Epic Sour Tasting -> Tips?

I have never been to a tasting but from the usual things i see on these threads ill go ahead and say lots of water and unsalted crackers or just little food like that to cleanse the palate

 

#1: Define "rather epic."
#2: Tums
#3: Bread
#4: Stinky washed-rind cheeses
#5: Paté de Campagne + assorted charcuterie
#6: More Tums
#7: Enjoy!

 

I'd say the first thing you need to do is invite me, and I'll take care of it...

 

Sounds about right, except I'd say "Man up and skip the tums". I love bread and cheese, with or without beer, and with beer it makes doing pairings fun and bread is a great palate cleanser. Depending on how long it lasts you might want more substantial food, if my tastings go through a meal I always make plans to have something. It's grilling season, although I'm not sure if that would go great with sours.

 

^^Can i come?

 

Good palate cleansers are nuts, dried fruit and grapes as well as a nice baguette. Cheese as a companion as you drink the beer.

 

water and bread, enjoy the tasting ,

 

Drink Mother Funker and Red Poppy last. Drink the Belgians first. Eat a ton of bread and cheese. Maybe steam some mussels midway through the tasting.

 

Tom,

You do have some nice beers there, but try to have some palate cleansers. Bread, water, **some will say cheese* *some will not** <-Due to the oils/fats may change flavors. I always say cheese. Have some candied walnuts around. Try to split up styles. Do a saison, then a sour, maybe add another style in there to really keep palate guessing.

Or say F it and just drink and enjoy.

Cheers!

 

What? No Blabaer?

 

I just landed one for the sour tasting/bachelor party in Jun we're having for my best friend. I would say our list is truly 'epic', but like many others, despise the word.

My vote is for bread and cheeses. I work for a chocolate company, so dark chocolates will be included in my tasting.

 

You cannot possibly have too much bread for this event. I also sometimes like a non-water option for hydrating and additional palate cleanser. Something very mild and/or watered down (and PH neutral) yet sweet.

 

These are some of my "go-to" easy pairings, but I think they will work pretty well with your list:
Cheese; creamy and stinky will probably go better with sours
Cured meats (usually hard salami, but fatty meats go well with sours)
Bread, sometimes herbed and with olive oil
Chocolate (usually dark)
Hummus (with pitas and vegetables)
Guacamole and chips
Walnuts and honey

All of these would take the edge off the acidity. It depends on how involved you want to get. Also, you might want to have more vegan or vegetarian options depending on your guests.

 

Looks like a great lineup but I would take these non-sour beers off the list:

Fantome Saison, Saison Dupont, Cigar City Guava Grove Saison, Brasserie Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux

 

You're going to want something in between those beers. The flavors will eventually start to overflow into each other from beer to beer. Their distinction will get lost. Thats actually the best time to go through small extras you got in trade or something. IPAs, stouts, whatever. Bland crackers and bread don't really work for me in big sour tastings. Even some seltzer is good to kickstart the palate. I would save your tastebuds and sobriety for the Beatification, Cantillon, and Mimosa.

 

Pair with milk. You'll need a good base to offset all of those acids.

 

Lol at #2 and I agree on #1. Nothing get's my heartburn up like sours do. Especially Cuvee Rene 3F Gueze.