Are Sours almost all the same?

When I lived in Boulder, I would walk over to Avery for sours as they used to come out with amazingly complex and different sours, probably still do. Mostly working with brettanomyces and lactobaccillus "spelling" some were tart and bitter, some sweet, some dry, some funky as hell, others tasted more like carbonated chamomile and "wet horse blanket" haha. Not all were great, but some were. Anyways to compare these offerings with many of their classic European counterparts would be like saying an American West Coast IPA is like a an English IPA. Similar ingredients, with possibilities of vast differences in flavors. Sours are meant to go freaking wild and crazy and that leads to many surprises for the palate.

 

Until your sour taste buds are mature, you may be overwhelmed by the bugs
Suggest you try different styles (oud bruin, flanders, gueuze, amer wild) to feel the bigger differences

 

Try a Lindeman's Kriek, a Cantillon Kriek, a Duchess de Bourgogne, and a Bockor Cuvee de Jacobins and write back. I'm not being a smart ass, but this is a fairly simple exercise. Also, if you like Rodenbach, figure out why.

 

That's like asking, "Are women almost all the same?"

In which my best answer is: "Yes and No?"

 

And herein lies my problem, when 'sours' get discussed like it is a single style...

 

Well all sour beers are beers.

 

No. There are a number of sour styles, and even within the styles they will be different just as with other styles. They will all be at least somewhat "sour" though. So if you don't like that characteristic, they might all have a similar characteristic in common that you don't like.

 

Go to Cascade Barrel House in Portland. Try all 16 or so that they have on tap. You won't think any of them taste the same.

 

This is very accurate, and also a FTFY for even more accuracy.

 

That joke is too subtle for me. DO NOT APPRECIATE.

 

Not sure if joking/sarcastic (internets, you know) but I'm pretty sure at least 3 of those already exist....(maybe all 4 - sour lager?)

 

Sour Lagers do, in fact, exist.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26520/112653/

 

After reading through the first page I was thinking the exact same thing as @cestlavie. The Almanac sours they've been releasing lately have all been variations on the "dogpatch". They nailed a really solid house culture that churns out very tart, fruity beers in a small amount of time, allowing them to make way more bottles than breweries attempting to use the traditional wild method. I would never complain about what they do because they are all very good, but to compare their beers to Cantillon, Allagash coolships, or any other complex and well balanced sour beers from the guys like RR, JK, (Modern Times I've heard?) would be foolish

 

This man (or woman) speaks the truth

 

Did not know those existed already...
Stoked to try and find them now!

 

they all taste the same unless you are a hipster

 

I see what you've reviewed thus far so anyone on this site can say you have zero credibility on the subject.

 

ouch..don't tell my boss please. my sour knowledge is what keeps me employed and in with the cool kids.