Need help exploring Wild Ales

Chances are that you'll have access to Orval and Goose Island Sofie. They both age beautifully, and you may even luck into finding some 'vintage' bottles on the shelf.

 

Not sure if they'll fit all of your parameters, but maybe check out some brews from Bearded Iris and Blackberry Hill Farm, both in Tennessee, and both make wilds.

 

If you get any Odell, Friek would be a good choice. Now only in 12 ounce bottles and right at that price point. Good luck!

 

I think you should be looking for göses

 

I only recently got into sour/wild ales and lucky for me, a brewery one state away started distributing here, with a drop of new sours (and IPAs) every month. Drekker isn't available there, but I have to suspect that there are several similar breweries who distribute in your area. You'll probably find a local brewery or two that specialize in sours.

 

Although now owned by In-Bev--Wicked Weed sours might make it your way and are solid.

 

You can probably find Jolly Pumpkin beers https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/9897/, but most (maybe all) will be a bit over your price limit because their sours are barrel aged. But you get bigger bottles with most of them. (Kettle sours are less expensive to brew, so they are more easily found.) (Most but not all JP beers are sours, so read the label to be sure.)

Sours with fruit are easier for the newbie drinker of sour beers to handle, so look for those. Also, look for beers that are in the German Berliner Weisse style.

Also, look at the Wild/Sour beers on this page. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/styles/ Click on each and read the descriptions to determine the tastes you might experience. Barnyard, wet horse blanket, wet dog, etc. aren't palatable with some folks at the beginning, so a little caution to you. When you click on each style you will also get a list of the most popular beers in each style, so check out which ones you've seen at your local store.

P.S. Welcome to the BA site.

 

May I suggest an ipa?. Or lagunitas sucks!.

 

That's helpful.

 

My bad! Check out destihl

 

Definitely look for Sofie. A very good beer at a very reasonable price.
Also check out Holy Gose from Anderson Valley & El Gose from Avery

 

He wears socks with sandals so take it as you will.

Since you can get lindemans I would go with the cuvée Rene. Should be able to get a bottle In. The $8 area. Not a wild ale but in the same range I think.



Enjoy

 

Dude, I'm in the PNW, and guys wearing long pants, wool socks, and sandals is a real thing. Multiple times a day.

 

Sorry to hear that, at least it’s not shorts and a parka with them.

Enjoy

 

Oh! That is not unique, but certainly less common.

 

Lindemans Cuvée Rene and Kriek Cuvée Rene. Hard to beat for the money.

 

Turn around.... go back...... danger...... it starts here and then a year later you find yourself rationalizing buying 25 dollar bottles of beer. Well that is my sour beer story; your experience may vary. As others have mentioned the Cuvee Rene is a solid choice and as good as more expensive lambics in my opinion. You may be able to to find the Boon lambics around your price point as well. As for more expensive offerings that may be available near you... I was able to find some Jester King beers when I was in Louisiana over the summer. They make some very interesting wild ales. Don't say I didn't warn you.... I got a summer job (I am a teacher) to pay for my wild ale habit.

 

@Robjack, if you purchase some Sofie and have the patience to cellar beer I would recommend that you save a few bottles for drinking later (e.g., a year old from bottling). Sofie will develop funky flavors with bottle aging.

You can read more here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-637.509212/#post-5430997

Cheers!