Girls on Beer: Sour Edition

Consider the world of beer-drinking no longer an all-boys club, with thirsty females eagerly training their palates to understand beer styles and to speak to hop profiles, shaping the beer industry into one co-ed playground. With females invading beer tastings and dinners just as quickly as males, the beer-savvy ladies of the PA Eats team have joined forces to debut the Girls on Beer drinking series, where each month we highlight six suds lovers who come bearing gifts—craft beer, of course.

The latest Girls on Beer tasting panel spotlighted the mouth-puckering, funky world of sour beers. With the undefined category of “sour” beer ranging from the tart-ridden styles like Flemish reds, lambics, krieks, berliner weisse and so many more, we collected seven females to scout out which zippy big bottles they were dying to try.

With 10 eclectic bottles to be sampled touting labels featuring those million-dollar yeast and bacteria words like pediococcus, lactobacillus and brettanomyces (i.e., you spy these words and you’re guaranteed some funk), we put our palates to the test through a sea of barrel-aged beers and more.

Before you drink up our latest beer reviews from our female-only tasting panel, consider this disclaimer: The girls behind this beer series believe that there’s a beer for every female—and male—drinker. Whether you love or hate the hops, sours, etc., there’s a beer out there for you. Each session, our panel features a collection of drinkers, from the novice to the connoisseur—all of which are entitled to their opinions and encouraged to express them below.

Meet June’s Tasting Panel:

Melissa Woodley of PA Eats | Came slinging: Cascade Brewing Co.’s Apricot and Evil Twin + Crooked Stave’s Ryan & the Gosling

Heather Hufnagel, medicinal chemist | Came slinging: Jolly Pumpkin’s Bam Biere

Nadine Banks, brewer of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, previously of McKenzie Brew House | Came slinging: McKenzie Brew House’s It Was a Dark & Stormy Night

Ronna Dewey of PA Eats | Came slinging: Jolly Pumpkin’s Oro de Calabaza

Nina Cazille of Nina Lea Photography | Came slinging: Ommegang’s Wild at Heart, Rodenbach Grand Cru

Andie Bicho of Victory Brewing Co. | Came slinging: Petrus’ Aged Red, Weyerbacher’s Riserva

Amy Strauss of PA Eats | Came slinging: Strubbe’s Flemish Red Ale Grand Cru

The Beers:

Jolly Pumpkin’s Oro de Calabaza

This was well received by the rest of the ladies, but I wasn’t such a fan. I found it to be too hoppy for my taste, with too much carbonation and a spicy finish, without a sour component. —Melissa

This was a pleasing crisp clean beer closer to a saison than Belgian ale.  Would buy this again and pair with a spicy tuna wrap! —Heather

Golden with a slight haze, tastes of pineapple, peach and tangerine, with a dry finish.  More of a funky saison than a sour.  —Nadine

Aroma is citrus fruit. This is a subtle sour and drinks more like a saison. —Ronna

This had a light, cloudy amber appearance, I got pineapple and orange on the nose and I found it dry, crisp with a light tangerine taste. I found it blah, boring, not the typical sour and more saison-like with a slight hop. —Nina

I think that it reminded me more of a saison. There were not too many sour notes. —Andie

Attracted to the complex yeast profile in this golden beauty, one that features the characteristics of both Belgian and wild ales, I gave this bottle two thumbs up. Light bodied, high in carbonation and rocking the funkiness of most well-done farmhouse saisons, I’d repeat drink this release—especially due to its vibrant hop backbone. —Amy

Ommegang’s Wild at Heart

Someone identified that this tasted like bread or uncooked dough, but mixed with sweet berries. It wasn’t sour but had lots of malty sweetness—it’s still a beer I’d have again. —Melissa

This was a nice tart beer with a good hop presence. Well-made wild ale. —Heather

Deep amber in color and smelled like bread, with a very dry fruitiness. —Nadine

This beer smells like yeast with a hint of citrus. It tastes of a sweet dough with slight hint of tartness. —Ronna

A rich amber color that smelled of uncooked dough and yeast. My taste description of this one was that it reminded me of tomato pie with the dough, slight sweetness and an herbal quality. —Nina

Good balance and a little tartness. —Andie

Subtle in tartness, and teetering on the drier side, this snappy wild ale is an interesting ride of bright flavors—from pineapples and mangos to lemons and even green apples. The most intriguing aspect of the tasting was its comparison to champagne—and lots of tiny bubbles. —Amy

