Big Worse - Mikkeller ApS

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

thedoubler55

New Jersey

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Rustic brown cherry color, lots of head at the top that left some slight lacing around the glass.

S: Strong scent of caramel, brown sugar, and dark malts, and hops.

T: Wild Barleywine, very malty up front with a kick of bitterness from the hops at the tailend, good taste of caramel up front as well.

M: Not to much carbonation a bit dry.

O: Not to bad, sat well with me, would not mind drinking another, easy drinker

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 12:57:47 | More by thedoubler55

dcloeren

Texas

1.45/5  rDev -61.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This was the worst beer I ever had hands down. I honestly have nothing positive to say about it. Poured a murky brown/rust color. Smelled of sweet malt and tart fruits. I thought maybe the name "Big Worse" was them being ironic or clever but apparently they were just being up front with everyone. This beer is the WORST beer ever. I almost felt bad for my sink for pouring it in there. I would have dumped it outside but I didnt have any weeds in my yard to kill at the time.

FAIL!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 19:36:44 | More by dcloeren

Arenbeer

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12.7oz bottle thanks to Kstrickler

Served at fridge temperature into a goblet glass

A- Pours a nice deep blood reddish brown with literally no head at all but some really nice alcohol feet on the side of the glass.

S- Sweet caramel malts and toffee with a bitter hops and some dark fruits.

T- Spitting image of the nose. Strong sweet caramel and toffee with some bitterness from the hops and belgian yeast characters in there. Dark fruits come out with burnt sugars and a slight alcohol presence but hidden very well.

M- Medium bodied with not much carbonation with a nice slight bitter finish.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 04:06:24 | More by Arenbeer

avalon07

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a rusty color and thick, murky, muddy texture. Lots of floaties. There was an inch of foamy, head that quickly dissipated. Good lacing.

S: A strong, sharp aroma of hops, malt, and caramel.

T: Tasted of caramel, lots of hops and a bit malt in the finish. Much more robust than most American Barleywines. It's a big flavor with a just enough of an alcohol bite to be enjoyable.

M: An average amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This is a surprisingly easy to drink beer. Not the most physically attractive beer, but drinkable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 13:09:52 | More by avalon07

brotherloco

California

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

375ml C&C bottle.

Pretty tough to get the cork out of this one and not much of a pop.

Pours an irish coffee colored dark brown with a sloppy beige head. Some floating sediment.

Smells much like a english barleywine with a tinge of Belgian yeast and sugar. Malty dark fruit notes. A bit boozy.

Taste is semi-sweet malt with an ample amount of bitterness to balance it. Still getting some of that Belgian candi sugar. Vinegary dried fruits, slightly metallic. Booze in the finish, but honestly not as strong as you'd expect for 12%

Medium bodied but a bit thin in the mouth with low carbonation.

Overall I like the flavor of this beer, but it isn't backed up as well by the supporting elements. I've got the Bourbon Barrel edition sitting in the cellar, will try that soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 01:11:37 | More by brotherloco

JamesMcPolin

California

4.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark and very cloudy/chunky. Looks promising.

Extremely aromatic. Nose is straight up English toffee! Caramel. Candied/sugary/dried fruits like dates and prunes.

Similar to the nose. Dried sweetened raisins. Burnt brown sugar.

Seemingly light for 12%! A nice gentle heat as it warms.

Room temperature notes – add licorice and molasses to the nose. And as my hand on the snifter takes it even warmer than room temp (approaching 80 degrees) I’m getting hints of oak and vanilla in the taste.

Killer brew. A bit over priced like all Mikkeller’s but still very happy with the purchase.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 03:20:46 | More by JamesMcPolin

capeannbass36

Massachusetts

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

A- Pours like muddy water. Flat. No head. Some sediment. Not pretty, that's for sure.

S- Sweet malt, raisins, maybe a little molasses.

T- Similar to smell, slightly less pronounced. Boozy for sure.

M- Very low carbonation, almost none. Warm finish.

D- One, maybe two. Pretty potent stuff.

