Big Worse - Mikkeller ApS

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

2007 edition. No head. Some brown colour. Smell like a strong ale. Buttery mouthfeel,caramel and a little spicey, with some tartness. Probably aged OK. Drinkable for style. Boozy.Something to numb you before going out in a snowstorm.
Thanks Jason as forgot to post review last time.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 12:17:19 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Once we have a war there is only one thing to do. It must be won. For defeat brings worse things than any that can ever happen in war."

--Ernest Hemingway

Seriously murky caramel brown with flashes of coral red and juicy orange when backlit with sunshine. The lid is small in size and golden ecru in color. It looks better once it settles, and is gracing the glass with a short, ragged collar of lace.

Not that it matters much, but the nose is more English than American. Then again, the beer is from a Danish brewery and is brewed in Belgium, so where does that leave us? Each sniff delivers an acceptably powerful blast of medium-dark fruit swimming in dark caramel sauce and citrus zest. Here's hoping the alcohol is as well-hidden on the palate.

This is an English barleywine all the way, no matter what hops were used. I had second thoughts about pulling the cork once the foil was removed and the date (14/08/11) came into view. I probably should have aged this bad boy another year at least. Even though it's a teensy bit rough right now, it isn't hot. It's still good beer that will probably be even better this time next year.

The malt profile is more brown than golden or amber, thanks to what must be a significant amount of CaraMunich. It gives the beer a heavily toasted and earthy character that is reminiscent of a good, rich doppelbock. Ripe figs are present as well. The American hops are still kickin with authority, adding flavors of candied orange and lemon peel, along with loads of finishing bitterness.

Actually, two years of rest would probably have been perfect. It tastes like there's some hidden complexity that is being frustrated by too much of an alcohol presence. $9.99 is a bit much for 375 ml of beer, but I just might pick up another bottle to see what aging can accomplish. Drinkability (at the moment) suffers a little.

Mikkeller's stated aim was to brew a 'simple yet heavy' beer. Even though they failed to achieve the latter, the mouthfeel is right about where most English barleywines live. At least those that aren't ultra sappy and sticky. It's still a fraction too light, with just the right amount of subtle carbonation.

Big Worse is big in some respects and not so big in others. It isn't the best barleywine that I've ever had, but it's far from the worst. Bottom line: this is an enjoyable Danish-Belgian sipper that is probably optimal at whatever date is printed on the cork.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2009 14:38:42 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

thick brown, though you can see some light through it, no head and a nice lace top it off. Smell is hopped for sure, but with a subtle sugary undertone, and a hint of alcohol too. Taste is not very strong at all. There is the natural piney hoppness you would expect from a barley wine, but not too strong, there is also a sugary, nuttiness about it as well. The alcohol is there, and that keeps this a sipper. It is actually nicely carbonated, and not harsh going down, has the warm feeling on the way. Overall this was a good brew,

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 01:28:05 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

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

A: The pour is a nearly flat amber color with a slight bit of cloudiness and a mild off-white head.

S: Tons of caramel and brown sugar along with a bit of vanilla on the nose. A nice butterscotch aroma as well as a bit of green apples.

T: Wonderfully sweet and caramelly without being cloying. A nice bit of brown sugar, vanilla, and toffee. Really well done for a barleywine and almost no booze.

M: The body is a bit chewy and thick without being syrupy. Low carbonation works well for the style.

D: This has nearly restored my faith in Mikkeller. Big Worse has become a really nice barleywine since the initial release and I wouldn't mind having another.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 04:57:55 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 bottle opened by bmanning. Served in a Bruery tulip.

Pours an ugly brown color with loads of sediment toward the bottom of the bottle. No head or lacing. The nose carried caramel, toffee, cherry, and dark fruits. There was a bit of light booze in the background as well. The flavor focused on malt sweetness with some mild fruit. Caramel held throughout, as well as a bit of alcohol. Medium body and slightly boozy. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 16:49:11 | More by Thorpe429

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

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle courtesy of Fonefan: Poured a deep lightly hazy copper color ale with a nice foamy head with medium retention and no lacing. Aroma of citrusy hops is dominating with some light pear and some alcohol. Taste is a mix between some grapefruit hops, light caramel malt with phenols of alcohol. Medium body with average carbonation and some apparent alcohol which I didn't appreciate. Interesting take on the American barleywine style with a nice hops combination but I could do without all that alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2008 18:35:55 | More by Phyl21ca

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

oberon

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My second stab at a Mikkeller brew I really enjoyed the Stateside IPA,poured into a small tulip glass sort of a slight hazed deep russet color a well formed 2 finger clingy light beige colored head atop it had great lasting power.At first pop of the cork a powerful resiny hop aroma hit me and a smile crossed my face that mixed in with a brown sugar and cakey alcohol fruitiness I knew this was gonna be a doozy.Hmm after a few sips I notice that its not anywhere near as potent as I thought it would be or as bold flavor wise a little watery in the mouthfeel department definently not a big chewey barley wine.Flavors fall a bit flat compared to the aromas dark fruit sweetness mixed with brown sugar and alcohol the hops are much more subdued than what I had imagined and or hoped giving a hint of medicinal-like and white pepper flavors in the finish along with a lasting alcohol sweetness.Maybe as others have suggested cellaring might be the ticket here but it wont help out its lighter mouthfeel,it started out great and kinda peetered out in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2007 00:30:39 | More by oberon

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

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Awright, Big Worse, I bought you, finally, and now, I'm a gonna drink you up, doggone it!

