If you’re the type of drinker who prefers a thirst-quencher over a malty, rich beer, sour beers are for you. Sour beers, as the name suggests, are crafted to be tart and sour. They’re known for their acidic, memorable flavor profile that leaves you craving more. There’s no need to go heavy on caramel or bready malts and piney hops when you’re brewing a tart, refreshing sour beer. Lucky for you, there are a lot of choices available.
When it comes to warm-weather drinking, between pilsners, hazy IPAs, wheat beers, and light lagers, I always like to throw in a sour beer or two as a change of pace. I’ve been doing it as long as I’ve been drinking beer during the summer months. That brings us to one important question: what are the different types of sour beer?
The different types of sour beers
Before we get into the different types of sour beers, you might wonder how they achieve their sour, tart flavor. Unlike beers made solely with lager, ale, or other yeasts, sour beers incorporate wild yeasts and bacteria. This includes organisms such as Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces, among others.
There are several sour beer types, including the salty, refreshing gose, tart Berliner Weisse, often-fruited Belgian Lambic, and contemporary kettle sour.
The best sour beers for all seasons
Now that you’ve learned a little about sour beers, it’s time to find some to add to your refrigerator for spring, summer, and every other season. Below, you’ll find some of the best sour beers to drink on any occasion. But, since summer is coming, all of these choices will pair well with the sunny, humid days ahead.
How I pick my sour beers
As with all my beer choices, I prioritize balanced flavor above all. I’m not looking for a sour beer that’s too acidic, too tart, or overwhelmingly sour. There needs to be harmony between the flavors, often complemented by elements like fruit. Keep scrolling to see all my picks.
Westbrook Gose
If you’ve tried an American-made gose-style craft beer, you can thank the OG Westbrook Gose for that. One of the first popular gose-style beers on the market, this German-style sour wheat beer is brewed with Pale malt, wheat malt, CTZ hops, coriander, sea salt, ale yeast, and lactobacillus. The result is an epic, 4% ABV brew that begins with aromas of sweet wheat, lemon peels, and gentle spices. The palate is centered on flavors like wheat, lemon zest, sea salt, and a memorable sour tartness. The finish is crisp, tart, and refreshing, leaving you hoping there’s at least one more in the fridge, waiting to be cracked open.
Duchesse de Bourgogne
There aren’t many Belgian Flanders Red Ales more beloved than Duchesse de Bourgogne. Brewed with barley malt, wheat, hops, and a proprietary yeast, it develops its sweet, tart, and sour flavor through mixed fermentation and months of maturation in oak barrels. This results in a 6.2% sour beer with aromas of dried cherries, wine tannins, and oaky wood. Sipping it reveals tart, sweet, and fruity notes of raspberries, blackberries, raisins, cherries, and oak. The finish is long and warm, ending with dry, crisp, sweet, and slightly sour flavors.
Ommegang Dream Patch
If you want an American beer with Belgian character, try Ommegang. Alongside its award-winning, European-inspired lineup, Ommegang Dream Patch stands out for sour beer fans. Brewed in collaboration with Belgian brewery Leifmans, it combines water, malted barley, hops, yeast, and cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Aromas open with berries, cherries, and floral, earthy hops. The palate emphasizes sweet, tart raspberry, dried cherry, blueberry, and gentle acidity. The finish is crisp, sour, tart, fruity, and memorable.
Victory Sour Monkey
With a name like Victory Sour Monkey, you can expect a bold experience when you open one. This 9.5% ABV Belgian-style sour Tripel is brewed with imported Pilsner malt, Tettnang hops, Belgian yeast, and a secret blend of spices and souring agents. The result is a high-ABV sour beer with an aroma of tart berries, citrus peels, clove, and wintry spices. Tasting it reveals notes of acidic, tart lemon peel, orchard fruits, berries, bready malts, cloves, and yeast. The finish is crisp, dry, fruity, gently spicy, and boozy because of the higher ABV. This sour beer is perfect to enjoy by a campfire on a cool night.
Bottom line
While there’s no wrong season from sour beers (there are varieties for all weather), there’s no arguing the beer style’s appeal during the warmer months. There is seemingly countless crisp, dry, tart, sour, effortlessly thirst-quenching options available. I suggest getting started on your sour beer journey by purchasing one of the above choices or strolling into your local grocery or beer store and asking a knowledgeable clerk for advice on which ones to buy.
