Sour Beer Virgin

[Fugglupagus]

my two cents for what its worth but my first ever sour beers were a cantillon and a rodenbach grand cru. nearly turned mo ff them for life being so intense on the sour and funk. next time out i tried a timmermans gueze and absolutly fell in love with the style. sometimes training wheels can be a good thing without the entry level timmermans i wouldnt be enjoying and appreciating cantillon the way i do now.

This is such a good point. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who don't like sour beers because their first experience was like drinking vinegar. Start with something mildly tart. I'd recommend Petrus Oud Bruin, if you can find it. Or Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Biere.

+1 My wife (and test subject) is like this. Anything really sour or brett-y is a no, as is anything really sweet. She'll do the Rodenbach original, Timmerman's Bourgogne des Flandres, and for some reason Oud Beersel framboise (but not the kriek or geuze).

[TrickyDRD]

Thanks for all the tips! It's like learning a new language. I grabbed a 2010 La Folie from New Belgium and just finished it. Rather tart! Not a bad style. Just an aftertaste of Bleu Cheese (which i like). The price will definitely keep me from going overboard on these guys - plus I am not sure I could drink a second bomber.

Do I need to be careful of cross contamination???? I don't want to accidently infect my brewhouse!

DRD

[12stones]

I'm also a sour beer newbie as I'd never had interest before. I had the Monks Cafe Flanders last week and dint really love it. I'm sure it's an acquired taste and I'm willing to keep trying, so is this list still relevant or have so new sours come on the market that are mild versions to break a newbie in?

[mike____]

Jolly Pumpkin is a good choice if you can get it.
Many of their beers I would consider "mildly" sour.
Bam was mentioned before, there's also Bam Noire (a personal favorite), Oro De Calabaza, etc.
La Roja is a fantastic beer, but it's probably the sourest (most sour?) beer they make.

[Ozwald]

LaFolie is a nice place to start. Fruity, a little sweet, but still sour enough & a ton of complexity. It's also one of the most easily obtainable sours around. I never suggest mildly sour beer for introduction & working up from there, like a lot of people do with hops - I find something that's approachable, yet complex enough that a new sour drinker has to take small sips & really analyze/think about everything they're tasting.

[TheDarkSide]

I'm also a sour beer newbie as I'd never had interest before. I had the Monks Cafe Flanders last week and dint really love it. I'm sure it's an acquired taste and I'm willing to keep trying, so is this list still relevant or have so new sours come on the market that are mild versions to break a newbie in?

I'll never acquire a taste for Monk's Cafe. I almost didn't have sours again after having this one. Rodenbach Grand Cru is definitely a favorite of mine and relatively inexpensive in the store.

[12stones]

I picked up two bottles of Jolly Pumpkin tonight. The Bam Biere and their stout. I'll have to wait to try them though. Don't want to waste them on a weekday.

[crashlann]

For the $$, Rodenbach Grand Cru is great and often avail at BevMo. I have bought all the expensive ones, even a Fonteinen Oude Gueze last week, but its still up there on my list. If you ever see The Bruery Oude Tart, its awesome, spendy but delish...comes out late summer.