Starter Sour

For a Flanders Red - Duchesse de Bourgogne, Cuvee de Ranke
Gueuze - Boon Gueuze or Lindemans Cuvee Rene
Fruitier - Aecht Kriekenbier or Kasteel Rouge

Sorry I went all Belgian, For American:
New Belgium Tart Lychee (La Folie is $15/22 oz bottle--too much for me) or RR Consecration/Sacntification. $10 per bottle isnt bad for as good as they are.

 

One of the ones I started with was New Belgium La Folie.

 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/718/2184

I now buy one of these every time I get beer.

 

Do yourself and your bank account a favor. NEVER try a sour/wild ale. Trust me. You can thank me later.

 

Great starter sour, very approachable.

I would also recommend 1809:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23495/36378

Very tasty, reasonably priced, and pretty widely available.

 

Bell's Oarsman - cheap and delicious

 

I started off liking the Flanders Red style first. I think the sweetness in them is very approachable. The Duchesse de Bourgogne was the beer that really turned me on to sours, and it is pretty easy to find! I'd start with that.

 

Some great beers have been mentioned. I think they have most of them covered that I can think of. The cheapest you'll find most sours is about $5 for a 12 oz portion. Some like Petrus Aged Pale might be around $4 and sometimes Rodenbach Grand Cru 750's can be found for about $9, however, this is not a game for those with a thin wallet.

Other good values are often found in 375ml bottles like Lindemann Cuvee Rene ($6), Oud Beersel (not that great, but generally cheap), Boon Oude Gueuze ($7), etc.

 

Wild ales are sometimes sour; however the two you mentioned are not. Maybe a little brett funk, but no real sour. Most sours are sold in the single bottle format and range from $6-20$. Id start with the cheap ones because price does not always mean quality. My favorite sour to this day is still the Duchesse ($6).

 

see I would argue with this. Oud Beersel is just insanely sour, even by gueuze standards. Cantillon Classic is more approachable for someone like me. Girardin was even more sour and acidic. St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition is another cheap and decent one.

 

This is a really good recommendation. Cost effective way to satisfy a sour craving.

 

For additional excellent American sours, I don't think you can go wrong with anything from Cascade in Portland, OR. If I am not mistaken, NY is one of the few eastern states where they distribute. Their usual bottled offerings are $18-22 for a 750mL locally.

 

Boon Gueuze, Rodenbach, Duchesse de Bourgogne can all be had fairly cheaply and are still some of my favorite beers.

 

Cantillon is a better gueuze than Oud Beersel for sure, but it's almost impossible to find and 375ml in the Philly market are often $13-17 retail. ~$30 for 750mls. Girardin is great, but again $12-14 here in Philly.

St. Louis Fond Tradtion is a great recommendation. There is variation from bottle to bottle, I've had some that were stellar and others that were insipid. 375's usually run for about $7 when I see them

 

Their Kriek has been on shelves down here at this one store for what seems like a year. so has Hanssens Oud Gueuze and Experimental Raspberry/Cassis (OP avoid those; theyre the most sour drinks on the planet).

 

One place by me sells Rodenbach Grand Cru 750ml for $5.99.
Beyond that, the cheapest options will be whatever your place has in stock. Look out for any Gueuzes, you might find fond tradition, cuvee Rene, haansens oude gueuze, or girardin. Try whatever you can find, but like many have said, don't go crazy looking for things or you will end up spending a lot.

 

Often vinegar or lemon juice sour.