Best/Most Cost Effective Sour Beer

I have always been a big fan of Jolly Pumpkin and their large format bottles that can be gotten for a little over $10. Split a few bottles with a buddy and you have yourself some $5-6 pours of world class wild fermented beer.

There is a reason that most wild or sour beers cost what they do.

The time to produce these beers is significantly more than the 1.5-3 weeks it takes to produce standard ale. Most always these beers sit for months on end in costly oak barrels and vats that, themselves require labor and resources to maintain and replace. Stainless steel conical tanks are a lot less labor intensive to maintain than pourous wooden vessels. In addition to the time needed for the bugs to do their work, quality control with such beers becomes more labor intensive as well. Blending to minimize variation from barrel to barrel also costs resources in the form of specialized personnel to perform these extra steps. These are just some of the reasons for their costs. I think most people that enjoy these beers don't mind shelling out the extra cash to get something special in their glass though.

 

Do you mean Rodenbach Grand Cru, or just plain Rodenbach? I think I would take Grand Cru over La Folie regardless of price... Can't say the same for their regular.

 

I'm on board with that, too. How much is La Folie, anyway? Somebody gave me a bottle once, so I don't know how much they go for. In any event, the one I had seemed to be lacking in finesse, although uncompromisingly sour.

 

Picked up a couple of La Folie for 8.50 a pc yesterday. That's solid. But, the trade extra supplication is the best bang for the buck Ive ever gotten.

 

Around here, it's $14 (compared to Grand Cru at $10). And it's been awhile, but last time I had La Folie I remember it being fairly to similar to what you described.

 

It is a schedule but its a mix of new beers and returning favorites which the beer vote helps determine. The only one that they made no promise to ever brew again was Iced Barleywine (says so on the bottle).

Actually while we are on the Subject contrary to what some believe their R&D beers (vsb,bb kriek) are actually research and development its not just a name. There is always a chance one of the R&D beers will turn into a production beer, much like BB kriek this year. I pray that VSB makes it to 4 packs in the next few years because all those people that sold their souls to get it will have done it all for a beer that will end up being sold for 10 bucks a 4 pack.

 

Rodenbach, Jolly Pumpkin, et al are good and reasonably priced. Monk's Cafe belongs in the mix too - certainly not top tier but pretty tasty and cheap.

 

Certainly.. I don't really pay much attention to what I buy based on priced, but as an observation, I find the Grand Cru to be just as tasty, if not more, than La Folie this year. If I can cut back a couple bucks a bottle, it's more tasty beer to enjoy.

 

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

 

This is very true, unless you live in WI (of all states) and have access to New Glarus beer. Wild Sour Ale was easy to obtain last year and one could stock up at around $60 a case. This year we get to enjoy Bourbon Barrel Kriek at that same price. Sours will be released annually now that Dan has the Wild Fruit Cave brewery to create his sours. My advice to those seeking sour beer is to Vacation to WI in late July.

 

No kidding right! we've got New Glarus, O'so/funk factory geuzeria, and Central Waters sours have been making tap appearances. It just keeps getting better and better.

Edit: I also saw Tyranena had some sours on tap when I stopped in the weekend of the great taste.

 

I was talking about Grand Cru. Never had the regular variety.

And part of the problem is that I have to buy it online, making the $10 shelf price more like $15 with shipping. But obviously the other pert of the problem is that I just prefer La Folie, even if they were the same price.

 

Winner!

 

To my mind, the best value in all Belgian beer, as the cheapest of the top-tier gueuzes -- but that's here in its local market. It seems to be tougher to find in the US and, where I have seen it on a shelf, more/just as expensive as Cantillon, Boon etc. Then again I'm not really looking, so reports from the field are welcome.

 

Came here to say this. About $21 for 4-pack here in SoCal and they're becoming more available as I'm seeing.

 

It's a bit one dimensional, but very sour for the style, Which seems to agree with many

 

Definitely Rodenbach Grand Cru - amazing beer.

 

Westbrook created an awesome entry-level sour - and just plain enjoyable beer, light, tart, salty. And it's in cans - perfect summer brew.

 

Sounds like I need to get my hands on some