Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine Red Wine Barrel Edition

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

Serve in Snifter

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Malty and piney aromas initially, supported by barrels that remind me more of white wine than red. Tastes like a standard American Barleywine: caramel malts atop the boozy, hoppy base with a warming sensation after I swallow. Barrel character works much better than expected, especially from an inconsistent renegade like Mikkeller. Pleasantly surprised to report that I enjoyed this one.

Complexa aromàticament. Notes d’envelliment en fusta, aroma a fruita i un punt de flors. Cremosa. Final sec i alcohòlic. Per prendre amb calma després d’un àpat.

Dark rusty red color, fairly big cream head. Aroma is quite sour, actually, like a well-spiced spanish red wine. This is balanced out by some sweeter stuff like strawberry and grapes. The oak is quite strong and adds to the sourness. Lots of red currants and some raspberry. The whole thing is surprisingly belgian. Very interesting. Upon incessant swirling, the aroma reveals a cautious hop presence. Taste has the same fruity and sour characteristics with a strong sweetness. I haven’t tried the original Big Worse, but from what I hear it is quite hoppy. This is quite the opposite. Perplexingly, really All the different elements balance out neatly, rendering this beer entirely enjoyable.

not as amazing as the bourbon edition, which i had first. i wonder which red wine it was. what grape goes well with barley? i guess i could try it at home, various beer + wine combos.

Compared to the big worse this is less drinkable. Vey complex but a few to many tannins for me. Has characteristics of fruit but also of wrange wine. Quite alcoholic and slightly too dry for a barley wine. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle. pours rich, clean burgundy with an odd thin cirrus-like head. Aroma of sweet figs, and some vinous notes. Taste of intense sweet wine and vanilla that quickly transitions to oak and some cherry tones with a hint of caramel maltiness and some peppery spice. Tannins are quite evident. Very carbonated, sort of champagne-like, with a dry finish that complements the beer. Well done, Mikkeller.

A malty beast of a barley wine that probably would have been better suited to age in a non red wine barrel. Huge nose of candied figs and Cabernet. A shapely body flows over my tongue and reminds me of the cloying palate of a heavy red wine. Figs, oak, black cherries and truck loads of caramel malt dominate the flavor before morphing into a strangely out of place oaky, red wine finish. Strangely unique and in need of a few tweaks.

Pours rustic, filthy, cloudy brown with a thick light brown head. Smells surprisingly fresh. The red wine is present already, and combined with the sweetness it’s almost smells like apple pie. The taste is sweet, but works very well with the wine. Toffee and malty. Very nicely executed!

Bottle. Pours dark amber with light brown head. Light aroma of oak, fruit, tobacco, wine. Little bit of heat. Flavors of oak, citrus, cinnamon. Flavors from the wine barrel blend nicely with this beer. Finishes slightly bitter.

Bottle. Very dark amber to light brown. Thin tan head. Good lacing. Aroma is tart cherry, booze, oak, and earthy. Flavor is boozy, cherry, toast, and caramel. Full bodied and silky. Great beer.