written by Steve Villani President of Global Beer Network
Sour beer lovers are paving the way for a fun new beer category that may someday rival the IPA.
India Pale Ales have been the rage of the change in the American beer industry over the last decade. These brews are categorized by the bitter flavor characteristic of the almighty hop leaf. The hoppier the better... The U.S. market has become flooded with this style of brew and Hop Heads from coast to coast could not be more mouthwateringly pleased...
While the IPA craze continues to grow, a new segment is beginning to emerge... THE FLEMISH SOUR... Although the sour category is still a small niche within the already small craft beer segment, the passion for these brews are very similar to their flavor, INTENSE. These beers are definitely an acquired taste like big oaky red wines, but once you're engaged in the craze your taste buds will hold no boundaries.
These ales are complicated to produce but are the passion of many Belgian brewers. The beer is brewed then piped into oak casks where they mature between two and three years!!!
The oak is porous allowing a measured amount of oxygen to invade the brew, which over time thoroughly sours the beer. The finished product, known as the "Mother Brew" is either blended with fresh sweet beer. (Flemish Red) or directly packaged for sale for the most extreme Sour Puss...
Two great examples of these sour beers are Petrus Aged Pale and Monk's Cafe. Aged Pale is the mother brew of the Petrus Aging Cellar from Brouwerij Bavik. This beer was once only used to blend with other Petrus brands until the late great beer writer Michael Jackson persuaded the brewer to package the beer for sale. WARNING: Petrus Aged Pale is for the extreme Sour Puss only...
Many beer lovers replace their New Year's Eve Champagne toast with this type of Ale.
Monk's Cafe is a more-friendly version for Sour Puss wannabees. This beer, brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge takes the mother brew and beautifully blends it with fresh sweet beer. The nose has a vinegar bite leading the drinker to believe that the beer will be VERY sour. However, the beer hits the pallet sweet, which causes a true explosion of flavour... Some will tell you the brew is sweet while others will tell you it's sour. This beverage is the perfect match with sweet and sour dishes (Asian Food), Mexican Food, Dessert, or even as a salad dressing...
