Sours - where do I start?

lindemans cuvee rene

 

First sour I ever had was Liefmans Goudenband. 10 bucks for a 750. Never looked back after that.

 

Also looking to try some out...I just picked up a Sour in the Rye. Figured why not go for it.

 

I'd say a Flanders Red. Try this

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/641/1745

Duchesse

 

No idea. It was readily available when I lived in WI. Only sour I can find in MT is the previously mentioned Cuvee Rene. It's a good Gueuze but I would stay away from it at first. Warm up with some Flemish sours and work your way up. There's plenty of threads on here with good recommendations.

 

As a person new to sours myself, the one that did it for me was Rodenbach Classic (Red). I have also had Lindeman's Cuvee Rene, but that is a Geuze and nothing like the Rodenbach, which is a Flanders Red Ale. My local bartender and Stone representative both said that was where to begin, and she got it for me. Excellent!

 

lol, don't start with sour in the rye hahahaha. You're gonna die.

 

Duchesse is good. Cuvee De Jacobins if you can find it. Rodenbach Grand Cru is outstanding.

EDIT: If you want to pull the trigger on a Rodenbach Vintage I would highly recommend it.

 

I was in your same position not too long ago! I see you're listed as being from Massachusetts but you currently reside in Oklahoma? I believe Jolly Pumpkin is distributed there and it's definitely a gateway into sours. Duchesse de Bourgogne really didn't work for me when I started, so you might want to steer clear of that. Rodenbach is a great way in, as is Boon! Hanssens Oude Gueuze is a very solid Gueuze and a great representation of the style. Seek out a few different styles (saisons, flanders, lambics, gueuzes, wild ales, farmhouse ales, etc). If you can get some Russian River sours, do it!

I find it hard to get a really cheap and good tasting sour. It's a hard thing to master and they come at a price. It's not an entry level beer that you can grab for $2/bottle. Maybe jumping in head first is a good thing in this case!

Before you know it, you'll be trading away your first born for a one-off Cantillon

 

You should absolutely start with Rodenbach Grand Cru. Anyone who offers a different answer is flat out wrong.

 

Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48/10482) is a great Oude Bruin to start you off if you get it in your distro. It's a decent Flanders Oude Bruin that shouldn't cost too much and should give you an idea of what to expect from sour ales.

Edit: Personally I actually drank a lot of Lindeman's lambics when I was in college way back when. I wasn't even a BMC or craft drinker at the time, other than Baltimore's hometown favorite National Bohemian (aka Natty Bo) if you recognize my avatar... but some friends picked up a bottle and I was hooked. That's how last year, when I first started on BA and heard about sour ales.. that's how I knew I was gonna love 'em. So I could also suggest starting out with Lindeman's.

 

I would definitely say Rodenbach Grand Cru, Cuvee de Jacobins, or if possible RR Supplication.

 

The other two beers are Petrus Oud Bruin and Aged Pale, both of which are awesome (and personally I like both of them more than Monk's Cafe). $22 for two of each of those beers is a goodly amount less than you'd pay to buy them all individually - which is how most stores sell them - so it's actually a pretty good deal.

 

Ah its $3.50 for a 11.2oz bottle at my local store so that's why I suggested it. Plus I'm a Philly guy so I never pass the chance to talk up the actual Monk's Cafe