(512) Wild Bear
(512) Brewing Company

(512) Wild Bear(512) Wild Bear
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From:
(512) Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 15%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
95
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 23, 2021
Added:
Nov 17, 2011
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  28
(512)'s first excursion into the world of so-called wild fermentation, Wild Bear's origins lie in our Fall seasonal, BRUIN. After primary fermentation, we added Brettanomyces yeast and Pediococcus bacteria cultures, and aged the blend in new oak barrels for over 10 months. This combination of wild "bugs" and barrel aging gives (512) Wild Bear a complex and enticing aroma of tart cherries, oak, and a touch of barnyard "funkiness", a crisp, tart flavor that will intensify with age, and an effervescent, oaky finish that leaves the palate clean.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kevinscott:
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Rated by kevinscott from Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

Feb 12, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.24 by mikenhtx

Dec 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Aug 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.97 by Netraam

Aug 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.81 by dbrauneis from North Carolina

May 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.16 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Mar 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by SierraFlight from Virginia

Jan 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Jul 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by mattreitz49 from Florida

Jul 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

May 24, 2017
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Rated by Lebowskied from Texas

1.39/5  rDev -63.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1
First time I've spit out a beer. Sorry, I hate leaving negative reviews, and I love 512.
Feb 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by videofrog from Texas

Feb 05, 2017
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Reviewed by Premo88 from Texas

4.27/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
25.4 oz. bomber poured into tulip
(brewed Jan. 2015, bottled Sept. 2016 printed on label; also 8.5% ABV printed on label)

L: dark brown, clear, pushes up 1-inch head of beige foam on strong pour; it's dark and hard to see through but appears it may be clear ... crystal clear; dark amber-orange, burnt orange, almost into purple ... but, yes, it's light enough to see through it up to light, nice clarity; no major sticking or lacing but keeps a thick collar and most of a skin; about 10-15 minutes in, the skin disappears ... noticeably disappears ... but the collar is still hanging around; if this brew stuck and laced, it's be a candidate for a 5

S: tart toasted cranberries, fingernail polish remover -- those dominate, then way back there hiding in the shadows of the barn is a bit of previously wet grain sack now dried out ... not "clean" as in out of the washing machine clean, but clean as in it's not still wet and growing mold and mildew; might be the mildest but still distinct fingernail polish remover note I've come across -- it's *always* there, but it's never sharp or overpowering ... perhaps a better descriptor: lemon-raspberry

T: almost 1:1 following the nose with a minor adjustment -- a little more tart earthy flavor and toasted cranberries and a little less fingernail polish remover; as it warms and the palate adjusts, a bit of raspberry and blackberry, the more tart ones that haven't found their sweetness yet; as it warms more, some sweetness shows up just often enough to really make this tasty ... it's like those few grains of salt or sugar that bring out the flavors even more

F: lightweight but filled out by good carbonation ... very easy to sip but also easy to handle a midsize quaff; not watery but definitely light; perfect ... as good as my favorite American-made farmhouse ales and wilds with the bigger ABV in a lighter vessel

O: wonderful ... a treat of a beer for my particular tastes buds, for it's very reminiscent of a Flanders red or oud bruin with the nice toasted malt flavors blending into the sour flavors, and I love those styles and that mix; when those toasted cranberries offer up some sweetness, my goodness! you get some raspberry/blackberry flavor and want to start drinking it like it's a 3% kriek lambic. I will buy this beer over and over ... a perfect summer brew and a perfect "sour" fix whenever you want.
Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Jame515 from Texas

Nov 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Oct 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by Roybert from Texas

Oct 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.49 by Dreynolds1808 from Texas

Oct 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by JamesStreet from Louisiana

May 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.22 by Dka67 from California

Feb 06, 2016
Photo of BKotch
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Update based on the 2016 bottling. Ratings were previously based on the 2015 bottling. Coincidentally, I had a Rodenbach Grand Cru 750 last night (yeah, I know that's a Flanders red and this is based on 512's double brown). I'm raising the smell from 3.75 to 4.00, the flavor from 4 to 4.25, and the overall from 4 to 4.25. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but this is beginning to approach the classic Flemish beers.
Dec 29, 2015
(512) Wild Bear from (512) Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 95 ratings