Tell me if this has already been discussed at length in the forum, but what are BA's opinion on the Rankings for Sour Breweries. It doesn't have to be sour only breweries, just breweries that do sour's really well. For example The Bruery, obviously RR, Almanac is really up and coming, Cantillon (duh!). List away . . . or tell me how newbie I am that I didn't know about a thread on this from 3 years ago, hahaha Cheers BA!
My personal list would include: De Garde, Russian River, Jester King, Cascade, Block 15, Upright, Drie Fonteinen, Cantillon, Allagash, Lost Abbey, Logsdon Farms, Pizza Boy, and Sante Adairius. Also, Alpine should definitely get a shout out for Chez Monus alone. And although I haven't had the pleasure to drink any yet, there's also a lot of buzz around Side Project.
Allagash and RR are making some of the best sours in the country. I have yet to have the luxury to try any sours from any other United States brewery yet, so I'm sure there are some other guys that are up to par with Allagash and Russian River. Cantillon is better than RR and Allagash in my eyes when it comes to sours.
Cascade and Avery also make great sours...not sure I'd include Avery in a top five list, but Cascade is certainly up there. Just returned from the Cascade Tart Fruit Fest, and it was definitely worth a trip to Portland.
Belgian sours are far ahead of anything currently being made in the U.S. That's not meant as a putdown of U.S. brewers, but while I've had many tasty sour beers made here, they just don't compare to those made in Belgium. Drie Fonteinen, Cantillon, Girardin, Tilquin all make fine gueuzes and fruited lambics. Rodenbach does several excellent takes on the Flemish red. Go with these if you want some of the best.
Avery, Perennial, Crooked Stave, Jester King, Side Project, AC Golden, Sante Adairius, Russian River, Destihl, Hill Farmstead, JWB, Drie and Cantillon obviously. I had a baby diaper from Block 15 but people speak them up. I had a good experience with the Commons at GABF last year but I haven't had enough to say if they are consistent. Same goes for Hill Farmstead with me (haven't had that many sours from them, but the ones I had were rocking).
The best U.S. sour's, in my opinion, belong to the Southampton Publick House. Peconic County Reserve, Black Raspberry Lambic and Berliner Weisse all speak for themselves.
Interesting seeing people mention Avery, I hadn't thought about them at all. Their sours dont seem to make it to CA.
As soon as you try Cascade Bourbonic Plague, you will immediately place them near the top of the list. What a beer..
Jolly Pumpkin, Against the Grain and Upland are turning out great stuff. +1 for Destihl mentioned above. And as much as people biatch about them, Goose Island has some excellent sours (i'm looking at you lolita and madame rose) EDIT: add Prairie to the list too
I haven't met too many sours I didn't like, but then again I think I'm just drinking good sours. Logsdon Farms, Cascade, Upright, The Commons, Ale Apothecary, De Garde, Russian River
I was able to land a couple bottles of Odio Equum when it came out here in MO. If that is possible, I have to believe CA got a nice allotment.
This! Allthough I've just had Supplication from RR (superb and delicious!) and haven't had any from Hill Farmstead. Both are obviously high on my wish list. Just too bad they're not available over here. Also Cascade, The Bruery and Jolly Pumpkin come to mind, in addition to Block 15. And as the question does not go only for American brewers it's worth mentioning Haandbryggeriets excellent sours. Mikkeller has also made some nice brews. A lot of really nice, and sour, brett infused American brews though, and in particular Saisons/ Farmhouse Ales of course. Maybe not what OP had in mind?
I would say Cascade tops the list, but RR and CS are close behind. I mean if we are talking sours Cascade has sours and blending down to an art. Look forward to trying some Side Project in the future.
