I cant wait to try New Belgium's Le Terroir. I got their Eric's Ale the other day and havent opened that yet either.

New (to me) sours Ive been digging lately are Three Floyd's Skull Ole, Suburban Beverage by Perrennial, Iduna Wild Cru from the Wild Beer Company, Luciernaga Firefly by Jolly Pumpkin, and Pina Agria from Odell. And most of the Almanac sours I tried at their Chicago launch tap takeover at Bangers and Lace the other day were amazing.

Although more in the "funk" category, Ive also got a few bottles of Crooked Stave Surette and Vielle that Im working on as well.

I second the praise for those Destihl sours, love them!

I found the Three Floyd's Skull Ole almost undrinkable, over the top sour & so far out of balance I could not finish the 10 oz pour ($10 to boot!) I've had better sours from TF's in the past.

Just moved to Denver area and have had most of the Crooked Stave beers both on tap at their tap room and in bottles. I find them to be very good and will keep them in the rotation for sure!

In other 3F sour news, cracked a bomber of Pear Bear for Da Bears. It's stupid expensive and on the sweet side (which i know is an instant non-starter for some) but i think this is their best sour offering so far with an incredible pear/apple nose.

not a sour (i know, thread) but Prairie Artisan Ales Brett C is definitely worth seeking out if you're into hops & brett funk

DeStihl Brewing - Here Gose Nothin.

Intensely sour. Just an amazing beer that is readily available and not terribly expensive.

Lol - long time, huh?
Just a note. I'm usually late to the party about anything and everything.

Example:

Two weeks ago, I had my first Lolita draught.
It was NOTHING like the bottle I bought a few years ago. Yes, I know that they SHOULD be different, but hot damn...That was the best beer I've had to date. I'm guessing they are pretty pricey when available, but if I ever see it on tap again, it's a definite.

seebee wrote:Two weeks ago, I had my first Lolita draught.
It was NOTHING like the bottle I bought a few years ago. Yes, I know that they SHOULD be different, but hot damn...That was the best beer I've had to date. I'm guessing they are pretty pricey when available, but if I ever see it on tap again, it's a definite.

Does Goose Island still have a tap room? If so, I'm guessing that the Lolita is (almost) always served there. At least, it used to be back in the day, though A LOT has changed in the past few years.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

seebee wrote:Two weeks ago, I had my first Lolita draught.
It was NOTHING like the bottle I bought a few years ago. Yes, I know that they SHOULD be different, but hot damn...That was the best beer I've had to date. I'm guessing they are pretty pricey when available, but if I ever see it on tap again, it's a definite.

Does Goose Island still have a tap room? If so, I'm guessing that the Lolita is (almost) always served there. At least, it used to be back in the day, though A LOT has changed in the past few years.

=R=

Two, actually. There's the rebranded and redecorated (and now 100% AB-InBev owned) brewpub, Clybourn Brewhouse. They reopened somewhat recently and are not yet producing a lot of beer in-house. Lolita is showing as being on tap at the moment (click 'what's on tap' via the links below).

There's also the tap room at their production facility at Fulton and Wood. No Lolita but they do have last year's Halia.

Also related, they added a private event space to their barrel-aging warehouse (just to round out the Chicago-based Goose facilities).

Goose released a lot of their 'Sour Sisters' in 12oz. 4-packs for $35-40 since last year or so. I didn't see them in the usual places so I don't know if retailers balked at carrying them in the first place or they remain in such limited supply that not much is packaged.

http://www.gooseisland.com/brewhouse-clybourn/
http://www.gooseisland.com/tours
http://www.gooseisland.com/barrel-house

danimalarkey wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

seebee wrote:Two weeks ago, I had my first Lolita draught.
It was NOTHING like the bottle I bought a few years ago. Yes, I know that they SHOULD be different, but hot damn...That was the best beer I've had to date. I'm guessing they are pretty pricey when available, but if I ever see it on tap again, it's a definite.

Does Goose Island still have a tap room? If so, I'm guessing that the Lolita is (almost) always served there. At least, it used to be back in the day, though A LOT has changed in the past few years.

=R=

Two, actually . . .

Thanks for the intel!

=R=

I think I've finally figured something out. It's been mentioned here a few times, and I am fully on board:

Berliner Weisse.

It's my "go to" for sampling new brands now, and I think I've really enjoyed every new one I've tried. Each one I've tried has been pretty much the same profile:
VERY crisp
Very light
Very bubbly
Not hoppy at ALL
Medium sour finish, more lemony than vinegar to my tongue. Juicy.

Tried a few recently that were really nice for my tastes:
Stone White Geist
North Coast Brewing Berliner Weisse Tart Cherry

The North Coast offering was pink in color, and I was hoping it was not sweet. On a 92 degree summer day, sitting outside at a block party, I cracked one open, and after the first taste, i thought to myself "So glad I didn't bring all of them." I would have been trashed. I could drink as many of these as there are. Just EASY, light, slight tang, a barely noticeable trace of sweet - almost PERFECT balance of sweet to fruitiness, like "Is there a hint of sugar in this, or is it just the tart cherry I'm tasting." I'm hitting the Woodman's in Kenosha this week, and buying ALL of it.

I'd be surprised if most beer lovers thought this stuff is horrible. My palate is not a beer palate, but I like what I like.

I have been enjoying Revolution Freedom of Speach. Nice, easy sipper on warm summer nights.

I have a couple of bombers of 3 Floyd's Molten Mirrors chilling. Pricey stuff, $20/bomber at Binnys.

We were up in the Twin Cities this past weekend and took in a St. Paul Saints baseball game on Saturday night. It was a hot, summer night and the Mankato Brewery Rhuby Rhubarb Sour was perfect for the conditions.

Une Annee/Hubbard’s Cave Brewery
9082 W Golf Rd, Niles

Has a good selection of fruited beers with a sour usually on the menu.

Very refreshing, very cold on a hot summers day.

Relaxing taproom as well.

Kinslahger Brewing Company
6806 Roosevelt Rd, Oak Park