Brado Cherry Sour

The Brado hits you with cherry first—not artificial, but bright and almost juicy, like biting into the fruit itself. There's a clean tartness underneath that's refreshing rather than puckering, and it finishes dry without the wine-like oxidation you might expect from a wild ale. It's approachable enough that you won't need to prepare yourself for it, but complex enough that you'll keep finding new angles as it warms up. At 6% ABV, it disappears faster than you'd think.

New Belgium La Folie

La Folie opens with a funky, vinegary nose—not off-putting, but definitely asking you to lean in. On the palate, there's this beautiful balance between tart cherry, barnyard earthiness, and a subtle woodiness that suggests serious oak time. The mouthfeel is drier than the Brado, almost wine-like, and there's a lingering complexity that makes you want to sit with it. This is a beer that's better at the 7% ABV than the Brado because it has the structure to carry all that funk.