The Top 10 Barrel Aged Sour Beers Brewed in America
This Top Ten List of Barrel Aged Sour Beers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. The best barrel aged sour beers are beers(lagers, ales or hybrid beers, either a traditional style or a unique experimental beers) that have been aged for a period of time in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood and has developed a bacterial induced natural acidity. Entries are aged with the intention of imparting the particularly unique character micro flora present in the wood.
1. Cable Car – Lost Abbey – California
2. The Topsail – Cape May Brewing – New Jersey
3. Plum Creek Sour – Rockyard American Grill & Brewing – Colorado
4. New Fashioned – Pure Project – California
5. Train to Beersel – Bruery Terreux – California
6. Prichard’s BA Excommunication – Max Lagers Brewery – Georgia
7. 5th Anniversary Tequila Sour – Loveland Aleworks – Colorado
8. Red Hole Sun – JDubs Brewing – Florida
9. Sue – Hill Farmstead – Vermont
10. Temptation – Russian River Brewing – California
History of Barrel Aged Sour Beers
Barrel-aged sour beers trace their origins to centuries-old European brewing traditions, particularly in Belgium, where spontaneous fermentation defined early sour styles like lambics. Brewers in regions like Flanders left wort exposed to wild yeasts and bacteria, often aging it in wooden barrels for months or years, allowing complex microbial activity to impart tart, funky flavors. These barrels, typically oak and previously used for wine or spirits, contributed nuanced characteristics like vanilla, oak, or fruit notes. By the 19th century, styles like Flanders Red and Oud Bruin emerged, blending aged and young beers to balance acidity and depth, with breweries like Rodenbach refining the process. The unpredictability of wild fermentation and barrel aging made each batch unique, cementing these beers as artisanal products rooted in tradition.
The modern revival of barrel-aged sour beers began in the late 20th century as craft brewers, particularly in the United States, rediscovered and innovated on these traditional methods. American breweries like New Belgium and Russian River, inspired by Belgian techniques, started experimenting with barrels and wild yeasts in the 1990s and 2000s, creating beers like La Folie and Supplication. These brewers expanded the style by using diverse barrels—bourbon, whiskey, or wine—and incorporating fruits, spices, or blended fermentation techniques. The rise of craft beer culture fueled global interest, with breweries worldwide now producing barrel-aged sours, ranging from tart fruit-forward beers to deeply complex, vinegar-like brews, making the style a cornerstone of modern craft brewing.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged