Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Barley Wine
Copenhagen V, Denmark

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.

Pours clear, amber with a beige, medium sized, short lasting head. Nose of malt and caramel. Sweet caramel flavour, portlike with taste of raisins. Syrup texure. Nice bitter finish. Medium to full bodied. All-right but not high class.

Thanks to my secret Santa. Reddish/brown color. Smell of alcohol, malt, nuts, hops, caramel, syrup, dark fruits, hops and cotton candy. Taste is the same. I enjoyed this a lot and now I am happy that it is in my area.

Pours a hazy shade of brown with fluffy off-white that dissapates to a thick film, and notable lacing. Big caramel and malts aroma. Very complex flavors consisting caramel, malts, hops, roast, and bread. Well balanced, another winner from mikkeller

Bottle. Hazy light brown in color with a nice thick off white head. Sweet, malty and caramel aroma. Roasty hoppy notes. Doughy, biscuity malty flavor. Caramel roasty hoppy notes. Earthy woody hop notes. Medium bodied. Finish is sweet. Well balanced beer. Very nice beer. Enjoyable.

15 DEC 07, Southeast YeHa. Green 375ml bottle. Brown color. Aroma of musty, grassy, woody hops. Great malts. Sharp bitterness. A fun sharp bitter beer. PNW?

12.7oz. bottle, with thanks to tytoanderso for this! Pours a clear orange-golden color with a nice tan head, good lacing. Aroma is sweet malts, with biscuit, caramel, toffee, and some raisin/plum. Flavor is more of the same, with some alcohol warmth coming through. A nice effort, but lacking that extra oomph in both aroma and flavor to really make it standout.

Bottle via trade with DocLock - Pours a hazy light brown color with a one and a half finger thick light tan head. Light lacing. Decent carbonation for a BW. Aroma is toasted malt and esters. Flavor is sweet doughy malt and esters. Alcohol isn’t overbearing, but noticeable. Medium to full body. A good beer. Thanks Jeff.