I’m a lambic virgin

You should fuck a lambic

 

I'd second that, I love the stuff.

 

Is the Cuvee Rene the only one available in stores in your area? The big chains around me also carry the Boon line, so maybe see if you can go that way first.

Otherwise, yes, many of the ones mentioned in this thread are "shelf beers" for people in different regions- Tilquin, Hanssens, Oud Beersel, De Troch... You can probably work out a trade for stuff like that $4$ before getting into trading for more limited offerings.

These are not entry level beers, btw, they're the real thing .

 

Tilquin, as far as I know, is solely a blender, as well. Pierre does a fantastic job at it.

http://www.gueuzerietilquin.be/en/overview/overview/

 

Non-sweetened Lambics don't have to be expensive or difficult to acquire. Well, not prohibitively so at least. Boon Gueuze and both versions of Cuvèe Renè are both around (or under) $10 in most markets. Boon's Marriage Parfait is also in that ballpark. Hanssen's, Oud Beersel, Timmerman's, and Girardin vary a little, but should be around and won't cost more than a decent bottle of wine. Tilquin's slightly less common and potentially a little pricier, but is still likely under $35.
You don't really start encountering acquisition and/or price issues until you factor in Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, or some of the new blenders like Bokkereyder and Chat Rebelle. They're only a small portion of what's out there.