Into a gold-rimmed Ommegang chalice you go...showing a murky deep crimson hue....slim head holding court on top.

Aroma: Belgian funk, oddly enough, smelled it when I uncorked it...oh, wait, is that because this "American" barleywine from a Danish microbrew was brewed in Belgium? Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice, quite forgetting her grammar...wild and weird...dark and twisted...

Taste it, now...malty, with an odd...dang, I don't know! This is peculiar! Like a saison mixed with an old ale! There's so much Belgian funk that doesn't normally sit with a barleywine, of any kind.

12 % abv. 12.7 oz bottle that I paid, what?, $9 for??? Something close to it, anyway...lately, I've been looking at these Scandanavian micros, spilling the coin, and thinking I've spent all that to learn that northern European brewers can make beer as good as American micros? I could have spent the money from that bottle on a 6-pack from Sierra Nevada or Anchor or a 4-pack of Surly.

This changes that a little, the mouthfeel is thinnish, grainier...but, still, has me thinking more Belgian than British or American, let alone Danish!
Don't brew at DeProef if you don't want to taste like De Proef, seems to be the lesson here!
I really wanted to taste something like Bigfoot or Old Foghorn or Thomas Hardy's...I got something like that, but mixed with a saison or a tripel...weird...not bad, just ...weird.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2008 07:48:00 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours murky brown with no head. Not a very attractive beer. The aroma is strong caramel malt with some dark fruit and alcohol. This smells very boozy. Flavor is lots of alcohol and dark fruit. Some raisins and still very boozy. Get some caramel malt. Medium mouthfeel, but too much alcohol to be very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 21:54:58 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a clear, dark brown color with ruby highlights. It had a small, tan colored head that left soapy trails of lace.

S - What a powerfully sweet aroma. Tons of caramel maltiness blasts your senses.

T - This is a very sweet barleywine with rich caramel flavors. There was a tootsie pop-like flavor to it.

M - It was soft, smooth and had a somewhat sticky mouthfeel. A full-bodied ale.

D - This is a good barleywine, however, it is very big and very sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 12:36:54 | More by zeff80

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

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cork Date of August 2011; Sampled January 2008
Pours with a two-finger thick, large bubbled, amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a dark amber to plum color and shows an almost brilliantly clear, cranberry color when held up to the light. Quite hoppy in the aroma with notes of citrus, big pine / herbal notes, grapefruit, a touch of lychee, some tangerine, a hint of tropical fruit, some pine tar, woody hops and an herbal note. The finish has some noticeable warming / hot alcohol to it; it is sort of brandy or rum like. The aroma is fruity, even more so than solely from the hop character; aromas of berries and cherries are also noticeable.

Sweet and fruity tasting up front. The beer is quit a bit lighter in body than expected, though it is most certainly a Barley Wine. This finishes with an ample hop bitterness that becomes a bit green and astringent in the long finish (especially when coupled with the lingering, warming alcohol flavors found here). Flavors of orange-citrus oil, grapefruit, tangelo and lychee intermingle with sharp, menthol-like notes, pine flavors and a green herbal note. The fruity hop notes are the larges flavor contributor. Other than the hot alcohol flavors this beer is quite clean. Caramel malts contribute to the hop-fruit flavors, but have a hard time showing up distinctly on their own under the hop onslaught, though there is a touch of toasty malt in the finish.

The hot alcohol really detracts here, it adds a harsh astringency to this brew. This is a huge beer and should last for many years. I wish it was more drinkable right now as a young, super-hoppy Barley Wine though. If you wait a long time between each sip, this can be quite enjoyable, but back to back sips seem to magnify the effects of the hot alcohol on the flavor. In the end this show lots of potential, but is just too young right now.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2008 01:41:36 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Acquired from dsigmon, courtesy of the Ugly Duckling BIF so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a caged & corked 375ml bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep brown color, with a very thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains brown sugar, caramelized malts, alcohol, dark fruit and some hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel, dark fruit and brown sugar up front followed by an alcohol sting. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The hops presence is mild for the style but still strong enough to bring some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth but not very crisp, medium body, very light carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, it's not a bad beer but there are several others in the style that I would choose first.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 03:49:16 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured out as a brown colored liquid with a very small amount of head. The head that was there vanished really fast. The smell of the beer has some nice sweet dark fruit aromas, some are a little more pungent but it's a unique aroma. The taste of the beer has a good amount of hops that tingle the tongue while the sweetness of the beer unfolds. The mouthfeel wasn't too bad here but I feel it could have been better. Overall this beer wasn't too bad, I'd like to get a fresher bottle sometime.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 05:19:25 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a reddish caramel with 1+ finger of tan head. Very good head retention & above average lacing, with loads of viscosity

S: Piney hops & caramel, some booze after it warms.

