Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine

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

mostly alcohol on the nose, plus sweet malt, some fruit/berry comes through,grains. flavor is all that plus more alcohol. would probably be really nice to let one age 5 or so years.

Bottle shared by badnewsbeers. Fiery red-brown, sediment-laden body, thin buff clumping head. Nose of hot, burnt caramel, alcohol, and oxidized citrusy, piny hops. Sweet body with caramel and brown sugar, with a cerealy Fruity Pebbles character, tea-like with oxidized, faded citric hops. This tasted past its prime.

Pours a flat amber colour. Very alcohol nose, almost uninviting. Very nice taste though. Has a distinct alcohol flavor but taste is dominantly dried fruit. Raisins shine through the most with slight sourness of dried cherries. Finishes oily. Aging one for later.

Dark copper colour with a minimal beige head that dies fast leaving some bubbles at best. Aroma is very caramell oriented and sweet, almost sirupy with notes of dried fruit. Flavour is rather full, a bit sticky with lots of dried fruit, straightforward and simple with a rather full sticky body. Alcohol was fairly well hidden and provided a nice warming sensation.

Almost flat upon opening, this comes out cloudy, almost opaque brownish garnet tinted. Neglectable head. From the first whiff, it is clear that we’re dealing with a beer that aims at the liquorous genre. A fair fruitiness feels like a berry wine with cherries, blackberries, earth, leaves being the main noticeable culprits. In mouth though, its 12% alcohol comes with a vengeance, annihilating any other flavour in the very hot finish. Drinkability is of course minimal, but even as a sipper, it has more burning intensity than I desire. The initial desserty hints (think nuts and chocolate) gradually make room to raisiny leather as it warms the throat going down. Brash beer which I can’t get into.

Burgundy amber pour with a minimal head. Nice malty aroma with some slight alcohol. Bitterness followed by some sweet flavor is fabulous with very nice warming down the throat. Very nice.

Boozy nose. No head which is expected w/ 12%. Would’ve never guessed this is 12%. Very smooth easy drinker. Alcohol is a bit noticeable but that’s plenty ok in a barley wine. Pretty sweet like some brown sugar has been added. Still god though. Maybe some cherry flavor shows up as it warmed up?

Tap at Plan B. Poured a earthy brown with no head. Aroma was full of dark sweet notes, particularly, plum, raisin, caramel and molasses. Flavor was full of molasses and caramel, as well as a grainy note. Alcohol was very present, a bit overwhelming. Very thick on the tongue.