Orval

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Classic oral bottle from the brewery. Great thick head. Very complex for how smooth it is. Drinkable and awesome.

Astonishingly foamy and massive head sits atop a very foggy amber. First big aroma that hits me is apple. That’s a surprise! A ton going on here. Funky yeastiness initially, then a touch of alcohol, then a bright, fruity, apple-tinged note, then it moves sweeter. Finish sour and bitter and lingering. After a while there’s a peppery note. All without being harsh or aggressive. Tasty.

Pours amber with a great bubbly white head that doesn’t dissipate quick. Great hoppy aroma. Tastes bitter and dry. I’ve drunk Orval from as young as 2 months to 7years old. Evolves quite fast, would suggest to leave it at least 6 months. At it’s best after about 2 years. From 5years on it transforms to a completly different brew wich goes more to a port (less carbonation, richer and fruitier taste, less bitter, almos no head at all).

11.2oz bottled on Sept 7, 2008, enjoyed over 2 years old and probably warmer than I should’ve. Oh well. Pours hazy orange/amber with a gigantic foamy, bubbly, and fluffy off white head that a Duvel tulip couldn’t contain. Takes forever to recede and leaves rings of foamy, bubbly lacing and a rocky island behind. Aroma features the most authentic bubblegum aroma I’ve encountered, very grassy, floral and herbal, spices, some lemon, a bit of orange, as well as some funk buried underneath. Complex and strong aroma. Flavor is fruity apples, lemon, orange, pear, bubblegum, some spice, some tartness up front, then a bit of caramel sweetness in the middle transitioning to a touch more spice and an overall dry finish. Mouthfeel is light to medium, low carbonation, a little creamy and sometimes sticky. My first Orval, unique, definitely. I can dig it and now want to try a fresher one for some comparison.

341ml bottle. 6.9% ABV. Enjoyed at 12degC. Pours murky orange-brown with big foamy and resilient white head. Grassy, spicy, sweet, sherbet-like and funky/wild/sour aromas. Light-medium body, medium-high carbonation. Sweetness initially overshadowed by the bitterness, sour notes and complex yeast flavours. Finishes semi-dry and satisfying.

Milky yellowish color. Smells like some weird bread and yeast. I love the flavor. Its weird and delicious. Neat beer!

I had this beer many times, especially when I was in Belgium. Despite it is a Trappist beer, it is not too much strong as alcoholic graduation. Fruity, a little bit creamy, long finish with no persistent froth. I also felt the caramel taste. It’s a beer for slow tasting. Very good!

Pours beauty hazy light brown with lush head; smells of molded earth and apples; taste is bitter earthy moldy and mildy fruity with full palate on the finsh