Question for Sour Lovers out there

Cantillon
New Belgium
Russian River
Allagash
Tilquin
Hanssens
Goose Island
3 Fontainen
Lost Abbey
Bruery
Cascade
O'dell
Crooked Stave

 

Cascade does some incredible stuff, and it really is a crime that they don't get the same attention as Russian River. Vlad's expensive, but I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Then again, I'll happily continue to order anything I want from Cascade with ease and not have to deal with a s---show.

 

To the OP, you probably have trouble searching on these terms. They refer to Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen.

Also, in case nobody else mentioned it, Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L'Ancienne is a great sour, and available in California.

 

You started with Ghoulschip? Color me jealous!

 

Madame Rose and Petrus aged pale are my shelf sours.

DC/NoVa is not the place to be if you're a sour hunter.

 

Yeah, I was sure that was wrong. Never trust t9!

 

Buy a plane ticket, come to Denver, take a cab to Crooked Stave, plant your duff on chair and drink your way through Chad's tap list. Chances are you will find something good, something you dislike, something similar to the beers you named, and something that will blow your mind.

 

I have had a similar question, I had monk's Cafe Flemish sour ale and didnt care for it at all. Would I like any of the aboved mentioned sours, are they vastly different?

 

There are two major sour flavors you will get in beer - acetic acid and lactic acid. Acetic tastes like vinegar, lactic tastes like lemons. The beer you mentioned is more acetic. I would try beers that people describe as having a more lactic acid flavor. Try Lindeman's Gueuze Cuvee Rene - it's easy to find, relatively cheap, and solid.

Everyone that is wondering if they like sours should try a couple Flanders Red and Bruin Ales (tend to be more acetic) and a couple Gueuzes (tend to be more lactic). They will give you an idea of both sides of the spectrum and what you might like or dislike. There are obviously other sour styles, but these are two classic examples that are quite dissimilar. Another style I'd recommend is Berliner Weisse, but there aren't very many good examples of the style that are widely available.

 

This is very helpful, took some notes, thank you.

 

It's 1809. Proffessor Fritz Breim Berliner brewed at Weihenstephaner.

 

I had some New Belgium La Folie at the brewery last week. It's delicious. Anything from Russian River is great also.

 

I have to chime in. There are so many fantastic sours out there. If you want really sour, yet really well balanced with fruitiness, go with duchesse de Bourgogne. If you want just fantastic tartness yet drinkable, have a petrus aged pale ale. For a little more body a balsamic flavor try the Oude bruin. If you really love the funk, also known as horse blanket, try boon Oude geuze. Many more available but those are great starters.

 

Great thread....
I need some recommendations for more Tart than sour with some funk that's NOT cherry or cranberry.
Some entry suggestions as well a some top shelf rare and hard to find.
Tomorrow I will be at the Mecca of these styles. I don't want a pricey vintage bottle share to be wasted on me..
I already found out Cantillon Kriek (on tap) is not appreciated by me... The Justin Blabaer was great.
Its a pricey style to experiment with.

 

I'm no a fan of the traditional Flanders Reds, too sweet and vinegar forward, not tart enough for my liking. So I'm not a fan of the Duchesse. Bacchus & Panil Barriquee are comparable, & I like better.

 

all depends on what type of sour you like. I suggest Cuvee des Jacobins or Geuze Tilquin for anyone just getting into sours. They both shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

Since we are asking questions of sour lover.

What prescription strength antacids do you use? Pepcid has lost too many battles vs. Cantillon and 3F that I must request a stronger reinforcement...