New to sours

Some intro sours that I usually recommend that should be easier to find would be Rodenbach grand cru, liefmans gouldenband, or petrus aged pale....

Global also has a variety 6pk due out next week called "sour power" which has 2 each of petrus aged pale, aged bruin and monks cafe that you may want to pick up.

 

Cantillon is now almost impossible to find, but you can still get Hanssens and Drie Fonteinen Kriek, Lambic, and Gueuze and it's just as good if not better IMHO. You can't get it "everywhere" but it can be found at many of the beer stores around here that cater to the craft beer consumer.

 

In addition to those above, here are a couple I'd recommend (that I think you can find in MA):

• Most things from Jolly Pumpkin: two favorites of mine are La Roja and Luciernaga
• Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge

 

i would strongly suggest the jacobins over the monk's.

 

Tried a couple last night you might like. I believe I saw both when I visited MA this past week.

Flanders Fred: A recently released collaboration between Hair of the Dog and De Proef. Only a few reviews on it so far - I took a risk and loved it. They tweaked the recipe to HotD Fred and then blended it with lambic.

Duchessic: Another blend. This time it's Cantillon lambic with the Italian saison.

You won't find em everywhere, but I wouldn't expect them to be flying off the shelves (like Cantillon's.)

 

Where did you spot the Duchessic? (others may chime in as well)

OP: Add the St Louis Gueueuueuze Fond Tradition and Lindeman's Geueueuze Cuvee Rene to these recommendations. The Cisco Woods series has some tasty sour beers, but I'd rather buy the JP beers for a few bucks less. Also keep an eye on the tap list at CBC for sour beers--they're generally very good, but on-premises only.

 

The sours from Oud Beersel are also really nice and very affordable. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/828. Check out Timmerman's as well. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/828

 

I'm pretty sure I saw it at Granite Liquors in Weymouth. Saw 3F vintage and a bunch of other nice bottles.

John the beer guy there (long beard) is a great resource for recommendations.

 

Start with the belgian classics and work from there.

Rodenbach (regular grand cru ect)
Gouldenband.
Orval (not sour but funky with Brett)

All are very available and relatively cheap.

 

I liked Night Shift's Somer Weisse although I've heard lots of complaints about it being over priced.

 

Only if you get one with some age on it.

 

I'm a big fan of Cascade and their sour ales. You can almost always find the Kriek and most likely
will see various years on the shelf. I think a lot of people shy away from it
because of its price point.

For a more affordable sour I was at liquor world in porter the other week ad they had the larger bottles of the
Boon Gueze for 10 dollars. It's no Cantillon but it's a damn good beer and for 11 bucks it's worth
grabbing a few to cellar for years.

 

Lots of Duchessic on the shelves in Maine... its one of my favorites !

Also just hitting Maine from V&D is the Vicaris Triple w/ Gueuze.

 

Had Cisco's Lady of the Woods last night. Pretty tart, a good bit of funk, but overall, nothing too extreme. Would definitely recommend for someone new to sours.

 

DFH Festina Peche was my gateway sour.

 

Years ago I had a Duchesse De Bourgogne on a crisp fall day while watching the some Sunday football... I continued this pattern every week with that beer and then sought out other flemish reds eventually ending up with a Cantillon in my hand on Christmas !

 

Has anybody seen the sour power 6 pack? I just saw it for 24$ per six and was curious what it was going for elsewhere.

 

$23 at Craft Beer Cellar.

Not wanting to plunk that much down, I asked them for a good "starter sour". Ended up picking out Duchesse de Bourgogne, which I enjoyed. Monk's Cafe was also recommended as a good starter, and it's cheaper than Duchesse.