Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine

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

[Another century celebrated with a Mikkeller beer - this time 9400] An amber beer with a fast disappearing off-white head. The aroma is sweet mlaty combined with notes of alcohol, fruit, and syrup. The flavor is sweet malty combined with notes of alcohol and caramel. The alcohol note is very powerful and leaves a burn in the throat. I find it a bit too simple now - I think it needs a year or two or three to mature. I drank it side by side with a two year old Big Bad BW, which was clearly superior.

(Bottle 37,5 cl) Courtesy of Myrup. Clear, amber golden with a dense, off-white head leaving some lacework. Fat aroma of caramel and peaches. Very solid body, loads of caramel and fruity hops. The hops leave a very solid dose of bitterness in the finish where also the alcohol really shows. Good as it is but will probably improve for several years to come. Now we’re waiting for the "Worst" version... 051007

37.5 cL bottle, THANKS TO MYRUP despite the fact that the brewers twinbrother said we should wait sometime before rating it - Myrup insisted that we should go ahead ;-)

Pours amber/brown with a lasting slight off-white head. Quite fruity hoppy aroma with a solid maltbase beneath. Strong caramel maltiness with a strong hoppy note. Has a distinct sweetness to it. Ends warming and slight burning mix of cane sugar, strong hops flavour and alcohol. Although the alcohol is fairly well hidden for an abv of 12%. This brew has all the elements to become extremely wellbalanced and smooth in a couple of years time.

Once again: THANKS TO MYRUP.

Now off to Ølbutikken to grab all the bottles I can for my beercellar...

Bottled at Bishop’s Arms Vasagatan, Stockholm. Deep hazy ruby, small head. Intense aroma of toffee, black currant and citrus. Very sweet with dense full body. salty and packed with flavour. Dextrose and candy sugar gives chemical sweetness. Bold and extrovert with massive amounts of everything, but more muscles than finesse. A bit rough around the edges.

Bottle. Clear medium amber color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, caramel, fruity, moderate to heavy hoppy, grapefruit, sugar, dark fruits / berry ala plum, alcohol. Flavor is moderate sweet and moderate to light heavy bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. I find it to young and simple now - I think it needs some years in the cellar to mature. (181107)

Bottle, 12.0%. Sweet caramelly aroma, there seems to be some hop in there, too. Seemingly clear dark brown colour. Very small tan head. The flavour starts off very caramelly and smooth. Turns into a sharp, but not unpleasant, alcohol bitterness. Finishes with a little cleansing hop bitterness and some grassy aroma hop. Mild carbonation, suitable. A rough beer, but I like it.

Bottled. Deep ambery ruby colour with small beige head. Aroma is dark dry fruits, caramel and really much both fruity and flowery hops. Some mild alcohol is also showing, but not in a disturbing way. Flavour is spices, fruits and quite a lot of hops. Sticky palate. Still wellbalanced, and hides the alcohol really well.

Bottle. Cloudy orange brown coloured with an off white ehad. Sweet aroma of malts, caramel, hops and pine needles with notes of dried fruits and caramel. Flavour of dried fruits, caramel, hops and pine needles. Dry hoppy finish.