I guess I'm newer to anything involved with tasting Tart or Sour Beers. Only really had Duchesse, Red Poppy, And some stuff from Russian River (spoiled, I know). But I can't seem to just walk into a bottle shop or bevmo and grab something knowing it were An American Wild, they often seem to have interesting titles and don't describe the beer. However I did just grab Rodenbach Grand Cru fairly easy. Just wondering if you guys can name some American Wild Ales that one could find rather easily? Probably has been a thread before, but I just do not know the names of some decent ones on the market, help!
Assuming the OP is really just interested in American Wilds and not Belgians, I would think you'd want to try: Cascade - We don't get a lot of the more rare ones here, but of the most readily available, my favorite is Sang Noir the The Vine. All of them are very good though. Jolly Pumpkin - Someone mention La Roja above, which is a great suggestion but they make other wilds as well. Both should be available in California. Plus you may be able to get Upright (never had them myself).
It's not American, but Liefman's Goudenband is also up there and shouldn't be that hard to get hold of.
I really like Petrus Aged Pale. Not really an Oud Bruin or Flanders Red but brewed in the same way with a lighter Malt bill. I dig the heck out of it and for $3-4 per bottle it's a relative bargain.
Yes if you can get JP they are fantastic, just dont expect them to be super sour though. Except the La Roja, which Ive actually never had.... I forgot about the Petrus and yes it is very good. Its definitely good and sour too....
Cuvée des jacobins and rodenbach grand cru are going to get the easiest and best tasting options. Petrus, duchesse, and old monks are subpar compared to them IMO.
Jacobins and oude tart, while very good, are not really easy to find. If you live in a select market, they may be. Similarly, you can get duchesse, which isn't nearly as good, really easily around me, but no jacobins or oude tart.
If you have the opportunity, I would search out a bottle of Upland Brewing Gilgamesh. It is one of my favorite Flanders style beers. Plus the aging in barrels previously used to age beer adds a little something something. Also, if you want to expand the American Wild Ale category, the Goose Island Juliet, Lolita, and Madame Rose are exceptional if you like a little tart, fruit flavor.
For Flanders ales, Rodenbach Grand Cru (Red) and Liefmans Goudenband (Bruin) are the standard bearers. Easily available, reasonably priced. Drink them. "Buuut Nate...Rodenbach suxxx compared to Cascade. Dat sour!!1!" Irrelevant. If you haven't had these two beers, you can't claim to know anything about these styles.
I had Weizen Bam, Autumn Fire, and La Roja all in the same night... actually, back to back. Both tasted relatively flavorless next to La Roja. I can still find 2011 bottles of La Roja. It's a no brainer for a good pre-aged beer.
