Mikkeller Big Worse Barley Wine

Mikkeller Big Worse is aptly named. The label features what looks like a mug shot, and at 12% abv I can understand the choice. This beer is very heady, and a mellow but heavy buzz becomes apparent after a few sips. The coloring is deep maple. It's very malty with a spicy fresh baked bread aroma and flavor. The body features a long flavor, and a chewy aspect that brings the phrase liquid bread to mind.


There are a couple qualities of this beer that make it unique. For one, it is not very sweet. This is an oddity considering the amount of malt it contains. Beers this big are usually boozy or slightly pungent. It is also very dry. Combined, these facets mean almost all of the available malt sugars are converted into alcohol during fermentation. Thus, Big Worse is an extremely well crafted ale.