Strubbe’s Flemish Red Ale Grand Cru

Rich and smooth, with lots of dark fruit flavors, this was a delicious beer I’d love to have again, especially with dessert. It was perhaps the closest I’ve had to a red wine-tasting beer, but it wasn’t sour. It was also the first bottle to be finished, so that’s saying something. —Melissa

This beer was very bland, not sweet, not sour; huge presence of grapes in both odor and taste. —Heather

Very clear, almost wine-like, with notes of dark fruits (raisins, figs, prunes). —Nadine

Aroma is of dark fruits like cherries and cranberries. Tastes like raisins, figs and red wine. —Ronna

Dark reddish almost red wine appearance, smelling of raisins and dark cherries and tasting similar with hints of dark fruit, plum, raisin with a sweet finish. Found this to be very drinkable, smooth and a great intro/starter for the beer drinker just getting acquainted with sours. —Nina

Dark and figgy, more sweet than sour. —Andie

This would be an ideal gateway sour, with the overall sourness more than subtle than some. Deep ruby red with a tart cherry nose, this Flemish featured a nice mix of dark fruit, wine, oak, vinegar and a pinch of grapefruit. Most of all, I loved it for its surprising approachability. —Amy

Petrus’ Aged Red

This tasted super fruity, like fermenting cherries, but wasn’t as sour as I would have liked. It reminded us a bit of cherry soda in the aroma. —Melissa

Sweet cherry flavor which did not balance with the flavor of the alcohol. The flavors did not blend, reminiscent of cherry cold medicine. —Heather

Deep ruby color, with an aroma that started out like cherry soda but got medicinal. Was also more tart than sour. —Nadine

This beer’s aroma reminded me of Frank’s Black Cherry Wishniak soda, but tasted boozy and medicinal. It was more tart than sour. —Ronna

Murky dark red in color, sweet fig and amarena cherries smell that tasted like black cherry soda. Felt this had more a of boozy taste and I would definitely order this one again. —Nina

Dark sour cherries. —Andie

Profoundly cherry on its nose, Petrus is almost candy-sweet. However, its vast oaky finish helps mellow out its syrupy body, as does its medium-bodied carbonation. My first reaction to the taste was Luden’s cough drops. —Amy

Cascade Brewing’s Apricot Ale

The first truly sour beer of the night, this had the sour punch that I love. I didn’t detect much apricot flavor, but it had well-rounded sweetness and a dry finish. —Melissa

This is the epitome of a sour to me. The apricot was tampered with notes of lemon and spice with a nice clean bite. Would be surprisingly good over ice. I will definitely buy this and other Cascade ales. —Heather

It had a golden/straw color, with a candy-like aroma that got more floral as it sat out, and a nice, dry finish. —Nadine

The nose was funky with hints of apricot and lemon. This was highly sour with an underlying sweetness. Loved it! Rate: 4.5 out of 5. —Ronna

Was straw-like in color with the aroma of sour patch kids, peach and apricot. This was really the first true sour I felt we had of the night, but it was definitely not offensively sour with a touch of sediment. —Nina

Reminded me of SweeTARTS. In my opinion, the best of night’s bunch! —Andie

As the first beer of the night to literally make our mouths pucker, Cascade succeeded in lacing together a tart, semi-dry release that prickles with preserved sour. Lots of big-flavored Belgian yeasts swirling around with this one. —Amy

Weyerbacher’s Riserva

I didn’t remember this being as tart and spicy the last time I’d had it, and it was super sour on this tasting. It got better as it warmed up a bit. —Melissa 

The second best sour of the night for me. This had a perfect blend of raspberry and lemon with a nice clean finish. Good job Weyerbacher! —Heather

It was deep amber color with notes of lemon, berry, spice and pepper, almost like raspberry seeds, and was dry and tart. —Nadine

This was a beer that I absolutely loved a year ago so it was interesting to taste it again. It had a very tart raspberry and citrus aroma that hinted at the sour taste that was to come. This is the first beer of the night that made me pucker.  —Ronna

Auburn in color with a big citrus nose and it was the first beer to give me the “sour shiver.” Lots of pucker with a strawberry finish.  —Nina 

Tart berries or a raspberry lemonade flavor. —Andie

For being over 11% ABV, the booze is certainly masked in this hazy amber release. Its features an intriguing ride of raspberry and lemon, caramel and oak. The lingering acidic finish is the “money” of this beer; it punches your taste buds while nudging you to have some more. —Amy

Evil Twin + Crooked Stave’s Ryan & the Gosling

“Hey girl, this kinda tastes like watered-down dirty beer.” I bought this for the name. No one was a fan. —Melissa 

