Wild Ale / Lambic Ale. Suggestions?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Akkveto09, Jul 30, 2014.

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  1. Akkveto09

    Akkveto09 Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2010 Illinois

    For a while now I've had a very narrow mind when it came to beer. I preferred hoppy beer and wouldn't purchase anything else... now I'm trying to go a different route. I've had some great BA beers recently but have never tried a wild ale / lambic before. I see these styles becoming more and more popular but I have no idea where to even begin. Out of curiosity, what would be a good introductory beer to search / trade for within these two styles? Any preferences?
    Thanks for the help!
     
    #1 Akkveto09, Jul 30, 2014
  2. HenryAdams

    HenryAdams Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2013 New York

    My $.02 is rather than going from extreme to extreme, try to grow your palate by drinking subtle--say, browns, ambers, German lagers. Once you actually can taste what makes a good pilsner good, your extreme beers will be really, really amazing, rather than just a muddle of intensity.

    But that's not what you asked...so, my intro to wild/lambics was the Lindeman's line (especially the Cuvee Renee geuze). It's a friendly approach to the style. I also really, really liked Boon's regular Geuze--the Marriage Parfait was too dry for me when I first tried it.

    I'd also say get your hands on a Rodenbach Grand Cru or Duchesse de Bourgogne. AWESOME red-brown/oud bruin styles. I see you're in Illinois: if you can get your hands on the New Glarus Oud Bruin, you should: another very approachable of the style. Jolly Pumpkin stuff is pretty widely available, and I think everything they do is a wild. It's on the pricey side, though, and I've always been a bit underwhelmed by their stuff for the cost. Others will disagree, though.

    Good luck, and have fun! Wilds are a trip!
     
    #2 HenryAdams, Jul 30, 2014
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  3. kevanb

    kevanb Pooh-Bah (2,705) Apr 4, 2011 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    RIP Wallet
     
    #3 kevanb, Jul 30, 2014
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  4. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What @HenryAdams said. Start with Lindeman's. They're overly sweet, and not particularly sour, but they're very approachable, and will give you an appreciation for the style, including a bit of funkiness. (Crap, after that stupid "Dank" thread, I'm not sure we can describe beer as "funky" anymore, since obviously it doesn't taste like a style of music that arose in the 1960s!)

    Also, they're pretty inexpensive for the style.

    For something more sour and less fruity, again, I second Rodenbach (anything by them). Very wine-like and sour, but not in a way that should be off-putting at all.

    Finally, you can try some Brett Saisons. The easy-drinking nature and balancing sweetness can make them pretty approachable. I wouldn't go straight to Fantome, mind. :wink:

    Cheers!
     
    #4 Roguer, Jul 30, 2014
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  5. Mshull

    Mshull Initiate (0) Mar 26, 2013 Ohio

    I was also mainly into IPAs for awhile and decided to trade for supplication since it's easy to trade for amd highly rated. I lived it from the first sip and have been into sours ever since. As far as lambics go it might be a good idea to start out with some fruit beers from new glarus
     
    #5 Mshull, Jul 30, 2014
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  6. BrahptimusPrime

    BrahptimusPrime Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2014 Connecticut

    Rodenbach Grand Cru is a very nice beer. I shared one at dinner and even my girlfriend and her friends liked it with no prior knowledge of "sour" beer existing.
     
    #6 BrahptimusPrime, Jul 30, 2014
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  7. Guzzle_McBrew

    Guzzle_McBrew Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2014 Connecticut

    Slow clap.
    You win BA today.
     
    #7 Guzzle_McBrew, Jul 30, 2014
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  8. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    As already noted, Lindeman's is a good starting place. But one cautionary note, if you don't want artificial sweetners in your beer just stick with the Cuvee Rene.
     
    #8 drtth, Jul 30, 2014
  9. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Goudenband.
    Also, Cuvee Rene requires a corkscrew. Boy did that rustle my jimmies.
     
    #9 jivex5k, Jul 30, 2014
  10. Guzzle_McBrew

    Guzzle_McBrew Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2014 Connecticut

    Check your local Wholefoods or bottleshop that gets Belgian imports for Oude Beersel or Tilquin Oude Gueze. Not necessarily available, but not ultra rare, these beers deliver the goods. Tilquin actually blends Cantillon Lambics in their guezes, you can't go wrong with them.

    Guezes are awesome because they are funky and tart but more balanced and less acidic than the American Wild Ales tend to be.
     
    #10 Guzzle_McBrew, Jul 30, 2014
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  11. HenryAdams

    HenryAdams Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2013 New York

    Oh, yeah, Tilquin! The first one I ever had was AMAZING! A wonderful, long dry toasty aftertaste that complemented the funky sour.... I've haven't yet had another Tilquin that tasted the same, but I'll keep trying!
     
    #11 HenryAdams, Jul 30, 2014
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  12. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Upland Sour Reserve. start donating body fluids now.
     
    #12 spicoli00, Jul 30, 2014
  13. leroybrown10

    leroybrown10 Pooh-Bah (2,416) Jan 26, 2008 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Definitely agree with Tilquin and I'll add Hanssens Oude Gueuze as well. Coin flip as to which one I like more.
     
    #13 leroybrown10, Jul 30, 2014
  14. JdoubleA

    JdoubleA Pundit (903) Apr 27, 2011 North Carolina

    Wicked Weed Serenity
    Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse
    New Belgium Tart Lychee
     
    #14 JdoubleA, Jul 30, 2014
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  15. NCMonte

    NCMonte Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2014 North Carolina

    Proceed with caution, Sour's aren't for everyone. So far with my friends it is running right at 60% - 40% like/love Sours to hate sours.
     
    #15 NCMonte, Jul 30, 2014
  16. Idrankitall

    Idrankitall Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2013 California

    Sours and Wild Ales are terrible, you don't want them. Just send them to me and I will drink them for you. I'm just a nice guy like that.
     
    #16 Idrankitall, Jul 30, 2014
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  17. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Good introductory? Um..yeah...no... That's like recommending he try Lou Pepe.
     
    #17 jivex5k, Jul 30, 2014
  18. BrahptimusPrime

    BrahptimusPrime Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2014 Connecticut

    You're probably sick of Russian River too, so go ahead and send me all of them while you drink his. Help me, help you.
     
    #18 BrahptimusPrime, Jul 30, 2014
  19. cyrushire

    cyrushire Initiate (0) May 25, 2012 Florida

    Tilquin was probably the first I really enjoyed. I wasted money on quite a few before I came to understand the style. It was only a waste because of my lack of understanding, not because the beers were actually bad.
     
    #19 cyrushire, Jul 30, 2014
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  20. BogBoyJD

    BogBoyJD Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2012 Ireland
    Trader

    Start at the top, Cantillon Classic Gueuze all the way !
     
    #20 BogBoyJD, Jul 30, 2014
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