My favorite part of what I call the Craft Beer Revolution is getting to try so many new beers. There isn't enough days in the year to try them all - but I'm working on it.
And just like it took me a while to develop a palate for India Pale Ales (IPAs) years ago when there was a surge on the market, I have finally acquired an appreciation for sour beer. For those of you who don't know beer styles, I don't mean a beer that has gone bad, but a distinctive (and very unique) type.
One of the brands that led me over the hurdle (sours tend to take some getting used to for many people) is by a small Illinois brewery called Destihl. Destihl has several lines of excellent craft beers and one of those is Wild Sour. Within the Wild Sour line is the Here Gose Nothin' - their interpretation of a Gose sour style beer. More on that shortly.
Despite the fact that sour beer is just now growing in popularity here in the United States, it is actually the oldest type of beer. That is because all beer was somewhat sour before the advent of "modern" pasteurization and sterilization.
Today, the sour in sour beer comes from the usage of wild bacteria and yeasts. The result of using these ingredients can be really sour or just earthy and tart. And within the beers called sours, are several styles.
Destihl Brewery makes several in their Wild Sour line and as the name implies, one type is a Gose - a German style made with coriander and sea salt. While it is not a strict Gose, it is nonetheless a great introduction to that style and to sour beer in general.
As Destihl describes, their Here Gose Nothin' features "complex aromas and acidic flavors contributed by indigenous wild yeast and lactic fermentation. Lemon, lime and other citrus-like qualities are balanced by the spicy character of coriander and a mineral-mouthfeel from French sea salt, resulting in a refreshing beer that was worth the risk."
One other aspect I have learned about sours, is they are better enjoyed in snifter style beer glasses or even large wine glasses.
Give a sour beer a try, and if you can get your hands on Here Gose Nothin' - even better.
