I don't like Belgians, Sours, or Hefs. Am I alone?

[BigFloyd]

I tend to love all beer styles- except for sours, wheat beers, and Belgians.

+1, although I now have something of a love-hate relationship developing with Belgian beers (I suppose it depends on the yeast strain). Some I've liked, others I quickly marked off the list after just a few sips.

I won't ever touch another Hefe. Blech.

 

[TimmyWit]

Better let BJCP know to get rid of categories 16,17, and 18; Belgians, Sours, and Strong Belgians.

I'm with GuldTuborg. Sour isn't a style. 16, 17, 18 are categories. You can find 16 different styles in those categories and they're all distinctly different.

I also don't understand OP saying he doesn't like something that he has never tried

I visited the Cantillon in Brussels about 2 years ago. I took a tour of the brewery and the first thing they ask you is to try and forget everything you know/expect out of beer because we tend to have a preconceived notion that something that tastes sour has gone bad which can be off-putting if you're not open minded to it. I thought the beer I had that day was interesting but after that visit I started to enjoy and appreciate these types of beers more. I have enjoyed a variety of Guezes, Lambics, and Oud Bruins. The only sour beer I have had that I didn't like was Mo Betta Bretta. I thought that one was terrible. If I had tried that first and proclaimed "I hate sour beers", I would have really missed out on some wonderful beverages.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Better let BJCP know to get rid of categories 16,17, and 18; Belgians, Sours, and Strong Belgians.

Oh, man, you got me there. There sure isn't any variety in those categories. I mean, if you can tell a witbier from a biere de garde, or a flanders brown from a gueuze, you must have a super palate or something. Plus, there sure isn't any variety in 16E.

And never mind that nonexistant American Sour Ale category. Doesn't exist anywhere, there isn't a book on the topic coming out shortly, and even if they did exist, they'd all taste exactly like the ones in Belgium, which also all taste the same.

There aren't any IPAs, light lagers, fruit beers, stouts, barley wines, or anything else made in Belgium, either. No sir. Wouldn't go well with all the bananas they're adding to the wort.

 

[Skep18]

The way I see it, I think I LOVE IPA's (like everyone). But of course there are IPA's out there I think are nasty.

I like to imagine the same holds true for all styles. I've not tried a hefe I've fallen in love with yet, however, I remain hopeful that someone brings the symphony of flavors together just the right way to be delicious to me!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Neither do Miguelites, or Kendra. 2 out of three ain't bad.

 

[FoCobrewguy]

My brother is the same way when it comes to the banana clove belgium beers but I love em. Actually like all three of these styles the ones I am not in love with are real fruity ones like pyramid apricote and ones with coffee notes but don't enjoy coffee in general. Even though I don't prefer them can't say I hate them and try them every now and then because taste buds do change. My only comment on sours is like a lot of others have said there are a lot out there. You may not like one but love another. If you like wine you should enjoy a sour though IMO. Just keep an open mind and probably don't start out with a la folie from new belgium that is pucker your lips sour. Swmbo loves duchese and it is not as Puckering. Normally easier to find too if you want to give one a try you never know whay you may like.

kf

 

[Malty_Dog]

I had a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissen recently and I have been converted. I WILL be brewing a Bavarian Hef in a month or two (if it ever stops snowing, lol). Like a previous poster mentioned I will likely ferment around 62.

I also enjoy Belgian Dubbels (Ommegang, Chimay), but could do without the blondes such as Leffe. I've always been a brunette/redhead man anyway

 

[Brewmenn]

I seem to be an odd ball on the other end of the beer spectrum. I really like IPA's, wheat's, hefe's and Belgians in general. What I'm not particularly fond of is stouts and porters.

I don't recall ever trying a sour so I can't comment on that.

 

[Remmy]

There are also different levels of "sour." I prefer the more mild sours.

 

[Setesh]

You are definitely not alone, and your tastes could change in time, who knows. I have gone through lots of phases where I really liked a certain style or hated a certain style. It's not like you have to like every style. Just brew what you like and enjoy what you drink. Personally I don't care much for the Belgian styles and I hate witbiers, but I love me some sours!

