Sources of Sourness

A good indication is brewpubs, like go to a rock bottom, try all the beers, I guarantee they will all be decent ecept for the 1 or 2 lagers that are ridden with diacetyl.

 

have you had Consecration, Supplication, La Roja, or any of the other big American Wild Ales?

Theres some local breweries in NC that make some fine lagers in their own right. I can think of a Czech Pilsner from Bull City Burger and Brewery and the Amber Lager from Red Oak. Bell's Consecrator, Mother Earth Dark Cloud Munich Dunkel, or Smuttynose Maibock. All of these are excellent (or at least pretty good) lagers. From different regions of the US. The craft beer scene in the US is aimed more at ales than lagers. Germans drink their Pilseners and Dunkels where most american take an ale. That doesnt mean we dont make good lagers, it just means that less are made.

 

Not really as its hard to know what you tasted. Have you read Randy's book? Tasting beer?

When you say sour, you know this style is lightly hopped and is malt forward in a light sort of way, right? ie read the style guideline. Still how the German's make it and American's make it is usually night and day, and it most likely not a true Helles beer, its very common in the states for brewers to screw up and/or decide to customize a beer.

So if it was sour its was most likely contaminated.

 

I havent even gotten into all the styles. I left out Kolsch because im not a huge fan. Big Boss in Raleigh makes Angry Angel, Mother Earth Weeping Willow is another fine example.

 

I have had all of those you can check my ratings to see how they did.

Smuttynose Maibock was a trainwreck, had it the other day. One question have you had a proper maibock? Then you would know. There are also a ton of breweries in the us that obviously suck at making lagers. It is a matter of opinion, but when you break down the brewing process most us brewers cut corners at some point when making a lager.

 

Dude, you are dumb. Not all American lagers are perfect such a generalization is ignorant. Have you have Victory, Stoudts, Sly Fox, or Penn Brewing? Or hell, Sam Adams Boston Lager? Please stop trolling you look dumb

 

I have, but I have also had MORE that were bad. It isn't trolling. Some people just cant take it and have to get their panties in a bunch.

 

Primator is about the best Ive had.

 

Lagers can taste a bit "sour" when they're old and skunky. It could be an infection, but two different beers from the same brewery from the same store makes me think it was old stock.

For the record, there are some fantastic world class lagers brewed in America. Great Lakes, Victory, Sam Adams, etc all make beers that can stand toe to toe with any imported Lager.

 

I know were on the same side, but on average, German lagers are better. No standard year round American Dunkel compares to Warsteiner. Now Americans do make better Pilsners.

That does not make ours bad, just not as good as Germans.

 

I agree with that, but I don't think there's any magic to it. I just don't think many American breweries bother with lagers. The new Jack's Abby brewery in MA is making some of the best lagers I've ever tasted (very creative too). They're not lifelong trained German apprentices - just some local dudes who decided to start brewing lagers last year.

 

And i love that. America really needs to step up their lager producing. A local brewer said Americans, on average, dont as well with pale lagers as they should.

 

Meh Primator isn't that great imo. Some truly great ones include Hofbraeu and Hacker-Pschorr.

 

the funny thing is warsteiner is absolutely low-tier German stuff, though it is a solid beer.

 

We dont get a huge allotment of German stuff, I drink what I can.