Best/Most Cost Effective Sour Beer

For me it would be Petrus Aged Red. It doesn't have the best rating on BA (84) but me and my friends really liked it. For $4.99/12 oz., I find it tough to beat based on the wide distribution. And it's 8.5% ABV, so that's neat.

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I have heard that Bell's Oarsman Ale is supposed to be great for the money, though I've never had it. But yes, I totally agree that sours have quite the sticker shock. If you can find them in 4 packs, which are a bit more economical than bombers, I would recommend Petrus Red as mentioned above, Duchesse de Bourgogne, Cuvee de Jacobins, and Rodenbach Grand Cru (I think that one's bomber-only, but not too pricey). In general, flemish reds/browns are cheaper than lambics. On the subject of lambics, Lindemans' lambics are pretty decent for the price.

 

petrus Aged Pale
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Cuvee Rene

 

I would say something from New Belgium or Rodenbach.

 

Grab some Rodenbach's for under $10 a bottle and go to town on them.

 

I almost suggested some La Folie.. but honestly.. it's a $14 dollar bomber. It's not better or worse than the Grand Cru from Rodenbach for $4 less, and 3 more ounces.

 

Yah I guess I just like the taste and $4 isn't gonna kill me. I'd rather pay a few more bucks and drink something I like a little better but yah Rodenbach is hard to beat for the price.

 

Duchesse De Bourgogne about $20 a 4 pack or $5 a bottle for smalls, $10-$12 for a 750ml

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Petrus Aged Red 9.99 per 750ml...Oarsman is not very sour, it's more like a smooth white wine. Plus low ABV since it's a Berliner Weisse.

 

Westbrook gose $12 per six pack

 

Gueuze - Cuvee Rene
Flemish - Rodenbach

 

Yeah Bell's Oarsman isn't really a sour. They use a sour mash, not souring bacteria, and the end result is pretty mild (though it does work well on a hot summer day).

 

If only they distributed here, I would be all over that.

And yeah, Oarsman never tasted sour to me.

 

Dogfish Head Festina Peche is a 10 buck four pack, sits around forever, is universally available, and is quite good.

 

+1 for Petrus Aged Pale!

 

Stick with the Belgian ones listed above, as far as availability/price... If you want a balanced sour, not a stomach acid bomb. And when you drink sour beers... They should not be like a DIPA (hops)... Balance of the blend or lacto development is what separates the best from the others... Too many of them try to pack as much lacto as possible into the bottle... Not as good, IMO.

 

Agreed with previous posters, Cuvee Rene can't be beat for the price.

 

Cuvée des Jacobins is the correct answer.

 

Has it returned to form? The bottles I remember from 2008,9,10 were great, and then the next couple years turned... It became too over the top peach, and not enough lacto to balance it, IMO.