Overall, not a bad drink. Just wish it had a little more carbonation. Was kind of like drinking an ugly looking wine.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 15:11:04 | More by capeannbass36

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

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12.7oz bottle into Globe glass.

A. Poured 2 finger head. Really good retention. Thick lacing. Color is a murky dark brown.

S. Big caramel malt smell. Really nice barleywine smell. Brown sugar, candy. Has some maple and vanilla. Some alcohol aroma.

T. Taste is pretty smooth. Not the depth of malt flavors that I was expecting from the aroma. Pretty solid caramel malt base. Brown sugar, carmel, maple flavor. Not much hop taste at all. Pretty smooth for 12%

M. Mouthfeel actually felt a bit thin for me. Medium/low carbonation. Lingering sweetness.

O. Overall pretty solid barleywine. Too thin of mouthfeel for me. Flavor was not as complex as some of the best.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 22:41:13 | More by siradmiralnelson

rarbring

Sweden

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer is foggy brown, grey nuances, nearly no head. Many curtains though.

The smell is mainly vinous and dried fruits, figs, dates, some yeast.

A sweetness upfront, raisins, sherry and port wine, some bitterness.

Very little carbonation, soft and oily, some alcoholic feeling.

A bit to sweet, wonder if it will develop a better balance over time. Tasted at a beer sampling at De Klomp, Linköping, Sweden.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 15:44:33 | More by rarbring

OldPenguinHunter

California

4.58/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

I had this after a few months of staring at it in my beer fridge, poured into a Duvel glass.

A: A nice dark caramel color, pours a finger and a half of head, in which the lacing is all that is left after a minute or so, my buddy's pored 3 (he poured pretty quick though).
S: The smell is redolent of caramel apples, oak, vanilla, and a bit of 12yr Glenlivet scotch, or candied fruits. Very appetizing and it does fill the room.
T: This was just amazing, a great beer, soft and spicy, heavy with alcohol. The taste matches the smell profile. I was having this with some gorgonzola dolce, pears and warm walnuts, the best dessert ever, and pairing with this beer.
M: Sort of typical of barley wines, heavy and boozy. soft carbonation.
D: The only reason why I put this at a 3 is because, if you plan on drinking more than one, you're gonna be thrashed. The beer gets to be overwhelming in both alcohol and flavor, (the sweetness gets to my tum-tum.)

Overall, this is a great beer, whenever I come across it, I usually buy two or three bottles and drink them over the course of a few months, unless greedy guests come over empty-handed and thirsty (you know who you are...).

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 23:06:25 | More by OldPenguinHunter

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

Schreibeers

South Carolina

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

A: Dark brown, with some dark red tint. No head

S: Booze is the most prevalent at the nose, with some sweet maltiness. Smells smooth and nice. Smells nicer after a couple of sips.

T: Nice, I really like this beer. At first you get a little booziness, but it is not your typical "hot". The booziness is accompanied by a nice sweet roasted maltiness almost a toffee like flavor. There is some distant bitterness, but the alcohol and sweet sugars seem to keep this beer in balance. There is not much of a finish in this beer. I like a barley wine to have some staying power, but this seems a little thin.

M: Sooth, medium body. As you drink the beer really sticks to your mouth but seems to disapear quite quickly.

D: Overall, I do like this beer, but seems a little thin for a barley wine. The toffee sweetness makes this beer drinkable for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 20:35:34 | More by Schreibeers

July2Nov

Hawaii

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dirty brown with a very thin lace.

Smell: Buttery, toffee like...a bit sour and a bit sweet. Smelling some anise as well.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Much like the smell indicated...but with more alcohol coming through. Really wonderful aftertaste that reminds me of sweet bread. Got some molasses flavoring that comes through. The more it gets toward room temp...the better the flavors come out and it gets a bit more milder.