 

[luke_d]

I am the same exact way! I love IPAs, pale ales, stouts, porters, etc...English and American. But anything fermented with a Belgian yeast leaves a taste in my mouth that tastes like plastic was boiled in a vat of acetone. For some reason, I can't get over it. I've tried plenty of Belgians, and I still can't like them. Same with hefeweizens. Whatever, people are all different. Drink an brew what you want!!

 

[tjmac5071]

I thought I was alone in this...I do not like anything with strong yeast esters. I have tried a ton, my wife only orders samplers and that's what she drinks, I always try what she orders and I would never order it on my own. Sometimes the smell alone will make me gag (seriously dry heave). I will say I have never tried a sour, I can't get myself to pull the trigger.

Sent from my HTCONE using Home Brew mobile app

 

[IamAPenguin12]

I used to hate sours but I just got back from Sonoma County and gained a new love for them. Went to Russian River, Bear Republic and Firestone Walker. Russian River's Consecration & Beautification are the best I've ever had.

 

[splattsmier]

Everyone's palate is different. The only style I don't care for (even well made) is English IPAs. I love English beers and love IPAs, but not together. Your palate can change over time as well, so don't be afraid to try something again in a few months/years.

I remember when I first started drinking craft beer I tried a dfh 120...tasted like hop nectar and I could only drink half the bottle. Now I'm like, "could've done 180 mins..." lol

 

[Setesh]

Oh, man, you got me there. There sure isn't any variety in those categories. I mean, if you can tell a witbier from a biere de garde, or a flanders brown from a gueuze, you must have a super palate or something. Plus, there sure isn't any variety in 16E.

And never mind that nonexistant American Sour Ale category. Doesn't exist anywhere, there isn't a book on the topic coming out shortly, and even if they did exist, they'd all taste exactly like the ones in Belgium, which also all taste the same.

There aren't any IPAs, light lagers, fruit beers, stouts, barley wines, or anything else made in Belgium, either. No sir. Wouldn't go well with all the bananas they're adding to the wort.

I'm picking up your sarcasm....

 

[GuldTuborg]

I'm picking up your sarcasm....

Oh good. I wasn't sure it would come through, on the forum and all.

I'm being very serious when I say I think there is more variety of beers in the "sour" category than any other, excepting maybe the Belgian/French ale one.

 

[sudbuster]

I fancy myself a beer affictionado.

"I don't like Belgians, Sours, or Hefs. Am I alone?" ....Yeah, pretty much. But bless you anyway, Grasshopper.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Everyone likes what they like. I love yeast-driven (or microbe as the case may be) beers. Love Belgians, love sour beers, love Hefes and Weizen beers in general. Also love English beers.

I can also appreciate German beers for their clean character letting the malt (and sometimes hops) show more prominently.

However, I'm not that crazy about American styles, especially American IPAs. I can enjoy em from time to time, and even brew em occasionally, but the BOOM Citrus or BOOM pine or BOOM otherwise "American" hop character gets really old really quickly to me.

 

[elkshadow]

I love Belgians and hefes but sours I'm not sure of. I like Fruity ones like kriek or frambroise but straight Brett beers like Orval have made me gag on occasion.

 

[GuldTuborg]

But Orval isn't sour, not is it a brett-only beer.

 

[TimmyWit]

I love Belgians and hefes but sours I'm not sure of. I like Fruity ones like kriek or frambroise but straight Brett beers like Orval have made me gag on occasion.

Blasphemy! Seriously though, Orval shouldn't be considered "straight Brett". It doesn't see Brett until secondary fermentation which is why many consider it a good introduction to Brett beers. You get some of the barnyard character without so much sour. I love Orval and I like how the character changes as the beer matures. Everyone's palate is different though.

 

[C-Rider]

I fancy myself a beer affictionado. I love trying new beers and having a wide variety on tap. But for the life of me, I just can't develop a taste for Belgians, Sours, or Hefeweizens.

I don't like that banana-like funky yeast flavour character of Belgians. I find it hangs around in my mouth for far too long and just doesn't taste good. It tastes like melted plastic to me.

