Modus Operandi (Modus Vivendi)
The Wild Beer Co.

Modus Operandi (Modus Vivendi)Modus Operandi (Modus Vivendi)
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From:
The Wild Beer Co.
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Old Ale
Ranked #36
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,013
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 10.03%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
179
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 17, 2023
Added:
Aug 17, 2013
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  21
First, an English Old Ale is brewed and aged in oak barrels (Burgundy red wine and US Bourbon). A hardy wild yeast strain called Brettanomyces slowly matures the beer with the help of the yeasts, bacteria and microbes harbored by the barrels. These add complexity and acidity to the beer, making every barrel an individual, unique character.

Sold as Modus Vivendi in the USA.
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Ratings by puboflyons:
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

3.99/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the 11.2 fl. oz bottle. Sampled on December 27, 2014.

The pour is attractive with its brown tone and reddish hues leading up to a tremendous, soft silky tan head.

The aroma is of toasted malts, nuts, clean hops and just enough of a sour punch to let me know that is what it is.

Smooth medium body.

The taste also has a yeasty, biscuity note more so than the sour. There is a light pucker-up character to it but that's the way sours are.

Sours are usually low on my list I go looking beers but this one is more approachable for me. But a tad pricey where I bought it.
Dec 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.99/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle. No dating information found, but the label has an extensive description of the beer.
Ruby brown colored body. Brief khaki head has a followup of an active island and a steady fed ring. No lacing.
Aroma of oak, sweet red wine, and bright leather and hay funk.
Taste is acidic, with flavors that follow the nose - oak, slightly sweet red wine, and hay/grass funk. The aftertaste smooths out into a blend of vanilla, oak, and sweet red wine.
Medium mouth feel. Drinks clean and crisp after a long aftertaste. Good carbonation.
A brew that freely expresses its wild maturation in the tanks and in the bottle. An evolved and developed beer.
Oct 17, 2023
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.5/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
June 2014: 330 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 7%. Hazy reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Strong aroma of oak, farmhouse and red wine vinegar. Medium sour flavour, notes of brettanomyces and oak, hints of red wine vinegar, also fruity notes. Very moderate hops.
Feb 07, 2023
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark with a small head that has a tinge of darkness to it. Nose is very pungent and dank like basalmic vinegar. Taste is similar to nose, with a follow through that fades across the entire palate. Good 'beer'.
Dec 10, 2021
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear chestnut color with a fizzy ecru head that rises to two fingers but fades to a film; speckles of lace

Smell: There is a yin-yang element in the aroma, with fruit tones of tart cherry and plum intermingling with toffee and hard grape candy

Taste: The sweeter toffee and hard candy elements lead off with hints of red wine; an oaky acidity develops that wipes away the sweeter and brings barnyard elements of earthy leather; the finish brings a hint of the cherry and plum but the wild yeast adds ongoing musty complexity; the overall impression is very earthy with hints of sweet malt and slightly sour fruit

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation; slight pucker

Overall: Interesting to combine an old ale with wild yeast though the flavors could have been more pronounced
Feb 21, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This sounds like an interesting concept. An old ale, soured in a Flanders style and oak aged. I knew I had to grab this bottle when I saw it. I’m quite a big Flanders fan, and I haven’t had many old ales, but one I did have was one of the best beers I’ve ever tasted. Let’s get into this

Pours a murky dark brown with a ruby hue and just a small ring of light brown bubbles, leaving minimal lacing

The nose is nearly the same as any Flanders red, acidic and delicious. I pick up on aromas of funky leather, red wine vinegar, cherries, smooth oak, dark fruit, and musty brett. Not really getting any distinct old ale notes

This tastes relatively smooth, I think that’s the old alw base coming through. On the front end I’m tasting tart cherries, sharp oak, and a touch of lemon acidity. It cleans up a bit on the swallow, bringing notes of funky leather, toffee-like malt, sweet tart cherries, light vinegar, and dark dried fruits

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation for a sharply refreshing tart beer. Finishes a bit sticky but the relative tartness helps it out

This was good, but not as amazing as I expected from the description. Nonetheless, I’d gladly drink it again
Jan 21, 2021
Photo of ryan1788a5
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4.32/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
11.2 oz bottle poured into a tulip. Back of the fridge find, not sure of the date but I know it has some years on it. Going to guess 2015-16.

A: Deep mahogany color with reddish hues. Beautiful fluffy and cream colored head retains well. Webby and spotty lacing.

S: Oak forward with some dusty wood notes. Tart red fruits: currant, cherry, raspberry. Moderate funk layer. Fat malty aromas of toasted crust, caramel, brown cocoa and brown molasses.

