Big Worse (Red Wine Edition)
Mikkeller ApS

Big Worse (Red Wine Edition)Big Worse (Red Wine Edition)
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
12%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 13.11%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
80
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 13, 2016
Added:
Feb 12, 2011
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  28
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij.
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Ratings by KajII:
Photo of KajII
Reviewed by KajII from North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
[Suggested Glassware: Snifter]

The pour was a murky brownish purple with an average (1-2 finger) khaki colored frothy head that diminished slowly, down to a thick film and large collar with excellent sheets of lacing.

The aroma was big and strong of a dark bread malt and a sweet yeast with notes of caramel, red wine, dark fruit (grapes, plums and prunes), candi sugar, a hint of oak and a decent alcohol tinge.

The taste was heavily malty sweet with a bold vinous presence from the start, progressing with a bold bitterness, a bit of dark fruit and a large alcohol taste with the end having a slightly fruity mildly woody taste. Flavor lasted an average duration following the swallow, with a sweet fruity alcohol warming sensation being the last thing lying on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was almost medium in body and dry in texture with a somewhat prickly carbonation.

Overall this is a very unique tasting Barleywine (in a good way). It possesses a ton of fruity flavor that only complimented the vast other flavors offered in this brew, which together did a stupendous job of slightly mellowing the extremely high ABV...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
Nov 30, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by Texasfan549 from Texas

May 13, 2016
Photo of Bugs318
Reviewed by Bugs318 from Canada (QC)

3.84/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Three years after bottling...

A: mahogany with a decent, dense beige head. Thick rings of lace encircle the glass at each sip.
S: raisins, figs, caramel, and a hint of sherry complement bigger musty, vinous, and oak notes.
T: similar, but oxidation comes through a bit more, as does ethanol and tannin notes.
M: quite hot, even three years on, but a nice full body with a decent chewing and silky quality. Only the faintest trace of stickiness.
O: a fine brew, but a bit too hot, though at best before 2023 for a 2013 bottle, who knows... It may settle down someday!
Mar 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.01 by IckyT2012 from Florida

Dec 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.53 by aasher from Indiana

Dec 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.22 by BillCheck from Pennsylvania

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by Boonemobile from Minnesota

Oct 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by ricoslim from Florida

Jul 06, 2015
Photo of Chico1985
Reviewed by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A - 375ml poured to a snifter glass. Murky burgundy beer with orange highlights topped with a surprising thick finger of beige head. Swirly cap and decent lace left behind.

S - Candy caramel, red grape, brown sugar, a touch of darker malt/roast helps even out sweetness but undeniably a barleywine scent. Not really winy at all, but a vague grape fruitiness going on.

T - There seems to a bit more red wine fruitiness here but this is mostly a decadent caramel molasses malt bomb. Big caramel-soaked raisin, cocoa, vanilla, and some herbal tones.

M - Big, smooth, very malty with just a bit of hop noticeable. Sweetness kept in check. Great swishy carbonation and very-well hidden alcohol. 375ml pretty easy solo.

O - For some reason I always expect the…worst…when it comes to this series, and often come out pleasantly surprised, this one was the best of the variants to me. Really missing red wine barrels but huge on pure malty goodness which makes up for it. Very well-hidden alcohol and a great mouthfeel. Actually reminds me a of Mirror Mirror, I think I preferred this to be honest.
Jul 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by bgold86 from New York

May 28, 2015
Photo of mverity
Reviewed by mverity from Florida

3.97/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I didn’t take notes besides the numbers on this beer. I remember being impressed with the red wine being able to shine through the bold barley wine complexity without overpowering.
Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.36 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Feb 15, 2015
Photo of zac16125
Reviewed by zac16125 from South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Mikkeller Big Worse
375mL bottle into a tulip
No bottling dates

A: Dark mahogany, opaque, 2 fingers of tan head, good retention, tons of lacing 4.25

S: burnt candied sugar, caramel/toffee, hoppy, very subtle vinous and oaky notes from the barrel 4.25

T: dark fruits, some vinous notes, caramel/toffee, oaky, mild bitterness 4.25

M/D: full body, carbonation on the higher end but appropriate, ABV very well restrained , drinkability is good 4

O: very good Barleywine , recommend even for the high price tag 4.25
Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by rankandfile from Maryland

Dec 31, 2014
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.45/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle purchased at Nathaniel Square Corner Store by my wonderful fiancee, and received as a Christmas gift.

Pours a garnet reddish-brown, with a foamy, 1.5 inch head, and a big amount of lacing.

Smells like oak, vinous red wine, caramel, toffee, some slight chocolate, with luckily no boozy aromas at all.

I'm surprised at how little the booze comes through on this one- a lot of review seems to bash that aspect of the beer. Maybe Mikkeller is getting better at hiding that previous flaw in his beer. There's a big red wine presence, but not overwhelming, with dark fruits from both the wine and the barleywine itself- cherry, raisin, and dark grapes, some nutty flavors, a bit of chocolate, toffee and caramel, and oak. As it warms, the wine flavors become more tangy and slightly sour, in a good way. This is a hugely complex barleywine, and honestly, it's quite tasty.

This is a thick and fairly syrupy beer, but luckily it's not overwhelmingly so. There's a pretty low level of carbonation. It's very drinkable despite the heft, and like I stated above, there is no alcohol presence, at all, other than the warmth you get while drinking it.

This is a fine barleywine from Mikkeller. It's frustrating that there are good ones like this, and then there are some pretty bad Mikkeller beers. I guess I'll keep trying because of the possibility of ones like this.
Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Armando_Perez from Florida

Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Chingringo from Florida

Aug 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by craftbeerasian from Florida

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by GeorgeCarroll from Pennsylvania

Aug 18, 2014
Big Worse (Red Wine Edition) from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 80 ratings