Almanac Beer Co. built its whole identity around a farm-to-barrel philosophy, sourcing fruit directly from California farms for its barrel-aged sours. Dogpatch Sour pays tribute to the Flanders red style, aged in wine barrels with California Rainier cherries and fermented with a house blend of wild yeast, bacteria and San Francisco sourdough culture, an unusual and distinctly local touch.
Almanac Dogpatch Sour at a glance
| Style | American wild ale (Flanders red inspired) |
| ABV | Around 7.5%, varies by batch |
| Calories | Around 220 per 12 fl oz |
| Origin | Almanac Beer Co., San Francisco, California, USA |
| Ingredients | Red ale base, California Rainier cherries, wine barrels, wild yeast, bacteria, sourdough culture |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten free | No, contains barley |
| Typical price | Around $14 to $20 for a 375ml bottle |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Dogpatch Sour is lightly tart rather than intensely puckering, letting the cherries and wine barrel character lead.
The full review
It pours a pinkish-red colour reflecting the Rainier cherry addition, with a spritzy, short-lived head. The aroma carries sour berry, sherbet-like fruit and a hint of vanilla when the barrel-aged variant is used, layered over the wine barrel’s tannic structure.
On the palate, dark cherry fruit comes through immediately alongside a hint of woody oak, with the sourness playing a supporting rather than dominant role. It is a lightly tart ale rather than an aggressively sour one, closer to a fruited red wine than a puckering lambic.
The San Francisco sourdough culture is a genuinely unusual ingredient choice, and while it is a subtle contributor rather than a defining flavour, it fits Almanac’s whole farm-to-barrel, hyper-local approach to sour beer.
A Flanders red built entirely from Bay Area ingredients, right down to a house sourdough culture.
- Genuinely local, farm-to-barrel ingredient sourcing
- Real Rainier cherries rather than extract or puree
- Approachable, lightly tart profile for Flanders red newcomers
- Limited distribution outside California
- Milder sourness than traditional Flanders red for purists
- Batch variation typical of barrel-aged, small-scale production
Who it is for
Drinkers who want a genuinely local, farm-to-barrel take on Flanders red, and anyone who prefers a gentler, fruit-forward sour over the driest traditional examples.
Almanac Dogpatch Sour FAQs
What does Almanac Dogpatch Sour taste like?
Sour berry and cherry fruit with a hint of vanilla and oak from wine barrel ageing, with the sourness playing a supporting role rather than dominating.
How strong is Almanac Dogpatch Sour?
Around 7.5% ABV, varying somewhat by batch.
What makes Almanac Dogpatch Sour unusual?
It uses a house blend of wild yeast, bacteria and San Francisco sourdough culture alongside California Rainier cherries, reflecting Almanac’s farm-to-barrel philosophy.
Is Almanac Dogpatch Sour gluten free?
No, it is brewed with a barley-based red ale.
Why is it called Dogpatch Sour?
It is named after the Dogpatch neighbourhood in San Francisco, where Almanac Beer Co. is based.
Is Almanac Dogpatch Sour similar to Flanders red ale?
Yes, it pays tribute to the Flanders red style, aged in wine barrels for a tart, fruit-forward character.
Where to find it
Available at Almanac’s San Francisco locations and select California craft beer retailers; limited distribution outside the state.
The verdict
Almanac Dogpatch Sour is a genuinely local, thoughtfully made take on Flanders red that leans approachable rather than intense. A solid four out of five.
