Looking for recommendations on sours...

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by zac16125, Aug 4, 2012.

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  1. zac16125

    zac16125 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,432) Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm looking for recommendations for easily obtainable/shelf sours. I just recently starting dabbling with the sour genre of beers, and so far my experience has been limited but I have absolutely loved what I have tried (favorite has probably been Petrus Aged Pale b/c it was the most sour, but have also recently tried Hansens Oud Gueuze and Girardin Black label and thoroughly enjoyed both). Prior to that, I had tried a number of Wild Ales and Saison and have generally felt the sour the better when it comes to those styles. So I'm hoping people with experience in sours can give me some advice as to which ones to look for. Again, I'm looking for relatively obtainable offerings, in terms of availability and to a lesser extent price, although I'd prefer not to drop $30 on a bomber. I'm located in SC, so distribution wise that automatically eliminates some of the big players including Cantilon. Thanks in advance for the help.
     
    #1 zac16125, Aug 4, 2012
  2. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    petrus aged pale
    cuvee de jacobins
    cuvee renee
     
    #2 gatornation, Aug 4, 2012
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  3. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Rodenbach Grand Cru. Should be able to find it for $9.99 or less per 750 ml bottle. Awesome stuff.
     
    #3 ShanePB, Aug 4, 2012
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  4. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Brouwerij Oud Beersel seems to have pretty wide distribution. Check them out if you can.
     
    #4 Bitterbill, Aug 4, 2012
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  5. Jfriz25

    Jfriz25 Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2012 Wisconsin

    Lips of faith La Folie is pretty good
     
    #5 Jfriz25, Aug 4, 2012
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  6. zac16125

    zac16125 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,432) Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know my local bottle shop has both Cuvée Rene and Rodenbacm Grand Cru. Maybe those will be my next two. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the others. Any thoughts on differences between different styles of sours (Gueuze vs Flanders Red vs others)
     
    #6 zac16125, Aug 4, 2012
  7. philly224

    philly224 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2011 Pennsylvania

    That and Jolly Pumpkin La Roja are my go to easy to find sours. Both are great.
     
    #7 philly224, Aug 4, 2012
  8. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I think on a very high level, you'll find Flanders Red with some fruity characteristics to them (black cherries, red currants, etc.), while Gueuze tends to have some more earthy, barnyard like sour qualities.
     
    #8 ShanePB, Aug 4, 2012
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  9. kbuzz

    kbuzz Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2011 North Carolina

    Gonna second shelf JPs...easy to obtain and super tasty.
     
    #9 kbuzz, Aug 4, 2012
  10. genuinedisciple

    genuinedisciple Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2010 Michigan

    JP - La Roja, maricabo especial, sobrehumano (limited)
    Rodenbach Grand Cru
    Petrus
    La Folie

    *this is my "normal" lineup of sours.
     
    #10 genuinedisciple, Aug 6, 2012
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  11. mtlasley

    mtlasley Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2012 Illinois

    I've got to join with everyone else here. The easiest to find (and I'd wager to be the most accessible) sours are hands down;

    Petrus Aged Pale
    Rodenbach Grand Cru
    Jolly Pumpkin La Roja
    New Belgium La Folie.

    Get ready for a delicious but expensive world my friend.
     
    #11 mtlasley, Aug 6, 2012
  12. genuinedisciple

    genuinedisciple Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2010 Michigan

    And Abyss 2009...I couldn't help meself.
     
    #12 genuinedisciple, Aug 6, 2012
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  13. rfbenavi80

    rfbenavi80 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Missouri

    Russian River Supplication and Consecration aren't too hard to find and are wonderful. I love the vinous aspect of both of them. Very unique beers.
     
    #13 rfbenavi80, Aug 6, 2012
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  14. Keffa

    Keffa Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2009 Ohio

    He said he lives in SC, RR doesn't distribute there, so they are not shelf beers there.

    Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze is fantastic and should be able to be found fairly easily and for under 15 bucks a 750. I think I paid 13.99 for my last bottle of it. Rodenbach Grand Cru is quite good, you should be able to find Goudenband and/or Cuvee Brut from Liefmans, which are both good and cheap (stay away from the Fruitesse, it's artificially sweetened. The aforementioned New Belgium La Folie is a great beer. Their Le Terroir, IMPO, was better, but it hasn't been around for some time now.

    BTW, your wallet is going to hate you in the long run, they are pricey compared to most everything else.
     
    #14 Keffa, Aug 6, 2012
  15. rfbenavi80

    rfbenavi80 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Missouri


    I know he lives in SC, what I was saying is those 2 beers are easily attainable through a trade. Assuming somebody don't try to price gouge for the RR beers. And yes......you are right about your wallet hating you. It can get pricy.
     
    #15 rfbenavi80, Aug 6, 2012
  16. azorie

    azorie Pooh-Bah (2,471) Mar 18, 2006 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    Duchessee De Bourgogne, its a Flanders red ale, but some call it a brown ale, lol. its a sour really.
     
    #16 azorie, Aug 6, 2012
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  17. dsal89

    dsal89 Initiate (0) Jul 6, 2008 Indiana

    Also with Jolly Pumpkin. Try their madrugada obscura. One of my favorite beers
     
    #17 dsal89, Aug 6, 2012
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  18. ncphinsfan13

    ncphinsfan13 Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2012 North Carolina

    All the stuff from Oud Beersel I have had was great (kriek, geuze, framboise)...pricey though. Also Tilquin and St. Louis Geuze (funky stuff) are nice. Love me some sours.
     
    #18 ncphinsfan13, Aug 6, 2012
  19. sarcastro

    sarcastro Savant (1,133) Sep 20, 2006 Michigan

    Maybe specify "through a trade" next time. When people are asking for stuff they can easily obtain in the "Beer Talk" forum, they are probably not talking about trading, unless they specify trading.
     
    #19 sarcastro, Aug 6, 2012
  20. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    I can see you like super sourness, so I will say Hanssens Experimental Raspberry. Its worth a shot since its the most sour beer ive ever had. I think the newest shipment got here in the past month or two (first time Ive seen it since I bought out Sams Quik Shop last year), and it doesnt fly off the shelf.

    Oud Beersel Oud Gueuze is worth a try as well.

    Ill second the above recommendations for Jolly Pumpkin. La Roja is sour. Surprisingly, Calabaza de Noel is still floating around here in NC, and was surprisingly funky and sour when I had it in like February or March.
     
    #20 VncentLIFE, Aug 6, 2012
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