Sours: Help for Noobs

Bruery Sour in the Rye turned me onto sours after I swore I'd never drink one. Of course, I also swore that I'd never pay $25 for a beer, and I've kept that promise. Rodenbach Grand Cru kept me interested in the style.

 

Cruised into SD late Friday night, snagged Pliny, Consecration, and Redemption the next morning at a well known (i.e., meaning not a shop where anything sought after tends to linger) bottle shop. Actually scoped out Pliny and Consecration elsewhere too but didn't need any more than I picked up at the first shop. Moral of the story: if you do your research, it ain't that hard to find whatever RR happens to be releasing to retailers at the time (I haven't seen Sanctification released in a month or two, for example).

I don't say this at all to shame, brother, only to encourage you to dig around a little. Use the search function (or site-specific Google searches) on BA to see if anyone has posted info about common RR spots in your area. Write the names of the shops down. See if they have Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram accounts (and whether they update them). If so, start following them. Check in daily (online) for a month or so to see what new arrivals they've posted. Learn which days RR tends to come in on. Learn whether they have limits. If they come in on a certain day, call the next morning to see if they're still there - this will start to give you an idea of how long you have before they get snapped up. When you go to the store, buy other stuff -- some stores can get a little territorial about their RR and want to make sure you're not just showing up for a bottle of Pliny "because, like, it's rated the top IPA in the world!"

I don't know where you live exactly, so no guarantees here, but my guess is that if you do that you'll be able to find some RR stuff without too much pain.

 

trust me, i'm trying.

 

Anyone have some suggestions, I've never had a sour before. Is there an "old standby" that's readily available nationwide?

 

Petrus aged Pale is great place to start widely available and in a 330ml bottle

 

Petrus Aged Pale is a nice beer to start with, so is Rodenbach. If you want to try something a little funky Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René. All are also reasonable priced, which is something you don't find too much with sours.

 

Since you both gave the same answer, I'm gonna go with the Petrus Aged Pale. Thanks a lot guys!

 

I'd also buy the Rodenbach Grand Cru if you can. It's fantastic and cheap for what you're getting.

 

Song of the south from lazy magnolia.

 

Duchesse De Bourgone

 

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, Rodenbach Grand Cru and Duchesse De Bourgogne

 

Also any of Jolly Pumpkin's Bam stuff

 

NB la folie.

 

I'll third Rodenbach Grand Cru.

 

tilquin oude gueze

 

This! Had it yesterday, it's easy to drink and not so complex that your palate is exhausted.

 

The thing about the Rodenbach Grand Cru and Tilquin Oude Gueuze is that if you start there, you will probably eventually end there as well.

 

Lindeman's Cuvée Rene is "entry level" without compromise!

 

That and monks cafe fore sure!

 

My wife is completely new to sours and she absolutely loved Peche N Brett (not really sour I guess)