What's a Good Sour?

1. Its a good question 2. Felt like a good thing to revisit since a lot has changed since the post. 3. BA decided to arbitrary make their members have X amount of post before being able to post on trade forums . 4. Felt like I could add something to the forum without just trying to inflate my post count.

And yes Russian River sours are some of the best ones out there!

 

As far as Gueuzes go, I think Cantillion Gueze 100% Lambic, Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille, Boon Oude Geuze, and Ville De Rivere Geuze from Rivertown Brewing Company in Cincinnati, OH are all pretty damn good. Out of those 4 the Ville De Rivere Geuze is probably my favorite, although I know there are more than a few people here on BA that hated that beer. Pricewise that one is also probably the best bang for your buck since it is produced domestically and is not an import like those other 3 are. Cantillion can be next to impossible to find in the U.S. depending on where you live. The area that I live in hardly ever gets stuff from them distributed here. As far as American Wild Ales go, Consecration, Supplication, and Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company are all fantastic. Sour In The Rye from The Bruery is also quite excellent, although albeit it a bit pricey even for the style, and La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin isn't shabby at all either.

Eric

 

If you can stomach sours, power to you, bro...

 

A good sour is like ****; I can't describe it, but I know it when I taste it.

 

Supplication is probably one of if not the best I've had personally.
For a go to on price and availability, Petrus Aged Pale and especially Hanssens Oude Gueuze.

 

Mix some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, cherry juice concentrate, seltzer.... and you have your world class sour. Make sure you have some Tums the next day. Especially if you had more than 16 ounces....

 

2009 Abyss.

 

LOADED QUESTION....Drops mic walks away.....

 

Sarsons.

 

Drink the Belgians and think about the fact that they're not take-the-enamel-off-your-teeth sour. The acidity is for complexity. Allagash is an eminent entry, among the Americans. I'm not saying they're not sour, just that, more isn't better. (Now, I know that most of the readers here just went, 'Nooo he DI'NT!!' I'm sure this is what people used to say about hops, too.)

 

Victory Sour Monkey
Pizza Boy Golden Sour
Anything from Wicked Weed come to mind

 

@trginter , you're in Michigan, get on that Jolly Pumpkin! Their Oro de Calabaza is one of my favorite beers. Also, some easy to find good wild/sours are:

Orval! Great rustic and fruity Brettanomyces character
Tilquin Geueze
Lindemans Cuvée Renee
Drie Fontenein Oude Geueze

 

These....................

 

To avoid the typical "Jesus Christ, yet another XXXXX thread this week" comment?

 

But no one came in asking this question again. Just someone answering it. Also, extremely extremely vague question.

 

Any from Russian River and Wicked Weed. And I do mean any.

 

Russian River was where the light went on for me. Consecration and Supplication are outstanding.

 

I am kind of indifferent to sours, but a buddy gave me a can of Westbrook sour. It was pretty beast; i couldn't knock it. I have no idea how it ranks among sours, but it was very approachable to the uninitiated.

 

it's been mentioned a few times already, but i have to give it a bump. rodenbach grand cru is as good to better than most of the hard to get trade sours on BA. if it is distributed where you live, just buy it and don't feel like you're missing out on much since RR/WW/SARA/Rare B etc stuff isn't sold in your area (and people require one of your organs to trade for it). seriously. the placebo influence of a hard to get beer is strong on this website. I have a HF prolegomena in my cellar, and i'm honestly scared to drink it since i feel there is a fair chance that the rodenbach bottle i bought down the street will be better lol.

i agree with many of the other posts. RR, almanac, HF, etc are all great. but check out Rodenbach. incredible.

 

Tliquin Oude Gueuze
Hannsens Oude Gueuze
I've enjoyed all the Prarie sours I've had (Gold, Brett C, Somewhere)
Any Goose Island sour
Rodenbach Grand Cru