favorite sour comercial beers?

[the_bird]

Im in western Mass , unfortinatley we dont get either new belgium or russian river

Where are you in Western MA? There's a great store in Lenox, used to be known as Nijaimes but it's now "Spirited" or something like that, right on Route 7 just south of Pittsfield. They've got a great selection of sour ales - no Russian River, no New Belgium, but a lot of great stuff, and the staff there know their ****. Spent a ****load of $$ there a couple weeks ago, can't remember everything they've got but there's a lot of lambics, some Flemish brown ales, I really like the Monk's Cafe (Flemish red, IIRC, and not too expensive). There's some Berliner Weisses, both domestic versions and I think some German ones. Lots of great sours.

 

[45_70sharps]

Hunt for Cascade Brewing.

Cascade Bourbonic Plague
Cascade Vlad The Imp Aler
Cascade The Vine
Cascade Apricot Ale
Cascade Nightfall Blackberry
Cascade Cuvée Du Jongleur
Cascade Sang Noir, Rouge, or Royal

Cool.
Thanks.
I think I'm making the trip to Portland this weekend to try some Voodoo doughnut bacon maple beer at the Rouge brewery / pub. Maybe I'll ask them if they've got any sour on tap.

 

[JordanThomas]

Cool.
Thanks.
I think I'm making the trip to Portland this weekend to try some Voodoo doughnut bacon maple beer at the Rouge brewery / pub. Maybe I'll ask them if they've got any sour on tap.

Funny, there's a thread about the worst commercial craft beer, and the Voodoo Maple Bacon beer gets mentioned often. It sounds so nasty!

 

[mcnewcp]

Where do you live? Lots of US craft sours are regional at best.

For the bigger brands - Rodenbach and Rodenbach Grand Cru are good, the GC being more tart. If you want to try Lambic, Lindeman's Cuvee Renee is somewhere to start, but if you can find another brand, there are better examples. Those are just a couple that I can find around here and selection in TN is not great.

Where do you get the Rodenbach? I'm located in Nashville.

 

[TheKeg81]

+1 on New Belgium's La Folie.

Everyone keeps mentioning that one but I wasn't impressed with it. Maybe it was just an off day for my palate. Whenever I see it again I'll have to pick another one up.

I do have one of these waiting for me though, Flanders Fred. I'm looking forward to consuming it this Sunday evening after finishing up all of my projects and sitting down to watch The Walking Dead.

 

[45_70sharps]

Funny, there's a thread about the worst commercial craft beer, and the Voodoo Maple Bacon beer gets mentioned often. It sounds so nasty!

With a little luck I'll know for sure Saturday!
I love bacon and I love beer. I'm going to be within about a 45 minute drive of their brew pub so I want to try it myself.

 

[nberk]

Where do you get the Rodenbach? I'm located in Nashville.

Whole foods in Cool Springs had it about a month ago. I can't verify if that's still true since I haven't been there in a while.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I like the maple bacon beer but its a taste for the adventurous palate. As for sours, everything previously mentioned is really good. If you can find anything from Funky Buddha they make some good Berliners.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Everyone keeps mentioning that one but I wasn't impressed with it. Maybe it was just an off day for my palate. Whenever I see it again I'll have to pick another one up.

I do have one of these waiting for me though, Flanders Fred. I'm looking forward to consuming it this Sunday evening after finishing up all of my projects and sitting down to watch The Walking Dead.

I didn't like La Folie the first time I tried it. I have since learned to like it but I still wouldn't claim it among my favorite sour beers.

 

[lunshbox]

We have two small breweries herein NC that make some solid sour beers(Catawba Valley and Outer Banks Brewing Station), and but +1 on Cascade, NB La Folie, and Russian River. I have a friend that regularly travels to Portland and Seattle who brings me back a case from Russian River every few months. Goose Island produces some not too bad sours en masse. I agree about Jolly Pumpkin. The Bam beers are terrible.

 

[JordanThomas]

We have two small breweries herein NC that make some solid sour beers(Catawba Valley and Outer Banks Brewing Station), and but +1 on Cascade, NB La Folie, and Russian River. I have a friend that regularly travels to Portland and Seattle who brings me back a case from Russian River every few months. Goose Island produces some not too bad sours en masse. I agree about Jolly Pumpkin. The Bam beers are terrible.

I forgot about Goose Island! Sophie is really a great beer.

Yet, I find it odd that you think Goose Island makes decent sours but you think JP makes terrible sours. Very interesting how different palates can be!

