First sour?

Rodenbach Grand Cru for the money you can't go wrong

 

Try this thread (and the "Search" feature...): http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/sours-for-beginners-help-me-out.114649/

I've found that certain fruit beers (Dogfish Head Festina Peche, for example) are a good starting point, as are most Berlinerweisses in general...

Cheers,
Brian

PS: It's worth mentioning that "Sour" isn't a style, technically, although the term gets tossed around a lot as if it is. The aforementioned Berlinerweiss is one sour style, but others include: Flanders Red Ale or Oud Bruin, Gueuze, Lambic, and the somewhat catch-all American Wild... not to mention any number of styles that brewers inoculate (sometimes unintentionally ) with a variety of bacterial strains which can lead to sour/tart flavors.

 

Squatter's Fifth Element. I LOVED it.

 

Weyerbacher Riserva. I was spoiled... and I've been waiting for a new installment ever since.

 

Petrus Oud Bruin or Aged Pale aren't bad starters.

 

Duchesse de Bourgogne

Aside from that, maybe a berliner weisse would help ease you into it. Maybe Professor Fritz Briem 1809.

 

Yeah I always point people to Petrus as the "gateway sour".

Another one to ease you in would be Lolita from Goose Island. Then you'll be ready for the crazy stuff. Pucker up!

 

*disclaimer- I've given sours several tries, and decided it's not for me.

I've had a few that were WAY over the top. The only one I didn't mind was a raspberry cantillion. I think the fruit offset the sourness of it all.... so any brew that has a flavoring that offsets sourness might be a good place to start.

 

just want to say I agree fully with the Petrus suggestions, very good starter sours that arent too crazy. If you like the style, then definitely check out some stuff from The Bruery (Sour in the Rye, Oude Tart), Goose Island and Russian River (if possible).

 

Supplication. incredible brew, and you could probably trade for one pretty easily

 

True that got mine at Costco on the cheap and was pleasantly surprised.

 

Monks Cafe is a decent starter sour too that wont make you pucker up or lose your enamel but will give you a nice taste for sure

 

as others have stated great starters and easy to find
Petrus Aged Pale
Cuvee Renee

 

I feel Rodenbach Classic, Monks Cafe, and Dogfish Festina Peche are a good place to start. They're not overly sour and they're easy on the wallet. I would love to try some of the other sours everyone talks about but still being somewhat new to craft beer in general it's hard to justify the price.

 

Since you're in NC, try to grab a Westbrook Gose. I've found that several people I know who aren't even into craft beer enjoy that style.

Also, a sour beer addiction is very expensive. Maybe just stay away as long as you can.

 

I'd recommend something from Jolly Pumpkin - great starting point I'd say - perhaps Oro De Calabaza, which is delicious.

 

My first sour was oude gueuze from 3F. I wasn't sure what to expect. I absolutely loved it. Now I've been buying sours and trying new ones. Bruery rueuze is also very good. Also as mentioned before, it is not good on the wallet.

 

I'm not (currently at least) into sours but I recently had Alvinne Wild West and it was quite interesting. Tart and sharp, don't know if this would make a good beginner sour.. I would drink it again though.