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Wild Bear

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Tart cherries, oak and a touch of barnyard funk, then a crisp, tart flavor and an oaky finish that leaves the palate clean. Wild Bear has its origins in the fall seasonal Bruin, which gets Brettanomyces and Pediococcus and ages in new oak barrels for over ten months; more recent versions spend 24 months in a 45HL foeder. 8.5% ABV, 9 IBU. It took Gold in the Brett Beer category at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Mild9 IBU
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Gold · 2015
Great American Beer Festival
Brett Beer
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (Brett Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
oaktartfunky
oak
tart
funky
berry
clean
yeasty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright tart cherry and dark oak, underpinned by subtle earthy and funky notes characteristic of Brettanomyces and Pediococcus fermentation.
also:fruity,sour
not found:hoppy,caramel,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Wild Bear

◎ Appearance

Wild Bear presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a delicate, fine-grained head that settles into a thin foam collar. Lacing clings persistently to the glass with each sip, tracing the beer's descent. The carbonation is restrained, appropriate for a long-aged wild ale.

pale goldclearpersistent lacinglow carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright tart cherry and dark oak, underpinned by subtle earthy and funky notes characteristic of Brettanomyces and Pediococcus fermentation. A whisper of barnyard funk adds complexity without overwhelming, while oak-derived vanilla and wood spice round out the bouquet. The aromatic profile speaks to patient barrel aging and wild yeast maturation.

tart cherryoak spicebarnyard funkfermented complexity

◐ Taste

Tart acidity dominates the palate immediately, with pronounced cherry and oak flavors building through the mid-palate. The minimal bitterness (9 IBU) allows the natural fermented tang and woody character to take center stage, while funky, yeasty undertones weave through. The palate remains dry and structured, never cloying, with the oak framework providing backbone.

sharp tartnessoak-forwardwild yeastdry structure

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and remarkably clean, with lingering oak and cherry notes fading to a dry, almost astringent aftertaste. The wild fermentation character persists briefly before the palate clears completely.

clean dryoaky fade
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
86
Appearance
83
Finish
82
Serve at 6–9°C

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Wild Bear

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About Wild Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Wild Ale?

Wild Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Wild Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same oak, tart, crisp character as Wild Bear will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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