 

[eandersen]

I forgot about Goose Island! Sophie is really a great beer.

Yet, I find it odd that you think Goose Island makes decent sours but you think JP makes terrible sours. Very interesting how different palates can be!

Would you really consider Sophie sou? Granted I've only had it once but I remember it being more or a strong Belgian style golden ale

 

[JordanThomas]

Would you really consider Sophie sou? Granted I've only had it once but I remember it being more or a strong Belgian style golden ale

I think it is a sour. It is a brett beer IIRC. Wild yeast for sure.

 

[MrOrange]

I think it is a sour. It is a brett beer IIRC. Wild yeast for sure.

I know it has some Brett in it but I never got any sourness. It is aged in wine barrels which you can kind of pick up on. I know Juliet and Lolita are two sours they make.

 

[JordanThomas]

I know it has some Brett in it but I never got any sourness. It is aged in wine barrels which you can kind of pick up on. I know Juliet and Lolita are two sours they make.

It's definitely tart, and somewhat sour. My opinion, obviously.

 

[MrOrange]

Gueuze Tilquin is another one I had for the first time recently. It was up there with my favorites. The oak character in it was amazing

 

[lunshbox]

I just picked up a bottle of Oud Tart from The Bruery and a bottle of Straffe Hendrix Heritage 2011. I shall report on how good they are.

 

[Haputanlas]

I have to show props and give a nod to Jester King's Boxer's Revenge.

Agreed.

Pretty much any sour from Jester King.

 

[WineIsRed]

BLASPHEMY! I love Bam Noire. I mean its not much in the sour category but the Brett in it is awesome. You get that leathery funk that I don't see in a lot of funky beers.

I will trust your (and others) judgment and will try it again.

Honestly – the one I tried tasted like one part aspirin, one part chalk, and one part dirt all stirred up in a very unimpressive ale.

I have six “wild-brews” in secondary, and I will continue to experiment.

Thank you for your input!

 

[MrOrange]

SO EXCITED about this weekend. A local bar is having what they call "St. Sours Day". Take a look at the line up.

Saint Sour's Sunday
Sour & Funky Draft options:

1) Trois Dames Sainte Ni Touche
2) Trois Dames Grande Dame Oud Bruin
3) Haandbryggeriet Krekling
4) BFM / Terrapin Spike & Jerome's Cuvée Delirante
5) St. Somewhere Pays du Soleil
6) BFM Tarry Suchong
7) St. Somewhere Saison Caroline
8) St. Somewhere/Funky Buddha Ale-du Citron Partie
9) Freigeist Abraxxxas
10) Tilquin Gueuze
11) Cantillon Classic Gueuze
12) Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena’Ole
13) Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura
14) Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza
15) Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga
16) Avery Fifteen
17) Rodenbach Grand Cru
18) Ommegang Grand Cru Rouge 2008
19) Bockor Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge
20) Petrus Aged Pale 30th Anniversary
21) Alvinne Cuvée Freddy
22) Alvinne Undressed (with grapes aged on oak wine barrels)
23) Alvinne Kerasus Bourgogne
24) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2009
25) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2010
26) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2011
27) BFM La Douze 2009 (Cask)
28) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Black Currants, Raisins and Anise
29) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Acai Berries
30) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Ginger and Honey
31) Prof. Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse - Zymatore series aged in Pinot Noir and Gin Barrels (Wooden Cask)
32) Loverbeer Madamin
33) Birrificio del Ducato My Blueberry Nightmare
34) De Molen Lief & Leed on Cherries
35) De Molen Hout & Hop in Barolo Barrels
36) Goose Island Dominique
37) Loverbeer D'uvaBeer
38) Alvinne Undressed
39) Alvinne Kerasus
40) New Holland Blue Sunday Sour

BOTTLES

• Fantome Extra Sour
• Upland Gilgamesh
• Goose Island Lolita
• 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
• 3 Fonteinen Oude Gueuze Golden Blend
• Haandbryggeriet Haandbakk
• Anchorage Bitter Monk
• Jester King Boxer's Revenge
• Panil Barriquee Sour Red Ale
• Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
• Mikkeller Spontankoppi
• Mikkeller Spontanwildstrawberry
• Mikkeller Spontankriek
• Cuvée De Ranke

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

And you didn't invite me??

