Top Sour Beers In Denver
Friek (credit: Odell Brewing Company)Beer comes in many different colors, tastes, and varieties. While stouts, porters, ales, and IPA's are more traditional brewing styles, the sour beer has become increasingly popular. Their tart flavors and smooth finishes have ignited a thirst for this "new" style, and as a result, sour beers are popping up on menus across the nation. Here in Denver, also known as the "Napa Valley of Beer," we have more than 240 different microbreweries, meaning we get a steady stream of hip libations and fresh suds flowing through our state on a regular basis. As a result, we have some of the best sour beer in the nation. Here are five of the best sour beers from local breweries you can find here in Denver.
Odell Brewing Company
800 E. Lincoln Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 498-9070
www.odellbrewing.com
2015's edition of Friek consists of multiple KRIEK lambic ales fermented with wild yeast and cherries. The beer is then moved into oak barrels to age and sour, giving it a chance to grasp the flavors of the cherries. Hand-picked raspberries from a local Fort Collins farm are then added prior to the final blending, giving this beer a sweet and fruity, yet tart, flavor. You can find it on tap at the Odell Brewery, or occasionally at Star Bar in Denver.
Breckenridge Brewery
2220 Blake St.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 297-3644
www.breckbrew.com
Breckenridge Brewery's Sour Cranberry Bock is as unique as it gets in the beer industry. It's both sweet and sour, and you can definitely taste the bourbon notes with the finish, giving it a peculiarly interesting taste only Breckenridge Brewery could come up with. Breckenridge is known for unique and delicious beers, and this is no exception. This can be found on tap at their brewery here in Denver, and has been spotted at a few joints in the past, including Rita's and Kenosha Steakhouse in Breckenridge.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company
2810 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 722-2810
www.omfbeer.com
Our Mutual Friend's American Wild Ale can best be described as "Barnyard Funk." It contains oaky flavors, hints of pickle brine, and most importantly, a sour-citrus flavor. It has a light palate followed by a smooth, crisp finish. You can find it on tap at Our Mutual Friend's tap house, but check before you go, as they rotate their taps on a weekly basis.
Related: Top Fall Craft Beers In Denver
Crooked Stave Brewery
3350 Brighton Blvd.
Denver, CO 80216
(720) 550-8860
www.crookedstave.com
Crooked Stave's Blackberry Petite Sour is an unfiltered wild ale, aged in oak barrels full of blackberries. It has a seriously sour greeting, accompanied by a citrusy, fruity palate, followed by a dry, tart finish. It has a fruity aroma which goes well with the flavor, and you can find it on tap on location at Crooked Stave's Brewery.
New Belgium Brewery
500 Linden St.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 221-0524
www.newbelgium.com
French for "The Folly," this beer is rooted in New Belgium tradition. It's aged for one to three years in oak barrels in order to fully embrace the flavors mixed in. Once it hits the tongue, green apple, cherry, and plum-skin notes become prevalent. The finish is tart and smooth, and will leave you puckering as you anxiously await the next sip.
