Sour beers - where do I start?

[Soulive]

Wow, I just cracked the Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus. It is unlike anything I've ever had. I don't even know what to compare it to. Its really sour, but fairly balanced by the fruit flavor. The mouthfeel is more acidic than anything I've ever had. Are these styles love/hate or are they an acquired taste? I neither love nor hate them so far and I'm intrigued to try others...

 

[gwood]

...Are these styles love/hate or are they an acquired taste? I neither love nor hate them so far and I'm intrigued to try others...

If you are interested in trying others, you're on the right path IMO.

I started to get curious, had a few, got a bit more curious to compare within the style, and about a year later I seem to always be on the lookout for a new bottle to try. I've yet to really find a style that just puts me off to the point where I would ever just write it off and it sounds like you are in that same space as well

 

[GloHoppa]

I tried a cerise casee from cambridge brewing company a week ago. Its really somethin. Its a spontaneously fermented sour mashed beer. Tastes like a warhead with a subtle complexity to it.

 

[ColoradoXJ13]

I don't know if you can get Avery Brewing Co. beers out east, but their 15th Anniversary Beer, called "Fifteen" is a "Belgian Farmhouse" brewed entirely with Brett. I have been buying a bottle a week since it came out a month or two ago, it is fantastic. Not super sour, but definitely has a funk.

Jolly Pumpkin was mentioned, I had one of their beers, can't remember the name but it was supposedly a sour IPA, I didn't like it very much.

 

[AnOldUR]

Just tried a Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. My first sour. Is this a good representation of what I can expect from other?

 

[brewt00l]

Just tried a Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale. My first sour. Is this a good representation of what I can expect from other?

IMHO sour ales as a category are as diverse as any other...Granted, there are some generalities you could prb make. Heck, just dig though the bjcp descriptions of their subcategories of sour ales:

http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style17.html

On the monks if you had it from the bottle, I found that to be very mild and more focused on the cherry flavoring than the sour end of things.

 

[AnOldUR]

IMHO sour ales as a category are as diverse as any other...Granted, there are some generalities you could prb make. . . . . . . On the monks if you had it from the bottle, I found that to be very mild and more focused on the cherry flavoring than the sour end of things.

The reason I asked is that the process and the science behind these brews looked interesting. Like something that would be fun to brew, so I was excited to try one. I hate to admit this for fear of being ostracized for having poor taste, but that sour was the first thing I’ve dumped in a long time. Tasted like carbonated vinegar. I was hoping that I might have better luck with some other brand / style.

 

[olllllo]

Try a Petrus Oud Bruin.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/718/2479
It is a wild beer but less sour than the one that you had. It's more malt balanced.

Something on the sweeter side would be a Lindemans Pomme.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/187/30482
It's like a Jolly Rancher Sour apple.

 

[Nosnum]

No one mentioned Jolly Pumpkin yet. they are another american brewery that has some decent sours. Try the La Roja, it is pretty tasty.

Jolly Pumpkin has some fantastic brews! I am literally minutes away from this small brewery, so message me if you are interested in trying some of these fine beers!

http://www.jollypumpkin.com