Orval

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Well I guess I don’t see what all the hype is about. Yes the presentation of this beer is quite a site, but the taste is lacking. Very bitter finish and is giving me a memory of swallowing pool water. It’s weird because from the pour to the smell I was loving it and then the taste is short and dry and the end of the gulp leaves my tongue a little ruff. I will finish the drink, but probably won’t buy another. Marijnrutten said it right red like sunset. Nice head retention.

Really nice orange brown color with unbelievable head, thick and frothy, and leaves a thick coating of Belgian Lace. Aroma is floral, grassy, and some tropical fruits - maybe green mango? Taste - Belgian yeast up front, but it is more subdued and gentle that a lot of Belgian Ales. Nice fruity notes, some sweetness from malt, but has a very enjoyable dryness. To me it makes it much more drinkable than other trappist ales. I could actually have a few of these. Light bodied and heavily carbonated, soapy mouth feel, astringent tannic finish, but in a good way. Finish is long and complex, and develops into bread and cereal notes at the end. A very good beer.

Bottled on 1/6/2010, poured into an Orval Chalice. Pour is a hazy, yellowish brown color with a small white head. Head sticks around and laces nicely. Smells floral, almost like straw up front. Perhaps a bit of alcohol underneath with some banana. Sweet taste up front, Belgian yeasts, some banana. Definitely some hops detected, along with a warming alcohol sensation as you drink. Dry and light, a lot of carbonation on this one. Extremely drinkable. Really goes down smooth. Would be my preferred Pale Ale...but it isn’t as readily available as some other, quality pales.

Bouteille de 33cl. Jolie couleur orange, trouble, mousse assez abondante de tenue très correcte. Quelque chose de végétal, une pointe d’acidité avec une amertume soutenue, le tout très agréable en bouche. L’Orval joue un peu la timide mais elle a du caractère. Originale mais c’est loin d’être ma trappiste préférée. Trouvée à Intermarché - Montigny en Gohelles.

So far one of the best trappists beers I’ve tasted IMHO. The good aroma component is balanced. The bad point is the serving temperature and how the storage has been held: it greatly suffer suboptimal conditions, heavly affecting the resulting aroma.

Bottle 33cl (Bottled: 28/10/2010). Color: red/gold like a sunset with a white/beige head that sticks to the glass. Aroma: sour, citrus, hops, vegetal. Taste: sour, bitter. Aftertaste: Bitter and long. Texture: between watery and creamy. This beer hides its aromas and tastes good!

UPDATED: APR 27, 2011 Poured from a bottle into a belled glass. Appearance is a hazy copper with an enormous head. Areoma is malty, sour, sweet, bready, and fruity. Taste is sour apples up front that moves on to grapes and yeast. Lots of carbonation. Tingly mouthfeel. This is wonderful.

Whoa, puffy cloud head on top of a beaut misty orange beer, truly great looking beer. Aroma is a mysterious mix of barnyard, honey mint-spice and sourness. dry in the mouth and even puckering on the side, but really good. Hop finish is dry and long. Amazing, complex beer.