Drinkability: At 12% this is certainly a one a done...but a good one and done. Thank you again Mikkeller for such a good brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 05:55:32 | More by July2Nov

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at ChurchKey in Washington, DC. Poured into a snifter glass. Served beer near room temperature which is the norm at ChurchKey. Pours an opaque caramel brown with a surprisingly big beige head that recedes slowly, leaving streaks of lacing and legs after each swirl. The aroma has heavy alcoholic hops than I was expecting with a biting citrus zing and plenty of underlying caramel malts. Maybe even some caramelized esters (apples) as well. The taste is hefty with more alcohol burn even more so than the aroma suggests. The citrus hops are there but give way to the massive sugary sweetness of the malt backbone. The finish has a serious alcohol burn and a scathing bitterness, both of which limit the drinkability. The mouthfeel is sticky and thick, almost syrupy but with a ton of alcohol. This is a massively sweet and boozy barleywine that is definitely not the most drinkable I've had in the style. Abrasive but tasty stuff. This barleywine is definitely not for the faint of heart...

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 21:56:48 | More by CuriousMonk

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

OK, I got this review at the recommendation of the guy "Robert" (I believe) from Spec's in the Woodlands. I paid nearly $12 for this one frickin' bottle, so I sure hope that it is worth it. i don't have a problem with that if the beer is absolutely outstanding, but we are getting up to the world famous Belgian Strong Dark category for me to shell out this much for a beer. Damn, it sounds like I have set myself up for a let-down already...I sure hope not. Let's see...

Appearance: Pours a pretty murky brown color with no head at all after a pretty conservative pour. I was hoping to keep the carbonation in the liquid, but this is a bit much as I would like to see something at least. As still as it is, it looks like a glass of wine in my glass...just brown and murky-like wine.

Aroma: The aroma has strong peppery alcohol notes to go along with some malt, but there is a defined dryness that seems like it is barrel aging. I don't know if this beer is barrel aged, but it sure smells like it. I do get some reserved hops in the nose that seem like they may be bordering on citrusy, like they are American hops, but this is muted by the wood aromatics.

Taste: The beer is a lot more fruity than I thought it would be from the aroma. There are a lot of fruits that you don't normally get in a beer like this, like apricots in particular. You don't get to pick the fruit out for long as the aggressive alcohol comes in quick and gives you some spice to enjoy up-front and then a defined warming to linger long after the sip. The beer itself is a whole lot thinner and easier to drink than I thought it would be from the aroma. There really is no carbonation to speak of, but the alcohol makes it come across the palate pretty quickly...but leaving it mark. As you cleanse your palate with water and keep sipping the beer as it warms, the flavor profile keeps changing. Now it is coming across rather sweet on the lips with notes of slightly burnt honey, but now there is more hop bitterness becoming noticeable.

Opinion: Well, overall this is really a pretty good beer, so I have been pleasantly surprised. That said, I don't really think that it is worth the price you pay for it...but it is ready to drink right now...so how much is that worth to you? Most Barley Wines, especially American styles are green as heck when they hit the shelves, so you have to let them sit for at least a couple years before they stop making you make a face after your first sip. This beer isn't like that and is ready now. Not having to wait may be worth the $6 to $8 more a bottle that you are paying, that is up to you. This is a good beer, and one that is worth drinking. I imagine that you could cellar it, but I don't think that it would do much for it.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 04:31:42 | More by SkeeterHawk

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Apparently I needn't worry about pouring any yeast slop into my glass - at some point over the last few years while laying perfectly still and undisturbed in my cold cellar the yeast somehow consummately fused itself into the beer. Or maybe I made that conjugation happen when struggling to extract the (abnormally long, synthetic and stubborn) cork. Whatever the case, this brownish liquid is sludgy, flat and butt ugly.

It took one whiff for me to realize what I had just gotten myself into. To those who like to have their palate smacked around by brute bitterness and senseless alcohol, this should be a real treat. For me, I'm slightly put-off. Stiff alcohol vapors blend none too favorably with the (now briny and musty) scent of piny, tropically fruity hops. The malts smell utterly debilitated and stink like rotted pear and fig compote. Looks like it's go big or go home!

...or maybe not. The beer isn't nearly as obnoxious as I first thought. Only narrowly chilled it confesses little of the stated 12% ABV listed on its label. The malts, while sapped and overworked due to the constraints of a heavy hop bill and double-digit alcohol, keep their dignity with a fig-y/prune-y/jam-y flavour and buttery, molasses-like sweetness. The hops too seem a little worse for wear, but haven't lost all their tropical, zesty qualities.