Sours, honestly I haven't tried any, but just the thought of "sour beer" doesn't exactly have me reaching for my glass or my wallet. I've had infected batches before, and they were not good, so if that's what a sour is, no thanks.

Hefeweizens, I dislike for the same reason as Belgians. It's the yeast character. I can't get over that in-your-face banana, clove character. Now, *American* wheat ales, on the other hand, I love. Give me a nice wheat ale fermented cleanly with a neutral strain like US-05 and I'll guzzle it all afternoon.

Anyone else have similar tastes? Am I allowed to not like such a broad swath of beer styles and still be in the "beer club?"

I'm w/Y dude, and I can add "adding fruit" to a beer as well. It's the German in me.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Belgians and wheat stuff are generally gross to me. I like to try them because I don't like to knock it until I try it, but still disappointed.

Now in terms of sours.... these have been growing on me. A friend of mine had me trying all kinds of gueze beers. What a great style. I would love to have another consecration after a few years of expanding my palate.

 

[TerranceKwong]

Belgians and wheat are the best beers its odd how people have different (wrong) tastes, beer is so amazing that it caters to even people that dont like the best of things, beer forever

 

[kombat]

I also don't understand OP saying he doesn't like something that he has never tried

Geez, you sound like my wife.

Her: "Want one of my raw oysters?"
Me: "Blech, no thanks. That looks disgusting."
Her: "Have you ever tried one?"
Me: "Just enjoy your oysters, Sweetie."

 

[unionrdr]

I like wheat ales,like Franziskaner & Paulaner. But belgians,like Chimay blue label make my guts kinda tighten up. I can't drink them too often...guess I got enough funk?!...

 

[Setesh]

Oh good. I wasn't sure it would come through, on the forum and all.

I'm being very serious when I say I think there is more variety of beers in the "sour" category than any other, excepting maybe the Belgian/French ale one.

Yeah, and it's a great point. It all comes down to true experience. When I say I don't care for the Belgian beers I am basing this on a grand total of around 20 different beers (most of those Trappist). Is that a good representative sample? I'm sure it's not. But I'm in Oklahoma, and it's damn hard to get a LOT of beers here because our distribution laws don't allow for competition. My hate of Witbiers is based on no more than 10 (and probably less) examples of the style, so the same problem applies there. The problem is further compounded by the fact that these beers make a long trip over the ocean and aren't the same now as when they left.

Can I really be blamed for my outlook though? I am a product of my environment. I have tried all of the examples of the styles that I could find in the store, which just doesn't amount to much. I can't do anything about the narrow sample I am offered, so can I really be blamed for saying I don't like Witbier when I have tried all of the Witbiers I have access to?

It's the same problem when someone in the US says they don't like Chinese food. Chances are they have never actually had Chinese food, so how do they really know if they like it? What they don't like is the Americanized example that they have access to.

 

[Setesh]

Geez, you sound like my wife.

Her: "Want one of my raw oysters?"
Me: "Blech, no thanks. That looks disgusting."
Her: "Have you ever tried one?"
Me: "Just enjoy your oysters, Sweetie."

I gotta say your wife is correct on this one man! SOOOOOO GOOD!

 

[NervousDad]

The only Belgian beer that I like is Troegs Mad Elf. I don't enjoy Belgian yeast at all.

I try to enjoy Sours and every once in a while I find that that I somewhat enjoy, but not enough to hunt them down. When the adjectives, leather,farmhouse,bandaid are used how can it be good?

Not a fan of American Wheat beers, so I never even tried a hefe.

 

[Qhrumphf]

The only Belgian beer that I like is Troegs Mad Elf. I don't enjoy Belgian yeast at all.

I try to enjoy Sours and every once in a while I find that that I somewhat enjoy, but not enough to hunt them down. When the adjectives, leather,farmhouse,bandaid are used how can it be good?

Not a fan of American Wheat beers, so I never even tried a hefe.

American wheat beers and Hefeweizens are completely different beers. Hefes would be more in line with Belgian beers than they would be with American wheats.