The Alehouse is known for its wide range of beers on its 23 taps, but tonight, one flavor profile dominates the chalkboard: Sour.

Known for their acidic, tart flavors, sours can be a challenging beer for the newer palate. When you learn to embrace sharp, fruity tones, you open up a whole new world of beer. The Alehouse normally hosts a sour ale or two every few months, but right now, they’ve got five sour beers to pucker your taste buds. Tim was behind the bar, acting as a guide for visitors who were new to the world of sours. His recommendation stick with The Bruery, an Orange County-based brewing company that is tearing up the sour scene.

1.”Start with the Oude Tart,” he said, referring to The Bruery’s Flemish-style red ale. The fruity ale is mildly sour with cherry and leather notes, making for an easy, flavorful entry into the category.

2. Next up? The Sour in the Rye, brewed with a 40% rye malt as a base, which ramps up the sour from the Oude Tart. The sour, vinegar notes threat to overwhelm, but they eventually give way to smooth oak and bourbon notes.

3. Finally, the best of the bunch: The Bruery’s Tart of Darkness. This stout sour is loaded with depth: the strong cherry sour hits you up front, then the stout comes through - vanilla and chocolate notes sand the rough edges off of the fruity tartness. It’s loaded with taste - you couldn’t chug it. Which is appropriate, because this one is meant to be savored.