Straight Sour Beer
- Recipes:
- 46
- BJCP 2021:
- 28D
- Fermentation:
- Top
- Color:
- Pale
Profile
Straight Sour Beer is a style that emphasizes the tart and tangy sensory experience derived from deliberate souring techniques. It does not fit neatly into the traditional, historical European sour styles like Lambic or Flanders Red but rather represents a newer approach, often seen in American craft brewing, where the brewers harness specific strains of bacteria and sometimes wild yeasts to produce acidity without necessarily adhering to regional or historical guidelines.
The hallmark of this style is its flavor and aroma profile where lactic acid-generated tartness prevails, providing a clean and refreshing sour character that should dominate but not completely overshadow other flavors. A pleasingly sour nose accompanies this tanginess with hints of fruitiness and funkiness potentially present depending on fermentation specifics. Hop character is usually low in both bitterness and aroma, allowing the sharpness of the beer to lead. The malt tends to play a supporting role with subdued sweetness that might peek through the sour veil but remains far from prominent. When considering its place among other beer styles, Straight Sour Beers provide an accessible gateway for those curious about sour beer traditions without delving into more complex styles like Gueuze or aged sours with heavier funk characteristics driven by specific regional microflora.
Specifications
Alcohol
Specification
4.5 – 7.0 %
In Database
3.8 < 4.5 < 6.1 %
Bitterness
Specification
3 – 8 IBU
In Database
4 < 7 < 10 IBU
Color
Specification
4 – 6 EBC
2 – 3 SRM
In Database
5 < 6 < 7 EBC
2 < 3 < 3 SRM
Original Extract
Specification
11.9 – 15.8 °P
1.048 – 1.065 OG
In Database
8.8 < 9.9 < 13.2 °P
1.035 < 1.040 < 1.054 OG
Final Gravity
Specification
1.5 – 3.3 °P
1.006 – 1.013 FG
In Database
0.9 < 1.5 < 2.8 °P
1.003 < 1.006 < 1.011 FG
