Big Worse - Mikkeller ApS

eric5bellies

Australia

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank on tap at Sail & Anchor, Fremantle.

A - Pours a cloudy dark honey colour with a white head that reduces to a film.

S - Quite a sweet boozy aroma with some spicy citrus fruits.

T - White Port type flavours of sweet grape flavours, with some mild caramel and burnt brown sugar. Very boozy.

M - Full body with medium carbonation.

O - The boozy flavour is not hidden enough and dominates the flavour.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 13:48:32 | More by eric5bellies

dansmcd

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Mid-brown in colour and murky. Very thin head on pour, then none by the time Im back at my table. Minimal lacing.

S - Dark and sweet. Treacle, roasted malt, sweet honey, dark berries and stone fruit.

T - Overripe fruit flavours, roasted malt, subtle grassy hops in the background.

M - Full body, low carbonation, some burn from the 12% abv.

O - Powerful, dark, sweet, delicious. Needs a sharp cheese to partner up with for maximum results.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2011 00:51:48 | More by dansmcd

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear amber in color and poured with a thin off-white head.
S: There are aromas of candi sugar and alcohol in the nose.
T: The taste is relatively sweet and has flavors of candi sugars and spices. There is a light amount of bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and a bit syrupy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish has some warming from the alcohol.
D: There's no way that I could drink more than one fo these in a sitting because of its strong alcohol content.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 04:12:27 | More by metter98

brew3crew

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Nice white head that leaves lacing. Translucent Brown
S-Nice fruity flavor mixed with some malt. very nice
T-Different from what i expected when reading label. tastes like it smells, Very fruity
M-Medium body and crisp clean finish
D-Very drinkable. Taste was gone in no time

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2011 15:32:03 | More by brew3crew

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the pour house.

A- comes to me with a finger of off white head that holds till the first sip then starts to settle slowly leaving a good amount of gooey lace around the glass and a few suds on top. Hazy dark red brown in color.

S- burnt sugar and burnt bread with some bitter fruits, caramel and candy sugar. Spicy herbal booze soaked hops.

T- opens up with a bready sweetness that brings to mind toffee, caramel, a bit of brown sugar, toasty dark wheat bread. Hops are bold enough in the bitterness department to balance out the sweet. Fruits play an interesting part here with some candied apricots and peaches. Booze does play a big part but it kinda works.

M- fuller then medium in body but not overly chewy or sticky. Carb is on the lighter side but does show its head and keeps things moving. Good amount of heat on the palate but not overly hot either.

D- its a pretty solid brew. Maybe a bit too hot and slightly all over the place but I'd go to say with a bit of time in the cellar this would be a very good american barleywine.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 04:02:41 | More by oglmcdgl

Tabni

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served into a Chimay Goblet at Abraxas in South Beach.

A- Dark Orange color
S- Nice malt smell. Inviting.
T- Bitter. Definitely an American Barleywine. Hoppy and caramel notes all over. Bready beer.
M+D- Sipping beer. Perfect for a cold night. Worth a try!

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 21:41:50 | More by Tabni

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at ChurchKey.

Did I miss "Big Bad", or do comparatives not translate very well into Danish? Whatever the reason, this barleywine pours a hazy dark amber brown with a halo nof large bubbles for a head. The nose is plum, fig, raisin, molasses, and a small bit of hoppy citrus. The taste holds a strong note of bitter citrus peel, raisins, and the flesh of a mandarin orange (you always get that one fleshy wedge in every can...). The body is a hefty medium, with low carbonation and a lingering, dry bitterness accompanying a slight oral coating. Honestly, not that bad a brew, but not up to my expectations of that crazy Danish gypsy. Hm.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2010 03:01:08 | More by TMoney2591

CommanderOfAwesome

California

2.23/5  rDev -41%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

2009 vintage poured into a snifter.

A: Pours flat, with a dark caramel with a red hue. Literally no carbonation.

S: Oxidation reigns supreme, with strong fuselage notes. Getting some bad church wine, grapes on this.

T: Strong red grapes, tastes more like a wine than a beer. Grainy texture to it. Bleh, oh man this is bad.

M: Medium mouthfeel, alcohol is prevalent. Strong sweet finish that coats the mouth.

O: Total bummer. I found this "gem" in the back of a cooler at Ledgers with the price tag showing that they recieved it in Feb of 2009. I knew this was an old beer when I got into it, but figured if it's sitting back in the fridge it would be worth a shot. Man was I wrong. Got about 2 sips in before I drain poured it. All well, live and learn. Worth the risk.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 05:45:19 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

ToddT

Pennsylvania

3.26/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

L- Hazy medium brown with lots of sediment floating in it and no head at all. There is no lace left on the glass as I drink this one.

