BJCP 28D · American Wild Ale
Straight Sour Beer
A clean sour beer made with Lactobacillus only: clear, dry, very pale, with no Brett and a bit stronger than a Berliner Weisse.
Straight Sour Beer by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.5 – 7.0%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 3 – 8 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 2 – 3 SRM4–6 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.048 – 1.065on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.006 – 1.013on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Straight Sour Beer is like
A pale, refreshing sour beer with clean lactic acidity and none of the funky character of Brettanomyces. It's stronger than a Berliner Weisse and often serves as a base for fruit or other ingredients.
Appearance
Very pale, yellow to light gold. Clear to slightly hazy. White head with poor retention.
Aroma
Clean lactic sourness with some grain or bread and wheat. Low to no hops. No funk or vinegar notes.
Flavor
Moderate to high clean lactic sourness over a simple grainy background. Very low bitterness. Dry, refreshing finish.
Mouthfeel
Light to medium-light body. High carbonation.
Where Straight Sour Beer comes from
It's a modern style born from the kettle sour technique, which lets craft breweries produce clean sours in days instead of months. The 2021 BJCP guidelines added it as its own style.
Ingredients
Pilsner or pale malt and a good share of wheat, minimal hops, Lactobacillus for souring and a clean ale yeast for fermentation.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Straight Sour Beer at home
Lower the wort pH to about 4.5 with lactic acid before pitching the Lactobacillus, to prevent infections, and hold it at 35-45 °C (95-113 °F) with no oxygen until it reaches a pH of 3.2-3.5. Then boil to kill the bacteria and ferment with a clean ale yeast at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). The classic mistake is letting it sour unchecked until vomit or cheesy aromas show up.
Food pairing
Ceviche, salads with vinaigrette and fresh cheeses.
Glassware: Teku glass, a tasting glass that works with almost any style.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Straight Sour Beer?
Between 4.5% and 7.0% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Straight Sour Beer?
It has 3 to 8 IBUs, a very low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Straight Sour Beer?
Straw: 2 to 3 SRM (4 to 6 EBC).
What food pairs well with Straight Sour Beer?
Ceviche, salads with vinaigrette and fresh cheeses.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Berliner Weisse, Gose and Catharina Sour.
If you like Straight Sour Beer, try these
Classification and statistics: official Straight Sour Beer guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.