Ok gotta admit to loving the name and label better than the beer. This was very weak with very little flavor. The odor was slightly offensive like dirty water. —Heather

Aroma was citrus fruit with some Brett funkiness. The beer tasted fruity at first, but finished bready. It doesn’t taste as sour as it smells. This was my lowest rated beer of the night. —Ronna

Light golden color with a typical sour smell, tasted dirty.  This one was an oxymoron for me because the taste and aroma didn’t match for me and I was not a fan. —Nina

This had more of a pineapple flavor and not too much sour. —Andie 

It’s always a thrill to judge a beer by its label and throw a “wild card” bottle into Girls on Beer. We’re girls—hence, anything Ryan Gosling fares well in our celeb-loving boats. However, our anticipated heartthrob tasting was more comparable to Screech, with the Brett-infused pale ale lacking any prevalent funkiness. The Citra hop and citrus peel though were nice enough accessories, although can’t say I’d seek or snag this bottle again. —Amy

McKenzie Brew House’s It Was a Dark & Stormy Night 

Deliciously dark, sweet and boozy. Rich, dark fruits but dry. Pleasantly sour. Great with chocolate cake. —Melissa

Great dark beer to sip with sour desserts like lemon bars! The chocolate and licorice notes worked well with the lemon bar for me. —Heather

Deep brown, with notes of dark fruits and chocolate. I might be biased, but this was one of my favorites. — Nadine

The aroma was chocolate and dark fruits. It tasted like chocolate-covered raisins and red wine. My top pick of the night.  —Ronna

Dark auburn in color with a fruit cake nose and lots of raisin, fig and dates on the palate. Didn’t blow me away.  —Nina

More stone fruit flavor with chocolate notes. I also thought that this one was quite tasty. —Andie 

An enticing mix of oak and vanilla kickstarted the aroma of this rich brown-hued release, which was followed up with a candied fruit and red wine characteristics. Medium-bodied and possessing a tart, dry finish, this sour-esque quad offered a whole new playing field in our night of sour beer tasting.  —Amy

       Jolly Pumpkin’s Bam Biere

I wasn’t sure if I had been handed beer or a root beer float, there was so much stiff foam. Once it dissipated, it wasn’t much better—bitter and weak, and not sour like we’d hoped. —Melissa 

This beer was a disappointing weak sour mess. Not pleasing. —Heather

Dark brown in color and I couldn’t get past the coffee notes. Was not a big fan. —Nadine

Aroma was sour citrus with a bit of a grassy smell. It tasted bitter with a dry, funky finish. —Ronna 

Dark auburn with sour citrus notes with a lemon zest and green coffee finish. Think that this would be another good sour introduction beer to those unfamiliar.  —Nina 

This has some subtle sour notes. Not high on my list. —Andie 

Light-bodied and fizzy, this farmhouse ale was a mild contender in the night sour beer tasting, with notes of funk, yeast, lemon and biscuit malts shyly making appearances as the pour warmed up. Consider it more suitable in the subtle saison category and nowhere near as punchy as most sour beers. —Amy

Rodenbach Grand Cru

We ended on a high note with another sweetly sour and fruity beer. A good dose of yeastiness evened things out for a complex flavor profile. —Melissa 

This beer was defined as the classic Belgian Sour to me. I was expecting something good and was so disappointed. The flavor was just bitter but if anything there were hints of blue cheese in this creation. Not to buy this again. —Heather

Also dark brown but really well balanced. —Nadine

Aroma is sour cherries, balsamic vinegar with a hint of oak. This beer tastes much more sour than it smells, so that can be a surprise. —Ronna

Dark raisin in color with the aroma of sweat and funky feet. The taste brought funky plum and dark fermented fruit. I know some call this the “Grandad of Sours” but I couldn’t enjoy it at all.  —Nina

Dark, fruity and funky—a classic sour. —Andie

Pouring a hot tub worth of bubbles that pepper your tongue through each sip, this chestnut-hued finale was one of my top picks of the night. Featuring the usual sour beer suspects: sour cherries, red wine-like tannins, oak and a cool, herbal-citrus finish, this was a classic example of what a sour beer should be. I’d certainly have it again! —Amy

Love or hate a beer we reviewed in Girls on Beer: Sour Edition? Share with us in the comments. If looking to dive into the tart-heavy world of sour beers, consider of the above releases, as participant Andie suggests that “most of these were good introductory sours.”

Follow PA Eats’s Girls on Beer series socially (on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram) by following #GirlsonBeer. Want to participate in the next tasting? Email Amy Strauss with your interest at [email protected].

• Photography: Nina Lea Photograhy