Sour Beer Question

[Guidry]

Alright, I see a lot of talk about "sour beers" lately....Personally, I'm an IPA fan but I think sours are becoming just as popular. Anyway, I can't honestly say I have ever HAD a sour, and I am pretty ignorant on the subject, so I figured I'd ask my dumb question here.

This past weekend, I had the enjoyment of sharing a Jolly Pumpkin La Roja with an old friend. I can honestly say it was a flavor I had never experienced in a beer before, and I would have to say it was "sour". My quesion is, is that beer considered to be a "sour ale"? Or is it just an ale that happens to have some sour tastes to it?

 

[Brek81]

I haven't had this one yet, but based on the discription (and the fact its Jolly Pumpkin), i would believe that it is a sour.


Description:
La Roja, an artisan amber ale brewed in the Flanders tradition. Deep amber with earthy caramel, spice and sour fruit notes developed through natural barrel aging. Unfiltered, unpasteurized and blended from barrels ranging over a year in age. Truly an ale of grace and distinction.

 

[thegerm]

I've only tasted 2 sour beers. Monk's Cafe Flanders Red Ale, and Cantillon Kriek. With those 2, you KNOW it's sour. The flanders red tasted like vinegar (acetic acid) and the cantillon tasted like stomach bile (lactic acid). I have to imagine there are more subdued sour beers than what I've had, though. Don't get me wrong, there were other flavors in those beers, but the sourness really punches you in the face.

 

[mabrungard]

I've had La Roja and it is a sour ale style, albeit a modest and restrained sour ale. Very nice, yet lacking a great deal of flavor or acidity. If I recall, I think they class it in the Flanders Red category (hence the Roja).

 

[Ceetar]

I love sour beers. They're easily the most 'different' tasting of beers, and I think a lot of people taste them unawares and are turned off by the shock of it. Sort of like reaching for a glass of water that turns out to be vodka.

I recently had the Brouwerij Boon Kriek at a festival. Was delicious.

 

[Carter5112]

Yes, La Roja is a sour. Or more specific a Flanders Red. And delicious! I got into sour beers a couple months ago. That's all I drank for a few weeks, but then wore out on it. I think it's a great style to have for the right occasion. The sour specific styles are Flanders Red, Flander Brown, Berliner Weisse, Lambic and Gueze. I don't care for the Lambic (or Gueze) that I've tried. I style haven't been able to find any Berliner Weisse around me unfortunately, as it's the style I wanted to try most. At any rate, if you're interested I'd search out some of these:

duchesse de bourgogne
Rodenbach
weihenstephan 1809
Any of the Jolly Pumpking (those these don't fall so specific into the categories I mentioned)
New Belgium La Follie (I think this was a Flanders Brown and definitely my favorite of all)

 

[wyoder]

I've had the La Roja and it's a moderate example of the sour ale style. Did you enjoy it?

I'd agree with Carter5112 on other beers to try, especially the duchesse, very good. Just be sure to pull these out of the fridge well before you want to enjoy...

 

[Bobby_M]

It's almost impossible to enjoy a sour beer the first couple times you have one even if it is world renowned. It's not much different than the first few times you have a huge IPA or red wine. Push yourself to try them every time you can.

 

[edecambra]

If you are looking for something that might get your feet wet in these funky beers, try to look for an orval. It isn't specifically sour, but has some brett funkiness that can border on sour on some people's pallets. Give it a try it is awesome and complex. The first time I had one I was blown away at the first sip. That was my first funky beer and since I have found some sour beers and loved each one. Duchesse is a good one that is plenty available.

 

[houndsbreath]

I've tried a few and would only try a few again. Don't get me wrong, they are good beers but I have to be in the mmod for the style, just as I have to be in the mood for an IIPA, IRS, etc. Framboise Lambic is good, fruity and spritzy. I once got a Duchese de Bourgogne, that's the funkiest beer I've ever tasted. The oaky, red-wine like tastes are not bueno in my opinion but I detest red wine to begin with...

 

[BriU]

New Belgium and Elysian got together and made a beer called Kick. Elysian contributed a pumpkin cranberry ale, and New Belgium made a sour ale. Blended 75% pumpkin cranberry and 25% sour... I love it. Probably the best fall beer I've ever had.

 

[jtakacs]

I've tried a few and would only try a few again. Don't get me wrong, they are good beers but I have to be in the mmod for the style, just as I have to be in the mood for an IIPA, IRS, etc. Framboise Lambic is good, fruity and spritzy. I once got a Duchese de Bourgogne, that's the funkiest beer I've ever tasted. The oaky, red-wine like tastes are not bueno in my opinion but I detest red wine to begin with...

i'm a sour junkie - multiple styles in bottles, at least 10 different kinds fermenting... good stuff maynard. not a fan of duchess actually - little too acetic for me and not enough lactic - plus it drinks too dry and thin.

 

[jtakacs]

oh, and welcome to the darkside.

 

[supermoth]

Last spring my friend and her brother came up to visit and he was on a sour kick. It was the first time I'd really tasted any sours, and the one that knocked me off my barstool was the Lagunitas gueuze. It was like champagne, but beer. I can't wait until I see that on tap somewhere again.

 

[ashmgee]

jtak, i agree with the love of sour and envy your location..........RR is awesome

 

[edecambra]

Dutchesse is pretty acetic for sure. Being in south florida I can't get many domestic sours. I will say that o can get cigar city ones though. Those guys bees are awesome and they gave so many one off sours. I had their wild lecyee sour a week ago and hot damn it was good!