Leaf& grapefruitty hops & alcohol up front. More boozey warmth as this warms, some citrussy hops, plus piney hops & dryness. Finishes with a little fruttyness, more dryness, bunches of leafy hops & honey notes, plus caramel

MF: Slick with low carbonation, thin for the ABV, although the alcohol let's you know what's going on, very warming if you can deal with the heat!

Drinks just average, too damn hot alcohol-wise. sit on this at least 2 years or you just have a crude OTT American Barley wine

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 05:18:30 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12.7 oz. green bottle,

A: Pours a murky red mahogany mix, with a small off-white head, which peters out relatively quickly.

S: Strong smell of aged fermented malt, soy sauce, and lactic acid. Ethanol volatiles can be felt in the nose as well.

T: Tasty brown malt, molasses and raisin form the main flavour, with a dry finish with a mix of malt and spicy hops. Definite alcohol burn, but light.

M: Very low carbonation, I know it's a barleywine, but I still would have liked some more carbonation. Warming, alcoholic finish.

D: This is a good barleywine. It doesn't have a great complexity, but the flavours are good, making it a nice brew to sip. Not really hoppy at all, I'd say it's much more of an English barleywine than an American style.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 06:24:04 | More by Halcyondays

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

WVbeergeek

Ohio

1.7/5  rDev -55%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Appears a deep murky blood orange red brown in color with a large beige head dwindles down to fine even lacing. Aroma is tart with ripened fruit soaked in raw fusel alcohol. Abundant hop notes intertwined in the luscious malt character brings the aromatics around full character. Flavor is unsynchronized with raw hop bitterness, astringent alcohol, and overly sweet candy sugar additions might as well package this one in forties and sell in the 7/11 down the street. This is extreme beer at it's worse, might as well call this one the skullsplitter. After a half glass my eyes are blurring and my temples are buzzing, I feel like I just got done reinsulating my attic as my skin becomes warm and flush and my nose burns from the alcohol fumes. As you can see I'm not going to add to the hype of this brewery, I will give their other brews a shot. Mouthfeel is astringent in every aspect coats the palate with earthy hop oils, hot alcohol, and overtly sweet sugars in the malt profile causing me to want to go scrape my tongue. Literally causes my gag reflex to work, so let's motion to kick this one out of the UN of beers. Drinkability is shite the worst beer I've had in a long time, by the way nice synthetic cork maybe those brewers can use this one as a substitute butt plug, because this beer tastes like ass.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2008 04:11:16 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark murky brown. Nose is minor raisins. Mild alcohol. Almost smells like dirty river water. Flavor is spiked by the alcohol. Robust flavor, but this obviously needs to be laid down for many more years before it‘s in its prime. Feel is good. But like I said, definitely needs some time to mature.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 06:47:29 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this in trade from RobotGod.
Poured a deep, deep brown with a small head that fades. Nose was dried fruits and lots of it. The alcohol was very subtle for 12%. Taste was like a deep, well balanced and very mature English Bwine. Lots of dried fruits, English malts, maybe some toffee and even liquorice in there. Mouthfeel was very good. That sweet dried fruit taste was nice. Since the ABV was not so brutal it kept drinkability high as well. Darn tasty!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2008 13:51:26 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

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

Silver Foil
Caged/Corked
12.7oz.

Poured into a tulip a amberish color, some carbonation, little fizzy off-white head, minimal sticky lacing afterwards. The nose is malty, some figs/raisins/prunes, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, some dark fruits, and some nice caramel notes. Medium body, the alcohol is hidden fairly well. Drinkable, this is a pretty tasty BWSA, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2008 00:01:26 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a snifter)
After fighting and fighting with the synthetic cork once it was removed there wasn't even the slightest pop sound.
A- This beer has a deep brown body with a light glow of brown at the base of the glass. There is a sea of microbubbles that glide to the surface supporting a big bubble tan head that has a yellow hue to it and stays sticky before fading to a thick ring.

S- This beer has an earthy resin hop note without the pine qualities followed by a light wet wood and dry caramel note. The finish had a soft citrus quality that reminded me more of yeasty cherry notes than citrus fruit notes.

T-This beer has a soft caramel note with a slight coffee malt bitterness behind it and this develops into a raw sugar taste. There is a light tart citrus finish like dried tangerine rinds but it is pretty light.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has no alcohol heat even when the beer has warmed a bit.

D- This beer has some nice sweetness but nothing to balance or support it. The orange quality at the finish is mysterious but not bold enough to and much interest.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2007 23:45:42 | More by rhoadsrage