Chasin

I'm wanting to try a sour ale but have yet to find a local distributor.

Does anyone have any recombination?

DoubleAught

A very popular Lambic is Lindemans Framboise. I for one like it although many say it isn't a traditional sour. Nevertheless, a very good choice IMO.

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horseblanket

Don't know where you'll find them, but I highly recommend gueuze by Girardin, Hanssens or best of all, Cantillon. These are world class examples from Belgium without fruit added. Lindemans Framboise may be a good starting point to sort of break you in to sour ale appreciation, but, though enjoyable, is not as dry and complex as fruit lambics from the breweries I mentioned. You may also give Flanders Red beers a try and my recommendation is Rodenbach Grand Cru - a somewhat tart, wine-like ale with a hint of acetic acid and a nice wood note.

brewfun

My go-to introductory sour is Monks Cafe Flemish Red.

More modestly backsweetened than Rodenbach and certainly any Lindeman's product, it still shows off the cherries and almond characteristics of great Flander's Red. [Those characteristics should be derived from extended aging, but some producers double down with cherry essence.]

Pair it with BBQ Pork, Steak Au Poivre or Roast Duck.

From there, you have to try the Rodenbach. Their Gran Cru is an older beer (about 2 years of aging) and is not backsweetened as much, which suits American tastes moreso than European.

To get a full flavor Lambic sour. I recommend Lindeman's Cuvee Rene Gueuze, which shows what a marvelous beer they start with, before sweetening it up, like soda pop.

Further on the spectrum is Cantillon Bruocsella, a fully mature lambic of whatever they think is tasty. It is dead flat and divine.

AvgWhiteGuy

Any of the sours from Russian River Brewing are really good. Consecration, Supplication, Temptation, Beatification, or Sanctification.

Cascade Brewing does a great kriek and Lost Abbey has Framboise de Amorosa and Red Poppy, both of which are really good as well.

schnibbz

Being in the Midwest, Jolly Pumpkin is my go to sour. I highly recommend La Roja and Bam Biere.

Beardedbrewer

Russian River Consecration and Damnation, Morte Subite has some nice Gueze and Kriek also Boon brewery makes some nice beers, there Oude Gueze is very nice, its a little funky for the begginer in sours but worth trying, also Fantome has some nice sours but can be hit or miss sometimes but makes some really interesting stuff, find a good bottle shop that takes good care of there beers is a must, here is a link to an online bottle shop< I cant say anything about there quallity of service because I have not purchased from them but they have a wide selection of Belgian beers of all kinds and good descriptions, they even have Westvleteren if your willing to pay the premium, good luck, sour beers are awesome and fun to explore. Cheers!!

http://shop.belgianshop.com/acatalog/Lambic___Fruits.html

jsjames

My current favorite is Cuvee des Jacobine. I think Petrus Aged Pale is a good starter also.

GiraffeBrew

Thumbs up to this post. I really dig the Jolly Pumpkin beers!

Paymygasbill77

I have a pretty good source for Lindeman's Cuvee Rene'. It is a fantastic beer and one of the best examples of a Gueze.