S- Dark candied fruit, cherries, raisin, fig, molasses, and a slightly sour background note.

T- Candied fruit and a giant wash of astringent alcohol, wow that was not pleasant at all. Not sure I'm going to like this one. It does improve as it warms but that first sip was a bit brutal. Not near as alcoholic or astringent now that I'm halfway through.

M- Medium in body and no applicable carbonation. The finish is a mix of alcohol heat and sour fruit.

O- It gets better as I finish it, not sure if the taste is improving or the 12.0% ABV has kicked in.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 02:43:54 | More by ToddT

CruisaC

Ohio

3.11/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked this up on sale for ~$4 a bottle. Figured I'd give it a try.

Pours dead, no head, no carbonation. Uh-oh. Still as night in the glass. Dark brown

Smells like raisins, chalky vitamins, malt extract.

Taste very clean initially but soon a raisin meets astringent tastes follows. Not great. Not much good going on here.

Pretty thin, not helped by the fact at there's no carbonation. That may be ok for the occasional HOTD release (bourbon Fred), but this falls into Lost Abbey territory and not in a good way

I won't be finishing this. Pretty disappointing. I've got another bottle but I'm not too excited to give it another shot.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:47:24 | More by CruisaC

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big Worse might just be big better from its juicy malt dominance and hoppy aspirations that capture the sweet grain character that's so prized in English Barleywines but with the lupulin rebuttal from citrusy American hops.

Starting with a brilliant and glowing ruby color, the snifter simply glows like a night light. Mildly hazed, the color is of deep amber honey in mesmerizing fashion. Capped with a dainty off-white head, its creme skirts the glass evenly until later in the session when it reduces to a collar along the glass.

Bursting with malt sweetness, the nose is chocked full of maple, buckwheat, molasses, toffee, and nuttiness. Its hearty sweetness nearly whets the mouth from its aromatics alone. A firm hop undertow peaks through with dried citrus peels and pine needles for a strong hop scaffolding although the scent is certainly malt-centric.

Likewise, the sweetness from malt is strong, seductive, and runs the gamut from maple syrup and brittle to bread crust and sorghum. Strong buckwheat honey toffee, pistachios, and fresh sweet tobacco keep the waves of sultry sweetness coming. A late rise of hops reveal a supportive balance with grapefruit and orange peel, pine and fresh grass, and with a deeply resinous bitterness that assists the sweetness with a malty-dry finish and alcohol flavors of spiced rum

Incredibly bold and even chewy at first, the beer seeps into the soft tissues of the mouth with its sultry sweetness in true dessert-like fashion- easily replacing port wines as after dinner digestives. Rich with residual sweetness, the late rise of alcohol spice and drying hops signal closure and extends well into aftertaste.

Reading the date-stamped reviews of others, its apparent that Mikkeller has gotten better at making this beer. It's an incredible American-style Barleywine that captures the preferred malt character of hearty English examples. Its a bright and highly rewarding ale for nightcapping any evening.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 17:28:19 | More by BEERchitect

timc100

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A great example of a beer where the hops well - not perfectly, but did not leave a stale off-tasting beverage.

A: Pours a classic barleywine murky brown. Sits a slightly hazy dark amber with a clingy beige head.

S: Huge caramel and caramelized dark fruits. Toffee, butterscotch, and slightly muddled aged hops. Intense and very sweet and resinous

T: Big and sweet. Follows the nose closely, but a bit messy. Really tasty

P: Incredibly chewy, lingers for a while, leaves a resinous gloss in the mouth.

O: Really nice barleywine, would love to try fresh.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 01:23:21 | More by timc100

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle poured into tulip 11/16/12 from notes

A clear reddish amber with a thick stream of bubbles feeding a surprisingly large three finger tan head that slowly falls to a thin film leaving a few random patches

S lots of brown sugar and caramel, rum soaked raisins and dark bread, some candied citrus but I can't pinpoint it, no booze is rather impressive considering it's 12%

T a little sweet even compared to the nose with a strange yeast profile and more candied fruit, has a little sour apple and although its decent I preferred the nose

M syrupy and sticky with good carbonation, some faint heat but I'd never guess it's as strong as it is, candied fruit on the finish with a little spicy bread

O a good strong BW with well concealed booze, not something for everyday drinking but a decent cold evening sipper

I had this sitting around for a while and finally got around to drinking it, I almost wish I had someone to share it with but what can you do

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 00:13:30 | More by wordemupg

Dope

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: A ruddy, brownish-red pour. Like the color of rust. Big tan head that fades slowly, leaving just the lightest bits of lacing here and there. Extreme amount of sediment. To the point that I actually poured this through a strainer and a coffee filter (maybe the second time I've ever done this). It was horrible, one of the worst I've seen.

