I am interested in sours/wild ales. I have never had one and I am curious. The discovery aspect is what I have come to love most about craft in the year and a half I've been into it. The closest I've gotten to the funky side of things is probably Boulevard Saison Brett and I absolutely loved that brew. I'm looking for some help finding some decent sours/wild ales to introduce me to the style AND that are easily obtained without trading (I have not the deep pockets nor the cellar to hunt whales). BA Ratings give an idea of what is good, but not availability (I know well enough that Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen are beyond my reach). And, I don't even know if "easily obtained" and "decent" go together when it comes to sours/wild ales/lambics/oud bruins. I'm out in the SW Chicago burbs to give an idea of the distribution area I'm in. I'm not necessarily looking for the best or anything, just what you all would recommend to someone new. And if I shouldn't bother if I can't get the top notch brews, please say so. Cheers!
Saison Brett, while not really a sour or wild, is excellent and a great start. I would recommend any of the New Belgium Lips of Faith sours. They are world class in my opinion but very approachable.
Liefmans Cuvée Brut. NB Lips of Faith sours. Especially Tart Lychee. Go to a bottle share. Take something dope and I'm sure someone will take a sour you can try in a small sample. Or trade 3Floyds for RR Sours easily
Rodenbach, Duchess De Bourgogne, Petrus, Lindman's Cuvee Rene are all easy to find in my area. I like all of them, and they won't kill the bank account.
I'd suggest Monk's Cafe to anyone looking for a springboard. Definitely not the best by any means, but it will give you a decent idea of what a sour can lead to.
GI Juliet, Lolita, Madame Rose Tilquin Oude Gueuze is excellent and generally much easier to find than Cantillon/3F Lindeman's Cuvee Rene if you want a solid, easy to find and relatively cheap gueuze to try the style.
I'm not into sours, but enjoy drinking Monks Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. Also, Dissident wasn't so bad for a starter.
Wow, thanks for the responses. I really appreciate it. You've given me a great start. Keep em coming! And, Tut2528 I don't know if you were aware but we have mutual acquaintances in Sleuthdog and WoodJJacct. They are the reason craft became a hobby for me instead of a passing curiosity.
Start out simple. Should be able to find this at any Binnys location near you: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23495/36378
I don't know specifically what beers are distributed in your area, but I would recommend flemish reds. They're on the lighter side of sours I think. Previously I didn't like sours at all, but I do like flemish reds and I think they're helping me develope a taste and appreciate sours more. Edit: replace all "flemish" with "Flanders". Stupid phone! Lol
I Agree with djaeon. Your local Two Brothers Askew is a good example. Find a CO trader and get Consecration, Supplication, The Meddler, Friek, la Folie, and Le Terroir. I wish I had this box on the way to me right now. Juliet is good but the GI sours are over priced. Geueze are too much funk for me at this point in my craft career. I just get burning tires and dirt, which I have yet to find enjoyable. My favorite Brett is Boulevard Saison-Brett. And a nice easy to find Brett is Green Flash Rayon Vert.
One of the first sours that got me going was this little guy after my fiancé snagged a bottle at our favorite bottle shop for me to buy it for her. Pretty tasty, should be relatively easy to find (it's always on the shelf here).
La Roja - Jolly Pumpkin Cuvee De Tomme - Lost Abbey Oude Tart - The Bruery Rueuze - The Bruery Dissident - Deschutes Lips of Faith (Le Terroir) - New Belgium Lips of Faith (Le Folie) - New Belgium Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait - Brouwerij Boon Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L'Ancienne - Gueuzerie Tilquin Cuvée René - Brouwerij Lindemans
I will second the Liefmans suggestions. Cuvee Brut and Goudenband are both fantastic, and they can be had for 8.99-9.99 usually for a 750 cork and caged bottle. Also, many of the other suggestions are good, such as New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie, JP La Roja (pretty much any JP is good from my experience), Boon Mariage Parfait Kriek (didn't care for the Geuze that much, and I like Geuze), Two Brothers Askew is good, Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge is fantastic. And the Goose Island Lolita is freaking delicious. So many good ideas in this thread, making me thirsty.
These are great entry sours also if you can RR where you live those are on par with the best from Belgium but way more sour.
As I would recommend for any style, just buy and try. It's more fun to steer your own ship of discovery than have some so-called veterans tell you where to sail. If that doesn't fit your fancy, go to the best of lists and determine what is in your area of distribution - or even better yet, comb your local beer stores and have fun. I don't think sour ales are an overly acquired taste. They're sharp, bright and flavorful.
Agrred! Flanders reds were my breakthrough as well. Lost Abbey's Red Poppy still is one of my all-time favorites
My first sour was Supplication. I thought it was very different but at the same time very tasty, I have never encountered anything like it before.
I thought it was terribly one note on the acidity, honestly it offered nothing else to the palate. Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge or Rodenbach Grand Cru are both hands down better and are cheaper overall. Personal opinion, bear in mind.
I know they aren't sours, but sofie and matilda both bring the brett to the party. Also keep an eye out for avery barrel ged sours. Oud floris, odio equum and muscat d'amour are all amazing.
I got into sours with Flanders reds like Rodenbach and Duchesse de Borgogne. Both easily found anywhere.
This thread just got so annoying... Now I am off to Walgreens. It is freezing in NY today. I have a feeling the closest thing they will have to Cantillon is fermented Motts apple juice.
