Exploring the Top Ten Sour Beer: A Journey Through Tangy Delights with a Focus on Asheville Breweries

Sour beers have taken the craft beer world by storm, offering a refreshing departure from traditional beer styles. Their unique fermentation processes, often utilizing wild yeast strains and various types of bacteria, yield complex flavors that can range from tart and tangy to fruity and funky. For beer enthusiasts and newcomers alike, finding the perfect sour can be an exciting adventure. In this blog post, we’ll not only explore the top ten sour beers but also highlight some exceptional breweries in Asheville, North Carolina, a city renowned for its vibrant craft beer scene.

#### What is a Sour Beer?

Before diving into our top picks, let’s define what a sour beer is. Sour beers are characterized by their tart flavor, which is primarily the result of lactic acid produced during fermentation. This acidity can come from various sources, including wild yeast strains like Brettanomyces and the addition of fruits and spices. Sour beers can be broadly classified into several categories, including:

1. **Berliner Weisse**: A mildly sour wheat beer.
2. **Gose**: A salty and sour ale often brewed with coriander and salt.
3. **Flanders Red Ale**: A complex, fruity, and sour style from Belgium.
4. **Lambic**: A traditional Belgian style that can be spontaneously fermented with wild yeast.
5. **American Wild Ale**: A catch-all term for many sour beers brewed in the United States.

Now that we have a clearer understanding of sour beers, let’s delve into our top ten picks, including some fantastic offerings from Asheville breweries.

#### 1. **The Bruery Terreux — Tart Of Darkness**
From California, this imperial stout blended with dark roasted malts undergoes a lengthy fermentation that introduces notes of dark fruit and oak. Its sourness is balanced perfectly with rich chocolate flavors, making it an intriguing and sophisticated choice for sour beer lovers.

#### 2. **Russian River — Supplication**
This Flanders-style brown ale is aged in used Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with sour cherries. The result is a complex tapestry of tartness, oak, and fruity flavors that are a hallmark of Russian River’s renowned sour program. Supplication stands out for its balanced acidity and smooth finish.

#### 3. **Allagash — Coolship Resurgam**
Allagash Brewing Company’s Coolship Resurgam is a blend of aged and fresh blonde ales fermented with wild yeast. This beer presents a beautifully delicate tartness with notes of citrus and stone fruits. Coolship Resurgam epitomizes Allagash’s commitment to excellence in sour brewing.

#### 4. **Oxbow — Lyev**
An elegant Farmhouse Ale brewed with brettanomyces, Lyev showcases a delightful mix of tartness and funky yeast. This beer is light-bodied, with hints of lemon and a dry, refreshing finish. Oxbow is well-respected for their focus on wild and farmhouse styles, making Lyev a must-try for sour beer aficionados.

#### 5. **Cyclic — Lacto Kettle Sours**
Cyclic Brewing has made waves in the craft beer scene with their Lacto Kettle Sours, which aim to achieve a clean, approachable sour profile. These beers are refreshing and well-balanced, making them a great gateway into the world of sour beers for novices. Expect fruity notes and light acidity.

#### 6. **Sierra Nevada — Wild Little Things**
Sierra Nevada’s Wild Little Things is a Berliner Weisse-style ale that blends bright fruit flavors with a crisp, tart edge. This refreshing beer is perfect for summer sipping, showcasing notes of passionfruit and tart citruses without overwhelming acidity.

#### 7. **Duclaw — Sweet Baby Jesus!**
A chocolate peanut butter porter that brings an unexpected sour twist, Sweet Baby Jesus! offers a rich, nutty flavor with a tangy finish. This beer challenges traditional boundaries and provides a unique tasting experience that lovers of both stouts and sours will appreciate.

#### 8. **Dogfish Head — SeaQuench Ale**
A session sour with a blend of lime, sea salt, and coriander, SeaQuench Ale is refreshing and light, making it ideal for hot summer days. This beer emphasizes drinkability and zest, appealing to both sour lovers and the average beer drinker.

#### 9. **Asheville Brewing Company — The Mothership**
A standout in Asheville’s brewing community, Asheville Brewing Company’s The Mothership is a mixed fermentation sour beer that offers notes of peach and apricot with a funky, refreshing finish. This patron favorite showcases the region’s commitment to innovative brewing.

#### 10. **Wicked Weed — Dr. Dank**
Wicked Weed, one of Asheville’s most famous breweries, provides a diverse portfolio. Dr. Dank, while not a traditional sour, incorporates flavors from their sour program, lending it a bright, hoppy, and slightly tart finish. This beer bridges the gap between hoppy and sour realms, making it a versatile option.

### Asheville Breweries: A Sour’s Paradise

As mentioned, Asheville is a veritable paradise for sour beer lovers. With an ever-expanding craft beer scene, you’ll find numerous breweries dedicated to perfecting this unique style. Let’s take a closer look at some notable Asheville breweries renowned for their sour offerings.

#### **1. Wicked Weed Brewing**
One of the pioneers of sour beer in Asheville, Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium is entirely dedicated to sour and wild ales. Their barrel-aged sour beers are both experimental and refined, making them a must-visit for anyone looking to sample exceptional sour ales.

#### **2. Burial Beer Co.**
Known for their edgy and bold craft brews, Burial Beer Co. excels in crafting sours that balance intense flavors and refreshing tartness. Their sours often feature local ingredients, ensuring a unique taste of Asheville in every sip.

#### **3. Green Man Brewery**
With a commitment to traditional brewing methods, Green Man has ventured into sour territory with great success. Their award-winning sour ales demonstrate the brewery’s dedication to flavor complexity, making it a staple in Asheville’s craft beer landscape.

#### **4. Hi-Wire Brewing**
Hi-Wire Brewing offers a range of sour beers that are approachable and delicious. Their Sour Blonde Ale and other offerings are great examples of how they blend fruitiness with a satisfying sour profile, appealing to a broad audience.

### Conclusion

Sour beers provide an exciting twist on traditional craft brewing, and for those adventurous enough to explore this tangy realm, the experience can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re in Asheville or elsewhere, there’s no shortage of innovative sour beers to sample. So, pour a glass, savor the complexity, and enjoy the refreshing tartness that these top ten sour beers and Asheville breweries have to offer. Happy sipping!