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Orval

Orval - Belgian Ale

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 Percentile 
99
overall
A Belgian Ale brewed by
Brasserie dOrval

Florenville - Villers-d.-Orval, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
21093.92/5.03.92/5.06.2%100Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler P  Stats

Commercial Description:
In contrast to all the others, the Orval Trappist brewery makes only one beer for the general public. It has an intensely aromatic and dry character. Between the first and second fermentations there is also an additional dry-hopping process. Through this the beer acquires its pronounced hoppy aroma and extra dry taste.
Bottled at 5.2% abv - can go up as high as 7.2%
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 DuffManSW (141), Riverside, California, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/55/102/513/20
Jul 3, 2009  
Bottle from BevMo.. Pours cloudy orange with a fluffy white head..Smell is very tart and sour which I really like.. Then you taste it..WTF!! Nothing like the smell.. Flavor is very dry with alot of carbonation that makes it kinda hard to drink...MEH!!


PolishHammer (48), , Connecticut, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/516/20
Jul 3, 2009  
A dark reddish beer with a decent sized off-white head. Smell and flavor of licorice. More acidic and spicey than most of the trappist style beers, so not my favorite because of that. Still, a classic, and very enjoyable. More hop character than I’m used to in a trappist too.


randolphjj (59), Raymore, Missouri, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/55/103/511/20
Jul 3, 2009  
Carbonation is pretty hefty on this bottle. It exploded when the cap was pried off. But the heavenly belgian yeast aroma that came out of it was a nice way the bottle made up to me. I’m honestly happier with the nose than the taste. On the back end that "extra dry taste" is a bit off-putting to me. Just my palate.


jrallen34 (67), Illinois, USA
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/103/511/20
Jul 2, 2009  
I drank this from a bottle at the Abbey in Orval. This beer is very different from the other Trappists. Its lighter in color and almost fruity. TThe aroma is fruity, very distinct flavor of oranges and spice. The color is a deep orange that pours with a white head that sticks around. The great color and aroma are let down by its taste. It is very acidic and bland, it is the by the far the least of the Trappistes.


 inkubus27 (185), Highland, Indiana, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/55/101/513/20
Jul 1, 2009  
I know this is like sacrilegious, but I really don’t like this beer. Basically because of the acidity. I have acid reflux and certain belgian yeasts give off way too much acid and make these beers undrinkable. I can only take a couple swigs of this before it starts coming back up.


Listigovers (40), Ontario, Canada
5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/520/20
Jun 27, 2009  
One of the most interesting beers I have ever tried. The bartender who served it described it as having "Barnyard flavours like you’ve never tasted before" and he was right in such a great way. Phenomenal beer, 100th beer I had tried and to be quite honest, the most interesting. Surpassed all my expectations.


 drjay44 (494), Colorado, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/516/20
Jun 26, 2009  
330 ml. bottle. Bottled 23/09/2008. Best by 23/09/2013. 6.9% AVB. Pours a huge off white head which gradually deflates, over a slightly cloudy golden body......nose is floral hops, bit of cinnamon, orange, musty barnyard, livestock urine.......taste initially slight sweet malt then heavy hop roles in and leaves lingering bitterness....mouth feel is medium and carbonation low after the initial wave. Closer to an American "Strong Ale" than any other Belgian I have tasted.


DeanF (72), Paris, France
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
Jun 26, 2009  
The Orval taste isn’t for everyone but it’s unique and memorable, and goes great with pretty much every meal. Aside from that, this is a classic trappist - great foam, great blonde colour. Curious aroma and unique taste of fruity hops and grains. Give it a try and you’ll either be loving it or....not.



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