Sours: Help for Noobs

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BeerDummy, Apr 11, 2014.

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  1. Gunboat82

    Gunboat82 Zealot (546) Jul 3, 2012 Massachusetts
    Trader

    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.
     
    supernatural_skeptic likes this.
  2. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    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.
     
  3. elkabong

    elkabong Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2014 Wisconsin

    trust me, i'm trying.
     
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  4. tmbgnicu

    tmbgnicu Maven (1,280) Mar 15, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

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

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Petrus aged Pale is great place to start widely available and in a 330ml bottle
     
  6. larryi86

    larryi86 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,118) Apr 4, 2010 Delaware
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    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.
     
  7. tmbgnicu

    tmbgnicu Maven (1,280) Mar 15, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

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

    mrcraft Grand Pooh-Bah (3,396) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd also buy the Rodenbach Grand Cru if you can. It's fantastic and cheap for what you're getting.
     
  9. yankeej13

    yankeej13 Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2010 Florida

    Song of the south from lazy magnolia.
     
  10. Can-In-Hand

    Can-In-Hand Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2013 New Jersey

    Duchesse De Bourgone
     
  11. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, Rodenbach Grand Cru and Duchesse De Bourgogne
     
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  12. Can-In-Hand

    Can-In-Hand Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2013 New Jersey

    Also any of Jolly Pumpkin's Bam stuff
     
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  13. BullDoza

    BullDoza Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2014 Texas

    NB la folie.
     
    mudbug likes this.
  14. neurobot01

    neurobot01 Maven (1,289) Jan 25, 2014 Germany

    I'll third Rodenbach Grand Cru.
     
  15. AaronRodgersMVP12

    AaronRodgersMVP12 Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2013 Wisconsin

    tilquin oude gueze
     
    LambicPentameter, JBogan and TongoRad like this.
  16. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

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

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    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. :wink:
     
  18. Dan114

    Dan114 Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2013 Massachusetts

    Lindeman's Cuvée Rene is "entry level" without compromise!
     
    larryi86, TongoRad and beerhan like this.
  19. beerhan

    beerhan Savant (1,237) Apr 28, 2010 Ohio

    That and monks cafe fore sure!
     
    ufmj likes this.
  20. sukwonee

    sukwonee Initiate (0) Dec 13, 2011 Washington

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