Best/Most Cost Effective Sour Beer

Distributed only in Wisconsin, New Glarus puts out series of one-offs, the Thumbprint Series, which is typically in 4 x 12s. I see these packaged for 11-12 bucks. The series (and it's predecessor one-off series, Unplugged) has included several sour batches over the years, including Sour Browns, Enigma, Berliner Weisse, and Apple Ale. TI think most lovers of sours would find their line worth trading for, with the caveat that their sour fruit beers (Apple Ale, Raspberry Tart, Belgian Red, Serendipity), which go for about 8-9 bucks per 750, get knocked by some for being too sweet, but I really admire the boldness of the fruit flavor they get in those things.

 

If I could get Wild Sour or Westbrook Gose year round, then I would not be in this conversation

OP, I had much the same problem as you recently...Looking for a sour beer that hit all of these points:

1. Always available locally
2. Priced under $5 per bottle
3. Had to be around 12oz/bottle

My answer? Cuvée des Jacobins. Not the most complex beer in the world, but extremely tasty, enjoyable, hits the sour spot for me, and always available here. I would check it out (Seekabrew does not seem to be updated much for NY, if that is where you are), and even if you cant buy them locally, they would be easy as pie to trade for (and I would be happy to to help out if that is needed).

Hope that helps!

 

Liefman's Cuvee Brut Kriek is fantastic. $10.00 a BMR is very reasonable for this gem.
Cuvee Rene Gueuze would be a close second.

 

Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge is definitely my go-to where I work (Minneapolis) as its almost always available on draft at 1 of the 3-4 bars I frequent. However, not even remotely distributed where I live (North Carolina), so usually end up with La Folie, which is on tap at my local beer store at the moment.

 

Petrus Aged Pale is pure sour, the others are blended with sweet young beers, so aren't quite as good in my opinion. It's $4 a 11.2 or $8 a 750 and a great deal.

The Girardin Black label was $12 a 375 last I saw around here. It was tasty. Festina Peche is usually discounted at TW around here for $8 a 4pk.

The Blue Sunday from New Holland is pretty tasty and under $8 for whatever their bottle size is. Bigger than 12, smaller than 22.

 

Agreed, I'd go Rodenbach or Cuvée des Jacobins, but no love for Monk's?

 

Around here it is Lost Nation Gose. $4/pint at the brewery or $10/growler.

 

I just picked up the NG berliner weiss last night, it's absolutely fantastic @ $9.79 a 4 pack.

 

For me the cheapest method of buying a Sour is on tap. Everything else I try is $12-$15 per bomber. I'm lucky in that one of the nations better Sour Beer brewery's is here in Asheville, Wicked Weed. mmmm... They bottle but sadly they self distribute which means you can't get the stuff much of anyplace else. Hopefully this will change now that they're expanding into a new complex to brew nothing but their sours.

 

Focusing on the "cost effective" aspect of this thread, I found Rodenbach at my local Whole Foods on sale last month for $6.69/bottle. Bought six bottles and got a 10% discount on the sale price for a net per bottle price of $6.02/bottle (before sales tax).

 

What are peoples thoughts on AVBC Kimmie Gose? Took a 6er home last night, and thought it was really nice. Granted, Its probably the 2nd or 3rd Gose I have ever had. Fairly inexpensive at around 10-11 a 6pk

Can anyone compare it to the Westbrook?