S: Big caramel malt with pungent raisin and apples. Hints of molasses and brown sugar. Boozy.

T: Raisiny throughout. Lots of bread, just a little toasty. Toffee, brown sugar and some resinous bitterness in the finish. A bit dry in the finish, oddly enough.

M: Heavy and thick for sure.

O: A simple and strong barleywine. Honestly I liked Big Worst better, it was better balanced and tastier in general, despite being flat. This one is pretty "meh".

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 06:09:45 | More by Dope

lovelyallen

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 1 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Interesting beer...

Served in a snifter from a 12oz bottle.

A: Pours a murky swamp brown. 0 head, 0 lacing. Its a pretty ugly beer.

S: Threw me for a loop. This thing smells phenomenal. Up front is figs, dates, rich wood, and a nice sugary smell that really makes me want to dive into it.

T: Okay, bizarre. Its got some of the dark fruit notes that can be found in the nose, but they never really punch you in the face. The flavors are there, I just wish they were more prominent.

M: Extremely thin w/zero carbonation. I think I may have gotten an under carbonated bottle. Quite a let down in this department.

Overall: I wish this tasted like it smelled. End of story.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 03:15:40 | More by lovelyallen

Etan

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12.7oz bottle, synthetic cork, into a tulip. Not sure when this is from.

A: Very ugly beer. Murky cola brown, no head.

S: Plenty of dark fruits, raisiny oxidation, sugary caramel.

T: Dark fruits, light roasted grain, prune, spice a bit of smokiness to it, caramel. A bit oxidized.

M: Flat, syrupy.

O: Not quite as bad as I expected from the pour, but not very good.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:36:45 | More by Etan

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle.

This beer pours a murky, dark golden amber hue, with one finger of foamy, bubbly beige head, which leaves some mesa profile lace around the glass as it duly recedes.

It smells caramel, toffee, bread pudding, drunken raisins, citrus cream, some floral, piney hops, and a soft, sweet booze warming. The taste is more sweet, sugary caramel malt, further toffee/treacle/nougat candy bar, overripe banana and generic black fruit, bitter grapefruit and orange rind, though rather muddled, a slight old cellar mustiness, and a swirling, tingling warmth.

The carbonation is up for the task, and no slouch in its supportive duty, a tad spritzy, even. The body is a hefty medium-full weight, and actually quite smooth. It finishes sweet, duh, though the big caramel and friends malt does seem to ease off somewhat, letting the fruitinesss - both inherent and hop-borne - step up. The big ABV just maintains its sly standoffishness.

Wow, a pretty easy-drinking Yankee barleywine, if there ever was. Big, brash, but somehow subtle at the same rate, with a deftly integrated upsized alcohol quotient. Totally worth giving a go, especially given our early winter. November 1, really?

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 20:08:03 | More by biboergosum

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a true oddity, and perhaps the first mikkeller beer that didnt blow me away. it pours a cloudy light amber to red color with a ton of big yeast particles floating around and finally settling to the bottom. there is almost no head. the nose is alcohol and caramel english malt. flavor is the same, but spiced up a bit from the yeast. it feels like the right mix of flavors for fall, but the alcohol is strong and caustic, and it hurts the overall product. the mouthfeel would be great without the alcohol burn. its got a nice full body but is well carbonated and therefore seems to dance in the mouth, even with all that sediment. the booze just kills it though, warm on the way down too. overall a very unique take on a barleywine, but not somehting i will spend 15 dollars on again. although, my local shop has the red wine version too, which might be nice to try. we'll see...

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 17:47:18 | More by StonedTrippin

allouez86

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dark amber pour with a small off-white head. A small amount of lacing remains on the snifter.

Smell: Hops are still present, small hint of caramel and brown sugar. The smell of alcohol is also quite present. Smells like an American Barleywine should.

Taste: Very similar to the nose. The hops aren't quite as present as I would've expected based on the smell but they are still there. The sugar and caramel are still there, along with the alcohol. There's a slight hint of soapiness in the taste and this is something that I have come across before in this style. It's not unpleasant but something I've noticed before, could just me my palate.

Mouthfeel: It's a medium bodied barleywine, slightly sticky and properly carbonated.

Overall: I thought this was better than previous reviews would have me believe. Perhaps since it's a Mikkeller brew hopes were higher by for some people. Is it my favorite American barleywine ever? No. Is it something I would drink again? Yes. The price may be slightly high for the size of the bottle but I would recommend giving this beer a shot.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 00:18:35 | More by allouez86

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

P:  Dark brownish amber body with a thin frothy khaki head that fades quick. Massive loads of swimming worms that I miss judged the pour and dumped all the yeast in the glass.  Spiderweb lacing on the edges.  