 

[MrOrange]

Come on up. The more the merrier

 

[Hop_Hero]

The best sours are usually limited releases from a local brewery. I'm blessed to be in SD county and The Lost Abbey has EXCELLENT sours like Red Poppy and Cuvee de Tomme.

 

[dcHokie]

SO EXCITED about this weekend. A local bar is having what they call "St. Sours Day". Take a look at the line up.

Saint Sour's Sunday
Sour & Funky Draft options:

1) Trois Dames Sainte Ni Touche
2) Trois Dames Grande Dame Oud Bruin
3) Haandbryggeriet Krekling
4) BFM / Terrapin Spike & Jerome's Cuvée Delirante
5) St. Somewhere Pays du Soleil
6) BFM Tarry Suchong
7) St. Somewhere Saison Caroline
8) St. Somewhere/Funky Buddha Ale-du Citron Partie
9) Freigeist Abraxxxas
10) Tilquin Gueuze
11) Cantillon Classic Gueuze
12) Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena’Ole
13) Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura
14) Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza
15) Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga
16) Avery Fifteen
17) Rodenbach Grand Cru
18) Ommegang Grand Cru Rouge 2008
19) Bockor Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge
20) Petrus Aged Pale 30th Anniversary
21) Alvinne Cuvée Freddy
22) Alvinne Undressed (with grapes aged on oak wine barrels)
23) Alvinne Kerasus Bourgogne
24) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2009
25) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2010
26) BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2011
27) BFM La Douze 2009 (Cask)
28) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Black Currants, Raisins and Anise
29) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Acai Berries
30) AtG/LBS Bourbon Barrel Lambic with Ginger and Honey
31) Prof. Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse - Zymatore series aged in Pinot Noir and Gin Barrels (Wooden Cask)
32) Loverbeer Madamin
33) Birrificio del Ducato My Blueberry Nightmare
34) De Molen Lief & Leed on Cherries
35) De Molen Hout & Hop in Barolo Barrels
36) Goose Island Dominique
37) Loverbeer D'uvaBeer
38) Alvinne Undressed
39) Alvinne Kerasus
40) New Holland Blue Sunday Sour

BOTTLES

• Fantome Extra Sour
• Upland Gilgamesh
• Goose Island Lolita
• 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
• 3 Fonteinen Oude Gueuze Golden Blend
• Haandbryggeriet Haandbakk
• Anchorage Bitter Monk
• Jester King Boxer's Revenge
• Panil Barriquee Sour Red Ale
• Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
• Mikkeller Spontankoppi
• Mikkeller Spontanwildstrawberry
• Mikkeller Spontankriek
• Cuvée De Ranke

Excuse the juvenile response, but....BOING!

 

[MrOrange]

Haha my first thoughts exactly

 

[BryanThompson]

I will be up at St Sours for a little bit. It will be my Christmas present to myself. If you are able to try gilgamesh. One of the best sours I've had. The oak and bourbon are very present which works amazingly well in that style. Hopefully they will have flights tomorrow, I want to try them all.

 

[OBSCZONER]

Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, Girardin, Tilquin, etc..

 

[monkeybox]

That's going to be a long night. Do they supply cots?

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Agreed.

Pretty much any sour from Jester King.

Boxer's Revenge is bad ass. I had Das Wunderkind back in September at the brewery and it was ok. Average to good IMO. The sourness was strongly lactic but there wasn't any funk to go along with it. Also had the berliner weisse which was fine, it's not a style I'm all that excited about.

I could take or leave most of their beers. Next to Boxer's Revenge my favorite is Le Petit Prince. The yeast character is great. The others are a little more hoppy than my preference in a saison (although well within the style) and I can't really get on board with those Mikkeller collabs. I like Noble King well enough but I had it on cask once and really loved it. That's the best part of their tours, you get lots of beer and they do a good job of mixing it up and putting out some special offerings.

 

[staytuned]

I might be wrong, but I think the reason Das Wunderkind isn't as funky as some of the other ones is because it is a blend of young, fresh Saison with older, barrel aged sour Saison. What it does have going for it is that wonderful hop aroma! I'm hoping the bottles I have will get nice and funky with some time. Also considering culturing some yeast from it, since it's such a low gravity beer.

They do make some hoppier Saisons, but I think that is just them knowing the market. I LOVE that they don't make an IPA, but instead some hop forward character-filled beers.

Oh, and just wait for that sour red to come out...that thing is mind-blowing! Not to mention the Funk Metal sour imperial stout and Das Uberkind, what I presume to be the old sour Saison used for blending the Wunderkind.