Starter Sour

Russian River Temptation.

 

That's not cheap...$12-15 for a 375ml...

 

not sure if you get these, but check out great divide colette and tommyknockers saison. a six pack of each is usually cheaper than the single offerings from other breweries, and each is a good sour in it's own right it seems, colette being on the funky side and tk saison being more on the vinegar side of things.

 

True, but I haven't yet had another sour for half the price that's even nearly half as good. Done well, I think this is generally just an expensive style to get into.

Haven't had Rodenbach Grand Cru yet but that's around $9 for a 750.

 

The first one I actually bought (as opposed to trying at beer tastings) was this: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48/10482

I thought it was a great starter sour and was like $3.49 for the bottle

 

wow, places must either mark up the shit out of that beer or they don't have it priced right.

Rodenbach Grand Cru is good but the Classic is also very tasty and a bit less tart which would be better for somebody looking to get into sours.

Russian River Sanctiication is good as well as the sourness is quite manageable.

 

Lost Abbey Red Poppy, RR Consecration, and Cascade Blueberry are the three that really got me hooked on sours. Then I made the fatal mistake of introducing my girlfriend to sours and my bank account has hated me ever since then. Cuvee Des Jacobins is an outstanding Flanders Red but I think it's almost impossible to come by, we had it on tap the other night, if you ever see it don't hesitate on pulling the trigger.

 

Rodenbach grand cru, NB la folie and la roja by jolly pumpkin.

 

I'm new to sours but my favorite so far is RR Supplication. I also had GI Juliet yesterday for the first time and thought it was good. Don't think they are on the cheap end. But from the way it sounds most sours aren't.

 

interesting that no one has mentioned Blue Sunday Sour

I agree that the Duchesse is a good starter

Let's also not forget Liefman's Goudenband (sour brown intro) or Liefmans's Cuvee Brut (fruity sour intro); they are also pretty affordable

 

I'm surprised I have not seen Monk's Cafe listed on here. It's like $10 for a four pack, which is a steal in the sour world.

 

also forgot to mention Vergaeghe Echt Kriekenbier... I tell the women it is like sour cherry soda... and it is still one of my fav every day krieks (but $18/4-pk)

Bocker Cuvee de Jacobins Rouge is very similar to the Echt Kriekenbier

 

Please stay away from these..... I imagine they turn more people OFF sour beers than on...

Duchesse de Bourgogne
Monk's Cafe

Yuck, yuck, and more yuck. There are plenty of reasonably priced Flanders Reds/Browns that are MUCH better IMO.

 

Yep. Years ago my first introductions to sours were Duchesse and Monk's Cafe. They completely turned me off of sours for quite a while. Now it's one of my favorite styles, and I still can't stand either of those.

La Folie, Petrus, Jolly Pumpkin beers, Lost Abbey and Russian River beers would be some good starters.

 

There's a reason nobody has mentioned it yet...

 

Blue Sunday is really expensive, which would be my guess why. I've never seen it for less than $20, and I don't think it's as solid as a lot of the others listed previously.

 

$12-$14 on the shelves in NC when you could find it

 

Bellegems Bruin
lindemans Cuvee Rene