S:  Heavy roasted malts and thick caramel. Super rich and decadent.  Mostly earthy hops and yeasty bread, sourdough, coconut, sour skim milk, hazelnuts, hints of bitter cooking cocoa, and Chinese 5 spice. Hops may have faded a bit but not sure how old this bottle is. 

T/M:  Thick and syrupy feel with delicate carbonation and chalky yeast.  Taste follows the nose with notes of aged malts, over ripe mushy bananas,  green apples peels, soured milk, burnt barley, roasted caramel, coconut, and nuts.  The hops are there but I assume this bottle is aged a bit due to the dialed down hops and aged taste of the malt. Starts sweet and ends with a dry earthy hop bitterness and grapefruit.  Complex flavors that mix well to create a balanced and rich barley wine. ABV is very well hidden and has a nice warming sensation.  Starts to bite back once warmed. 

O:  From reading some reviews I was kind of bummed, but after tasting this for myself I can say it surprised me. This is far better than expected, granted its outrageously overpriced, but that aside its fantastically complex and Well blended. The yeast settlement was rather large and chunky but not at all a ruiner.  If the price was cheaper I would buy this on a regular basis but it's too steep for my pockets. Well done. 

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 03:21:47 | More by Hopswagger

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours coppery brown with a small head.
Loads of malt shows through in the aroma, with overt caramel, dried figs, orange marmalade, and light port notes. Also some soft spicy and herbal notes.
Flavours are just as malty, with big rich syrupy, bready malt along with some dried fruit. Later some light grapefruit notes follow through along with accompanying bitterness.
Carbonation is perfectly soft, body seems overtly syrupy though.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 10:19:07 | More by CrazyDavros

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I finally bought a bottle of this, and am drinking the whole thing alone while playing video games online with Drewba. Best way to hangout with other BAs and not share your beer. All 12oz for me.

The pour is flat, totally still, which makes it look murky and not like beer. Color is dark amber.
The nose has alcohol and fig notes. Dark date like fruits is the picture.
I can not really talk about the flavors with out noting the mouthfeel and how still it is, as that really makes the flavors pop less and more rounded. once again alcohol soaked dates and figs, this drinks just "like a fine red wine" (gasp). I do not find much hops at all, and wondering how this comes off as "american" in style.
Mouth feel is coating and drawn out on the finish, a long evening sipper.

I sipped this for about 3 hours, yes, 12oz for 3 hours. i enjoyed drinking it at that pace, it was enjoyable and i would savor an evening with it again, but it is a bit expensive for what it really is.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 04:47:42 | More by ChadQuest

Sean9689

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2007 vintage, thanks Cory. Shared at Perennial.

A - Pours a reddish/caramel-color, off-white head, thin collar.

S - Booze is smooth from the cellaring, dark fruits, burnt sugars. There's a decent amount of oxidization coming off the nose, and I think this one is past its prime.

T - Yep, lots of oxidization and harsh medicinal notes. It's not undrinkable, but was probably over-the-hill about 1.5 years ago (or so). Dark fruits, burnt sugars, oak, caramel. Booze is really well-hidden from the age. Finish is sweet and slightly harsh.

M - Medium to full body, good carbonation, creamy finish.

O - I could imagine a 2009 bottle being really good at this point, but the 2007 vintage is well past its prime. Cool to try, but wouldn't have it again. I suggest you open anything from 2009/2008/2007 ASAP.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 16:54:39 | More by Sean9689

Jsenay

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from non corked bottle (regular cap) into a brandy snifter

A - Pours a deep amber color. Has light carbonation and a head that dissipates within a minute. No sediment left at the bottom from bottle.

S - Smells of rich malt. Dark fruit, mainly plums and apricot. Slight smell of molasses and raisins with a very rich hint of dark brown sugar.

T - Tastes like plums and raisins soaked in alcohol. As it warms the alcohol becomes very intense as well as the hops.

M - Filmy. Hops are on the heavy side so it dries out the mouth almost immediately, all while leaving a sticky molasses/honey feel behind.

O - OK. But, won't be going out of my way to buy again. I will be aging a bottle for a year and will report back the differences. However, if you're looking for something delicious right out of the glass, Mikkeller has many more great offerings available.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 23:17:20 | More by Jsenay

brentk56

North Carolina

2.53/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a cola brown color without a head; no carbonation means no lacing

Smell: Prunes, leather, some earthy funk

Taste: Brown bread devolving into a pruney funk; a bit of tartness builds, after the swallow and leaves a tannic leathery character in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Moderate body, rather flabby, with no carbonation

Overall: Not sure of the age of this bottle as I got it as an extra in a recent trade (cannot remember who sent it) but am rather disappointed in this beer, regardless of bottling date as a Barleywine should hold up better than this one has

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 00:47:29 | More by brentk56