The history of sour beer is a tale of ancient traditions, regional brewing techniques, and a recent renaissance driven by craft brewers. From its humble beginnings as an accidental outcome of natural fermentation to its modern-day popularity, sour beer has come a long way. Whether you're a seasoned beer aficionado or new to the world of craft brewing, exploring the diverse flavours and rich history of sour beer is a delightful journey well worth undertaking. In this blog post, we’ll be diving into this tangy and experimental world of sour beers, so get those tastebuds ready for some tart notes, and raise a glass to the brewers who keep this ancient style alive. Cheers!


What Do Sour Beers Taste Like? 


If you’ve never tried a sour beer before, then you’re in for a treat! Sour beers certainly have a distinct flavour profile that sets them apart from other beer styles.  From the first sip, expect a sour or acidic taste, which can range from subtle to mouth-puckeringly intense. The tartness is reminiscent of sour fruits (think lemons or green apples) but can also sometimes be more like stone fruits (peach or cherry). We admit, these flavours can sometimes make sour beers somewhat of an acquired taste, but for those who appreciate the unique flavour profile and enjoy exploring new taste experiences, sour beers offer a delightful departure from traditional beer styles.


Like with other styles, the exact taste can vary depending on the brewing process, ingredients, and ageing techniques used. Some sour beers (such as those with spontaneous fermentation e.g. Wide Street Brewing) can offer additional funky, or earthy flavours, while others such as pastry sours can be reminiscent of a fruity milkshake! 


Many sour beers might also include additions such as lemon, lime, or grapefruit, stone fruits (such as peach or cherry), berries, or tropical fruits to balance out the sourness. Some might even add gummy bears to the mix! Despite the sour and tarty flavours, sour beers are incredibly balanced, with careful hop consideration, and just the right amount of carbonation to make them extremely quaffable during those summer months. 


That interplay between acidity, fruitiness, and funkiness is just something you can’t find in other beer styles!


Origins of Sour Beer


The style of sour beer goes back thousands of years to ancient civilizations. Before the advent of modern brewing techniques, the fermentation process wasn’t as fine-tuned and controlled as it is nowadays. Fermentation was often unpredictable, with wild bacteria and yeast in the air entering the wort, resulting in beers with a sour, funky taste. The style grew and developed over time in regions like Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.


Belgium is often hailed as the epicentre of sour beer production. Belgian brewers have been perfecting the art of souring for centuries, using unique brewing techniques and traditional methods. One such method is the spontaneous fermentation process employed in the Lambic style. In this process, the wort is exposed to wild yeast and bacteria present in the environment, leading to a distinctive tartness. Lambic beers are then aged in wooden barrels, allowing them to develop complex flavours over months or even years like a fine wine.


Modern Sours and Revival


In the 20th century, the rise of industrial brewing and the preference for cleaner and more standardized flavours led to a decline in sour beer production and popularity. However, in recent decades, a resurgence of interest in traditional brewing methods and experimentation has brought sour beer back into the spotlight. Craft brewers around the world have embraced and expanded upon the historic style, incorporating various fruits, herbs, and spices to create some truly unique and innovative flavour combinations.


In recent years, craft beer enthusiasts have begun to seek out the tangy and complex flavours offered by a quality sour beer, appreciating their refreshing acidity and wide-ranging taste profiles. Styles such as Gose, Berliner Weisse, Fruited Sours, and Pastry Sours certainty have seen a revival and are a welcome addition to the craft beer scene here in Ireland as well as abroad!


Right, we’re sure all that reading has made you mighty thirsty! So, what do we recommend for the novice or the connoisseur? Here are five handpicked by our resident craft beer enthusiasts. 


Our Recommendations:


 


1. Boon Kriek


Hard not to start the list off with this rather iconic sour brew! Kriek Boon is a spontaneous fermentation beer made from aged and un-aged Lambic aged in oak barrels. The beautiful deep red colour comes from the 250g of Galicia cherries added per litre, adding a subtle sweet and utterly refreshing taste of red cherries to the beer. Truly sublime on a summer's day!


ABV: 4% | €5.20 



2. Wicklow Wolf Raindrop


Part of Wicklow Wolf’s core range and a mixed berry sour you don’t want to miss! Brewed with a healthy portion of raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries to give you all those jammy, ripe red berry fruits, along with some crisp tartness. A refreshing, alcoholic take on your five a day!


ABV: 4.2% | €3.50



 

3. Vocation Death By Margarita Lime Sour


They say Death comes with a salted rim... This bright, zesty, sour beer by Vocation is inspired by the classic Mexican cocktail, and certainly achieves this goal in the flavour department! Lots of bright citrus lime sourness balanced by agave's subtle smoky sweetness, and a flaky sea-salt finish.


ABV: 4.5% | €4.70



4. SKA Pink Vapor Stew Sour 


From across the pond in the USA, comes this tropical medley of citrus, sour, and tart flavours blended together into a vibrant pink vapor stew! There's a bit of everything in this sour, including Citra and Belma hops, beets, carrots, ginger, and apples -- all in glorious beer form!


ABV: 5.1% | €3.15


 

5. Rye River Revelry Red Lemonade Sour 


Ready to revel in red lemonade goodness? Then be sure to check out this seasonal sour made in collab between Rye River Brewing and Siren Craft Brewing! Revelry Red Lemonade is packed full of sour lemons, tart raspberries, and sharp cherry flavours. Like drinking a refreshing red lemonade with some added volume!


ABV: 4.5% | €5.00


We hope you enjoyed our blog post! If you still can’t find that perfect beer, then be sure to browse our full range of sour beers, New In, Sales, and between here on Craft Beers Delivered! Lastly, make sure to follow us on our Instagram, Facebook & Twitter to see our latest updates such as new in’s, sales, recommended brews, and competitions!


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