Orval

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

33cl bottle as shown - abv is quoted as 6.2 %. This Belgian brew pours an exquisitely beautiful hazy orange. Huge, extremely fluffy off-white head doesn’t last but leaves plenty of lacing. Aroma, too, is of sweet oranges, banana and yeast. Very, very nice indeed. Medium-bodied ale, thick, slightly grainy mouth feel. Medium carbonation. Orange peel, bitter herbs and other orchard fruit are the domination flavours, the finish is very dry and hoppy. Another one of those finer Belgian ales that have more alcohol but aren’t sweet at all. This is beer! This is good beer! Could drink a wagon load of these. It feels like a weizen, not sure it is.

Taste was of cherry cough syrup. Was not a big fan at all. I did try one of the last bottles of 06. and it is 09, so i dont know if that played a factor.

Hazy light orange pour. Huge pillowy white head. Big tart musty nose with some brettyness and some savory herbal notes. Flavor starts very perfumey with a little rosemary and some light peach and then turns a little boozey and candi, finish is dry, some acid. Sublte and complex. Beer.

Bottle. Love this beer but haven’t had it for about 2 years. Pours a deep orange with some haziness. Large white head that hangs around for a while. Aromas are just as I remember. Some pine, citrus and biscuity aromas plus plenty of brett sourness. Flavours shows this sourness, almost reminds me of a geuze but it is not allowed to dominate. Some green apples and spices from the hops. Very dry on the finish. Great beer. Could definately have a couple.

330ml bottle. Pours a deep apricot color that has a thick bubbley white head with good retention. Aroma full of white grapes, rosemary, fresh hay and perfumey hops. Flavor starts with some of the perfume coming through, turns slightly sour, ends with some herbal grassy hop flavor. This beer definately stands out from the other trappist ales.

Interesting sourish taste but nothing really special. Oh, and a nice bottle too.

Bottle. Pours hazy golden orange with a big creamy white head that lasts and lasts. Nose is a bit funky and has notes of caramel, yeast, banana, pineapple and some spice. Flavour is similar but with an emphasis on the spice, and the fruitiness, while still present, does not impart any sweetness at all. Mouthfeel is very dry, as is the long finish. Quite different from most of the trappist ales but still a very good beer in its own right.

Cloudy orange with a nice head. Hops banana and alcohol in the aroma and a bitter hoppy taste with a pungent kick of alcohol and fruit.