Orval

Brewed by Brasserie dOrval
Style: Belgian Ale
Florenville - Villers-d.-Orval, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: MAY 16, 2013 330ml bottle. Pours a cloudy tanned brown/orange with a thick pillowy head that lasts forever. A fruity beer with caramel notes in taste and aroma. Mildly viscous in consistency. Poured a copper brown/ orange, very fizzy initially, but settled to be very drinkable.

Crazy 3.5 finger head. Nice aroma with banana yeast. Taste is odd. There is some sweet at the front but a not so pleasant bitterness in the back.

UPDATED: MAY 16, 2013 0.33 bottle. Humungous, off-white head, leaves some proper lacing, quite hazy amber color. Aroma is so to say Belgian: banana, clove, vanilla, some caramel, perfume, spices and an unfortunate alcoholic note. Taste is mostly bittersweet, somewhat floral, liquorice alongside, with malty undertone. At first appears overly astringent but frankly it just takes some getting used to. Medium body, nice slick texture and a soft carbonation. Finish is longish, a tad off-balance and sourish at the end but otherwise good. All in all it’s a good beer but honestly I expected more from the famed Orval.

Bottiglia 33 cl Chiara torbida, schiuma molto abbondante, fine e persistente. La trappista più beverina, amarognola e di grande struttura, decisamente buona!

33cl bottle. Its a special beer. It’s not like one of the other trappist beers. Its a little more bitter.

Lots of bubbles, caramel color. Lively nose with sweetness. Light taste with long lasting flavor.

Great taste, suttle but lasting. Dark amber color. Good head. Appearance of the bottle and beer are great.

Bread, cereal, floral, grass, citrus, herbs, dry character, only one kind of for general public, two fermentations wither dry hopping process, hoppy aroma

330ml bottle bought at Belgian Beer Intl. in Tsuen Wan.

Colour - Cloudy hazy golden amber orange with dirt like yeast sediments.

Head - Explosive four-finger head with crumpety off-white foams which seems to last forever! Very thick and sticky lacing and very fizzy carbonation.

Aroma - Very fragrant and refreshing nice perfume, floral, honey, grapefruit, plum / dark fruit, vanilla, light caramel, light banana, malt, and spices. Grapefruit aroma becomes more intense as the beer warms.

Taste - Muted, light sweet malt, with caramel, burnt toffee, Belgian yeast, liquorices, dark fruit, strong cloves, spices, brett, pretty strong bitter lime, citrus, and herbal hops.

Body - Medium body, quite thin but slick palate.

Mouth Feel - Abbey Dubbel-based, dominated by very strong and herbal hoppiness. Sweetness is really low, fused with intense spiciness, brett, burnt toffee and dark-fruits.

Hoppiness - this is THE headlines, great in refreshing floral aroma, touch of fresh grapefruit taste, and expressive dynamic bitterness. Wow! Astringency is a tad low, but good enough to leave a lingering nice finish.

After Taste - Pretty dry, very easy and tempting to mouth.

Comments: With such a cocky bottle and only features one brew, I knew this monastery is up to something and I expect nothing less from its beer. Bang on! It really stands tall against other tasty Trappist beers all by its own - tastes like a fully hopped up Dubbel, hugely impressive visually with big lasting head and lacing; Its floral, perfumey and grapefruit aroma is so refreshing that is a good indication of a well-made and well-hopped beer. Its low sweetness - so subdued - a trait which I normally don’t like for Trappists / Abbeys, is well complemented by good dose of clove and spiciness. An altogether unique and great tasting and sensory experience!

P.S. I am so glad I picked this one for my 200th RB review, and what a way to celebrate! # 300, here I come!

330ml bottle. Cloudy orange body with a huge orange tainted fluffy head. Aromas of hops, light bread, dough, and tropical fruits. Notes of yeast, bitter orange, pepper, ginger and citrus. Dry/bitter aftertaste. Fizzy carbonation. This one isn’t ready for at least 2-3 years. Gonna buy a new one and forget about it for 3 years.