T: Opens with plenty of wild yeast flavor. Some sharp tartness that backs off quickly, playful red fruit, and a stupendously thick blanket of funk. Cheesy, dusty old building, musty books. A little bit clovey/medicinal. Balsamic vinegar and vinous notes. Malt base really anchors things with flavors of toffee, dark caramel, toasted crust, pinch of dark cocoa, etc. Leather and tobacco. Gentle woody oak notes. It still retains a bit of sweetness, but does dry considerably into the finish. Trailing toast and funk on the finish.

M: Big body, hefty sense of weight. Mouth filling, chewy and creamy. Fat malt textures almost get sticky and coating. Carbonation is ample but gently soothing rather than prickling. Faint sense of tannin.

O: This is a wonderful brew. It's a great throwback to Old Ales of yore, when these beers often picked up plenty of bugs in the barrel and were exposed to the weather. Age is very kind to it as well, which can be expected. It really exceeded my expectations and left me with a lot of respect for this brewery. It's definitely one to add to your short list if you're a fan of funk.
Mar 29, 2020
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

4.11/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from an 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottle into a custom taster pint; no production information.
A: Pours a hazy brown with a one to two finger, wheat colored head, surprisingly good retention, but very limited lacing.
S: Solidly on tart side of tangy. Aromas of caramel malt, apple, cocoa, cherry, and lactate.
T: Semisweet and tart, actually quite tart at first. Flavors follow the nose with a heavy emphasis on lactic acid. Imperceivable bitterness in the setting of the tartness. Very clean finish.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: This is a tasty and robustly flavorful Flanders Red Ale. Would definitely seek anything from this brewery after trying this and the Saison.
Jan 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.9 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Dec 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.3 by desint from Belgium

Jul 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by shelby415 from Oregon

Mar 11, 2019
Photo of Snowcrash000
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

4.42/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a murky, deep, dark mahogany coloration with a small, fizzy head. Smells of bready, caramel malt and strong notes of tart black cherry, oaky tannins and a more subtle bourbon barrel presence. Taste is incredibly complex, yet well-balanced, with the burgundy barrel notes dominating, complemented very nicely by a subtle bourbon barrel presence and malty undertones with notes of tart black cherry, red/dark fruit: red/blackcurrant, plum, fig, toffee, leather, vanilla, balsamico vinegar and oaky tannins. Finishes with a light tartness and some dark/red fruits and oaky tannins lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and light carbonation.

I'm absolutely loving the balance of burgundy and bourbon barrels here, with the burgundy barrels clearly dominating with a very tannic, vinous presense that is enhanced tremenduously by subtle notes of bourbon and vanilla as well as the malty undertones. Outstanding balance of sweet, bitter, tart and fruity notes as well. Expertly blended, this is probably the best Flanders Red I've had. I've only had two beers by Wild Beer Co. so far, but they have both been outstanding. I kinda feel like this has solely been gettig such relatively low ratings because it used to be listed as an Old Ale here when it's really a Flanders Red...
Mar 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.38 by KensWorld from Florida

Jan 12, 2019
Photo of csmrx7
Reviewed by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Excellent Flanders style sour which is really right in the middle and complex with out over powering with vinegar which can be off putting with this style. Best beer I have have from Wild Beer co.
Aug 19, 2018
Photo of Vexor
Reviewed by Vexor from Alabama

4.57/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Possiblly the best beer ive ever tasted, great enough to make me create an account just to share the experience. A dark, heavy looking drink that is completely surprising on the sip. A light, cool feel in the mouth is only surpassed in its unexpectedness by the taste. Modus Operendis flavor is almost like a finely mixed cocktail with its complexity and the sweetness of wild yeast.
Aug 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Jun 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.37 by DBosco from Massachusetts

Jun 01, 2018
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
330ml bottle - these guys might rival Stone in terms of back label verbosity.

This beer pours a slightly hazy, medium bronzed amber colour, with two fingers of puffy, finely foamy, and somewhat bubbly beige head, which leaves some decent Swiss cheese pattern lace around the glass as it quickly dissipates.

It smells of tart cherries, gritty and grainy cereal malt, faint bittersweet cocoa powder, some oakey woodiness, subtle and earthy funky notes, and red balsamic vinegar. The taste is grainy and bready caramel malt, a mixed sour fruitiness, musty leather, wet barrel staves, funky red wine, and some gentle earthy yeastiness.

The carbonation is adequate in its palate-supporting frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, with just a touch of generic acridity maybe marring the surface sheen here. It finishes trending dry, the malt ceding the floor to the lingering tart and funky essences.

Overall - this comes across as a pleasantly rendered version of the style, nice and balanced in its complexity. The 14-proof booze quotient is also pretty much undetectable, which is always a good thing to have. Worth checking out, as this is not a common sort of brew to find around my little corner of the world.
May 31, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Mar 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by stephenlee from England

Feb 03, 2018
Modus Operandi (Modus Vivendi) from The Wild Beer Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 179 ratings