Fear of developing a taste for sours

I'm not sure if many people count goses and sours but I do. Anderson Valley has a gose and blood orange gose that's about $9 around here. Sixpoint is coming out with one as well and it should be reasonably priced for a six pack.

Outside of that all sours I see fall in line with what you said. A tad bit expensive.

 

They are all pretty outrageous compared to most styles. I have found some decently price sours from small, local breweries, but I can't recall ever buying anything for less than $8 or $9 for a 500ml bottle. The work, and sometimes luck, that goes into producing a decent sour style is what you're paying for. They take a lot of space, time, and trial and error to get right.

 

The good ones are pricy for sure. As mentioned Westbrook Gose, which you should get in NY satisfies my needs, at least during the warmer months. I can't get into Gose very much during the cold months.

 

Almanac makes some pretty great stuff. Dive into their lineup and you can thank me later.

 

Rodenbach Grand Cru is pretty reasonable, as is Duchess de Bourgogne.

 

It's a slippery slippery slope

 

Victory Kirsch Gose is pretty reasonable at $8 a 4 pak. Just found my wife's niche in beer. Sours are it. I do agree they can be expensive, payed $34 for Pizza Boy Golden Sour and $28 for Bruery Tarte of Darkness. EvilTwin Bikini Sour is available in NY and not crazy in price. Westbrook Gose, Westbrook Mission Gose and Anderson Valley Gose are all pretty solid too. Looking forward to Sixpoint myself

 

Anderson Valley makes very nice Gose beers and at a very good price as others have mentioned.

 

Don't fear the taste for sours, just beware the price: When your wife, S.O. or other close associate sees that damned receipt from the local packie...

 

Try to find a good Berliner weiss. They can be very reasonably priced and still deliver a nice refreshing sour/tart punch.

 

Man, I'm not even married but I know better than to accept a receipt after these purchases. I'd be inclined to kick my own ass after some of the larger purchases I've made.

 

It's really a matter of whether or not you enjoy the style enough to spend the money. It's a very expensive style to produce (at least in the US), but it's a style I love, so of course I pay the price. I can't afford to drink it every day or have anything rare but on very special occasions, but I think it's worth the price.

I'd also recommend trying authentic Belgian sours such as Rodenbach Grand Cru, Duchesse De Bourgogne, Monk's Cafe, Girardin Black Label, Lindeman's Cuvee Rene, anything Drie Fonteinen, Oude Beersel, Tilquin, St. Louis Gueze or Kriek, Boon Oude Gueze. They tend to be reasonably priced (compared to American Wilds), although some can get pricey (some places jack up rarer sours, like Drie Fonteinen and Cantillon)

 

I do like a good sour ale, but fortunately I've never gotten hooked, because @Mbennett is right, they seem to run very pricey for their low abv... Crooked Stave puts out some great shit, never mind the Cantillon and stuff, and they all seem to carry a big price sticker

 

I love sours. However, I do not have them as often as stouts and IPAs. When I see a good sour I always pick it up as I know I don't drink as many as compared to the other styles. I would say most of my sour consumption is at the end of tasting session. Great night cap imo. I wouldn't let it hold you back.

 

The US pricing is mainly due to the fact they are new to the game (although some are unreasonable). The Belgian producers have largely had the same set up for decades, have used the same barrels for a very long time, etc. It's still new in the US and breweries have to build completely separate areas, operations, barrel rooms, etc. They are buying new barrels, experimenting more, and since they haven't 'dialed it in', also end up dumping more.

As for the Belgians, they are expensive in the US due mainly to importers. Back in the day Cantillon ran for under $15 a 750, and even the rare stuff rarely was more than $20-$25 a bottle. Distributors and stores have since jacked up the price due to demand. In Belgium, lambic is generally fairly cheap.

 

I am with you. I have developed a taste for sours. Keep looking and you can find a few for less than 10. In boston I could get Rodenbach grand cru for a little under 9. Gose and Berliner's can satisfy the desire until you can get a good one.

 

You're lucky to find a decent 750mL sour for much less than $20, usually $16+ dollars. I save them for special occasions, such as any excuse I can find to indulge.

 

I could easily have gotten hooked on Cantillon when it was available in the area, but knew better. $15 a bottle in the old days was a bargain considering the prices they fetch now.

That same $15 can score you fresh New Glarus four-packs when they release them (and hey are worth seeking out.)