I got a bunch in a trade, let my roommate taste an anchorage love buzz, he loved it. Before he moved in he steered clear of all beers, but as a frat guy his previous experience was pretty much just keystone light. Now he's annoyed I don't have any sours left in the apartment at the moment. Hoping to pick up a caractere rouge tomorrow, we might split it over thanksgiving. In the future I'll see what he thinks of BFM 225 or a Gueuze.

 

I'm wanting to say that a sour's flavor profile won't be too much different than some witbiers (which can be tart or sour-ish), but I could be wrong, seeing as how I've never had a sour.

 

Sours are my life. I just picked up a Friek from Odell and Lolita and Juliett from Goose Island today.
So good. So damn good.

 

You're very wrong.

 

Juliet is FAB. Try out a Tart of Darkness if you have access to beers from the Bruery. I've got half a case of Pentagram at home - hoarding my favorite so far! La Folie started it all for me... then came Schell's Star of the North. Then... I was an addict.

 

Absolutely true. I ave always been able to snag any IPA that has come out, even those not readily available to me. However sour beers have always been elusive, if not in availability, then in the price I would have to pay in order to obtain. My whales have always been sours.

 

Have you had any of Cascades sours? They do a really great line up of what they term Northwest sours they barrel age and sell online. They are pricey (20-35 dollars per bottle depending on the type) and are usually limited but a very good representation of the style IMO. Their Sang Noir is outstanding. Give them a try and it may change your mind on how well an American brewer is doing when it comes to sour beer.

 

I think there are a lot of really good sours out there. I haven't tried a bad one yet from Russian River and I hoard their Supplication and Consecration. I also enjoy several from the Bruery like SitR, ToD, and Oude Tart. Oh, I don't want to forget about Pentagram or Love Child either...

Then you move on to some of the Belgian breweries like Cantillon, which is a totally different ballgame. They're so refined, delicate, and complex - well, at least to me.

 

Most of the US breweries that have coolships were inspired directly by the designs of Cantillon, 3F, etc; they took the same exact idea and have used it to great effect. The unique microflora of each region will influence the tastes of the final product, but I feel that the OG Belgian brewers have mastered the art of blending which is where they get such great complexity from. Many US breweries aren't far behind though, but you can't expect they'd ever produce the exact same product as those open fermented in a different area.

 

Anyone recommended a very good sour that I can pick up or try to find in the tri state area ? I see bruery often but I keep hearing mixed reviews with there beers being infected ??

 

Their sours aren't the ones infected other than intentionally "infected" to be sour. I enjoy their sours quite a bit, but they are extremely sour. If you are the type to dive in head first, go grab a bottle of Sour in the Rye, Tart of Darkness, or Oude Tart. If you want to ease your way into it, grab something like Monks Cafe, Liefmans(sp?), or the Rodenbach Grand Cru.