I couldn't remember exactly how long ago I bought this bottle but the date printed on the cork (that my hand all but rubbed off when wrestling to get it out) had mid-August 2011 as the best before date, which confirms that this has a few good years of age under its belt. Initial reviews were unfavorable so I opted to wait in hopes that it would improve. Which it has in some ways. Mind you, it has also degraded in other ways.

Oxidation and a soy sauce-like element at some point made their home in this green glass bottle. The hops, as mention earlier, have also seen better days. That said, aging this beer was as much a choice as it was a necessity - in hindsight I prefer the more aggressive, more severe Big Worse to this more passive, devitalized version. Then again, in hindsight, I probably wouldn't have forked out the $10+ dollars for a 375ml bottle of either!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 22:07:21 | More by biegaman

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

The3rdbeer

California

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of an old bottle that I've had cellaring for almost a year now, first time trying it very impressed, but not shocking for a Mikkeller. Poured into a Bruery tulip glass served at 54°F

A- Surprisingly a very reddish copper color with a little bit of sediment, looks to be delicious, also poured a little vigorously I got a nice 1 1/2 fingers of head that subsided with in a minute or so with some nice lacing sticking around.

S- It was hard to really get a grasp on it at first, Its very mellow but faintly caramelized fruit, booze, and dark molasses.

T- Really rolls into the flavors nicely, starts off with a zing of booze than gets mellow and nice with a breadyness along with dark molasses and some mellow bitterness tied in with caramelized fruit that works with the ever present booze perfectly.

M- plays around in all the right places(thats what she said) but it rolls right in with a nice viscosity and lite carbonation and that zing of warmth but just right, leaving my mouth dry but salivating for more

D- Over all I love it! I recommend sitting on it in the right atmosphere for at least a year looking at these other reviews, I am a huge barleywine fan and this made my expectations, not to hot but just right. Perfect night cap.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 07:37:01 | More by The3rdbeer

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12.7oz into snifter. From notes. No bottle date, but this bottle looks a little old and roughed up.
A: A murky brown body, with no carbonation and no head at all. The tannings in the glass, seems to leave a oil appearance on the glass. Looks like a flat beer.
S: The aroma is very mellow and full of caramel notes. Findings of a English Barleywine, but this could be a sign of this American take with all the hops mellowed out.
T/M: This barley has not held up for the course of its time, all respects to the flavors of the beer, there great stylistically, but the lack of carbonation is a little deduction of points. Crazy smooth and still really flavorful. Creamy port mouthfeel, with a nice lingering taste. Body is on the medium side, with a figgy finish.
D: For 12%abv, this is a very approachable beer. I find it to have a smooth character and ended up drinking it quite quickly. Great experience, not detoured by Mikkeller at all, I would just question the conditions this bottle had been in from its birth to when I picked it off the shelf.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 16:34:31 | More by GDBEERMAN

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From notes:

Pours a very dark, hazy chestnut brown color with slight mahogany edges when held to a light source and a thin yellowish beige head that quickly dissipates without leaving much lacing.

Earthy, leathery malt aroma with subtle earthy hops and faint chocolate but it mostly just smells like sweet booze.

Medium bodied and nicely balanced with a prominent earthy leathery malt character. There are some silky chocolate and toffee notes up front that are countered by a subtle hop bitterness and a very strong hot, boozy alcohol flavor. Sweet with hints of chocolate, toffee, biscuit and caramel but again the alcohol is the prominent flavor and is way too overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 19:00:04 | More by corby112

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

gtn80

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance is a dark brown, touch of red. No head to speak of, just a few bubbles on the surface.

Aroma is great, heavy, syrupy malts. Dark, sweet fruits.

Taste is super sweet, big, dark caramel malts. Figs, alcohol and chocolate. Bit of vanilla.

Mouthfeel is heavy, thick and viscous. Touch more carbonation would be helpful.

Drinkability is ok, definitely a sipper. Big beer, nice on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 02:48:08 | More by gtn80

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