Day 60, 3.1.11., Mikkeller - Big Worse

The more I learn and taste of Mikkeller, the faster this brewery ascends to the pinnacle of my list of most favorite brewers.  Avid readers will remember their name from a past entry in this blog for Mikkeller 1000 IBU, which I awarded 9 out of 10.  It's one of two beers which have received such a high score from me, and none have received a 10.
I finally got around to looking at the Mikkeller website too, and read a bit of back-story too.  It's pretty awesome; here's the long and short.  So two Danish buddies, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and Kristian Klarup Keller (hence Mik-Keller, get it?) started the brewery in 2006 and the same year were called the fifth best brewery in the world, and the Danish Brewery of the Year.  Damn.

And here's the kicker, from what I understand, there is no brewery.  Bjergsø (who is now the sole man behind the beer) is referred to as a gypsy brewer, meaning he travels around the world making awesome beer on other breweries' equipment.  He's a brewhouseguest.  To put it simply, he has the worlds coolest job.  And if you take a look at the list of beers Mikkeller has produced,  you'll find 196 beers.  196 different beers produced for distribution in 5 years.  Damn.
So Big Worse is a barley wine made to be the big brother to their other barley wine called Big Bad.  (The name on the bottle actually reads 'Big Bad worse').  It's in a nice big bottle with a cork and cage.  I poured it into the glass to find a dark brown, muddy looking beer with a very thin layer of creamy beige head.  The head subsided quite quickly and left a beer very light in carbonation.  The nose has some musky notes, and some over-ripe red fruit aroma.  There's some alcohol aroma too; not surprising in a 12% ABV beer.
The beer is thick on the palate, and has an aggressive bitter punch.  A big malty sweetness plays a supporting role, and balances the flavors nicely.  It's at once mouthwatering and somehow biting and puckering.  An incredibly complex and intriguing beer.  Terrific, just terrific. 8 out of 10



ps. I drank a pint of this beer.  I am now drunk.