Best Sour Program, State by State

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by gillagorilla, Jan 25, 2014.

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  1. gillagorilla

    gillagorilla Pooh-Bah (2,691) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    I figured I would put a spin on @GreesyFizeek 's Best Barrel Program, State by State thread by asking about sours.

    Going by my home state, MD, this thread might be a lot shorter and will probably highlight those states without sour programs or with minimal ones. To my knowledge looking through each of the MD breweries' pages here on BA, I found a few but they all had minimal reviews. We had more berliner weisse's and a gose or two, but nothing bottled. There are a was a wild or two and a few flanders (red and brown).

    I think this state has only had two bottled sours, Evolution's Nouveau Rouge (the first) and Burley Oak's upcoming Ich Bin Ein (a sour aged on peaches). I have a bottle of NR and will be picking up some IBE at the upcoming release party.

    So, how is your state's sour program?

    p.s. If your state doesn't have a sour program, do you get decent sour distribution at least?
     
    #1 gillagorilla, Jan 25, 2014
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  2. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    It might be tough to come to a consensus on Portland (Upright, The Commons, Cascade), let alone Oregon (De Garde, Block 15, Logsdons)...
     
    #2 digita7693, Jan 25, 2014
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  3. chuckv

    chuckv Initiate (0) Apr 19, 2013 Pennsylvania

    There is a new brewery up and coming outside of pittsburgh that has 2 really good sours that I've had at a beer fest few weeks ago. Cellar door brewing
     
    #3 chuckv, Jan 25, 2014
  4. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm thinking the best representation of NC is Wicked Weed (won a gold medal at GABF for an American Sour).
     
    #4 dbrauneis, Jan 25, 2014
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  5. abb610

    abb610 Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2010 North Carolina

    While wicked weed is truly focussing on sours and thier HUGE program, they are not the mouth puckering sours I prefer. Greenman however has done funk 49, maceo, and snozzberries. All of which have given me the sour punch I look for.
    This message will self destruct in 5 seconds (or at least before they release maceo again so I can score some of that super limited supply).
     
    #5 abb610, Jan 25, 2014
  6. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    1a Jolly Pumpkin
    1b The Livery
    1c Brewery Vivant
    2. Bell's (on the strength of Wild One/Raspberry Wild One alone)
    256. Dark Horse (Too much bad for the good to overcome.)

    There are a few more out there doing sours on a small scale, my access to those have been limited however. Outside of JP, distribution of is nearly non-existent.
     
    #6 kzoobrew, Jan 25, 2014
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  7. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    IN: Upland with sun king right behind.
     
    #7 spicoli00, Jan 25, 2014
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  8. jbaker67

    jbaker67 Pooh-Bah (2,035) Jul 1, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    PA: Pizza Boy
     
    #8 jbaker67, Jan 25, 2014
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  9. jwat

    jwat Maven (1,278) Jan 19, 2012 Pennsylvania

    In PA Weyerbacher does some really solid sours (Sour Black, Riserva), as does Selin's Grove (Phoenix Kriek, Framboise.) Overall, I'd agree with Pizza Boy, though if La Cabra were a full-scale brewery I'd go with them
     
    #9 jwat, Jan 25, 2014
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  10. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    With about 160 breweries in the state, that last on is harsh, but about right at the same time.
    Arbor has made some very good sours and wilds, but they have the limited production and distribution you talk of.
     
    #10 hopfenunmaltz, Jan 25, 2014
  11. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    I have had the opportunity to have a few from Arbor, they slipped my mind when I posted. I am generally not a huge fan of Arbor's standard line up but their sours are fairly impressive. I am not sure I would put them at the top but they would fall near the top of the second tier.
     
    #11 kzoobrew, Jan 25, 2014
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  12. Devman171

    Devman171 Pooh-Bah (1,874) May 16, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would say the some of Stillwater's BA saisons were on the sour side, Burley Oak might turn into MD's best brewery, they just need better/cheaper bottling
     
    #12 Devman171, Jan 25, 2014
  13. Hendrick24

    Hendrick24 Pooh-Bah (1,949) Sep 6, 2013 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    For WI, New Glarus is miles ahead of everyone else at the moment. VSB, Wild Sour, Berliner, R&D Sour, Cranbic, all the fruit beers, and the new sour brewery expansion they are building will only solidify their position.
     
    #13 Hendrick24, Jan 25, 2014
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  14. rundownhouse

    rundownhouse Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2005 Tennessee

    TN: Yazoo. Even with limited competition, it's not a victory by default. They're doing really tasty stuff.
     
    #14 rundownhouse, Jan 25, 2014
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  15. Agnazub

    Agnazub Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2013 Massachusetts

    MA: Night Shift
     
    #15 Agnazub, Jan 25, 2014
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  16. readyski

    readyski Pooh-Bah (1,557) Jun 4, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Kind of embarrased in CA, but there is only room for one in Best. Russian River.
     
    #16 readyski, Jan 25, 2014
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  17. deadonhisfeet

    deadonhisfeet Pooh-Bah (2,481) Apr 23, 2011 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    The self-appointed Kentucky rep here. I'm not aware of too many Kentucky sours, but I nominate Against the Grain. They have only produced a few so far (Golden Sower, Scorched Monk, Chris Framboise, and Five Roses) but seem to be off to a decent start.
     
    #17 deadonhisfeet, Jan 25, 2014
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  18. Dupage25

    Dupage25 Savant (1,044) Jul 4, 2013 Antarctica

    Jolly Pumpkin is quite enjoyable.
     
    #18 Dupage25, Jan 25, 2014
  19. cjoc83

    cjoc83 Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I think Bullfrog in Williamsport deserves a mention along with Pizza Boy for best sour programs in PA. They out out some terrific (and highly coveted) sours. Tired Hands has put out some interesting sours recently as well, and they seem to brew a nice, tart Berliner every couple months or so.

    Edit: And as far as distro from other breweries, the Philly market gets a nice allotment of Russian River sours that are never too hard to find.
     
    #19 cjoc83, Jan 25, 2014
  20. rmaste6282

    rmaste6282 Zealot (740) Apr 30, 2009 California

    We've got a few in CA
    Russian River
    The Bruery
    Sante Adairius
    Lost Abbey
    Almanac

    I would take Cable Car, CCK, Cask 200, and Beatification over any other states sours.
     
    #20 rmaste6282, Jan 25, 2014
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