Orval

Complex // tan head on pour dark brown. Pretty spicy character. Bitter notes of dark fruit. Lots of Belgian character (yeast). Very good, love the bottle.

Pours a cloudy dark orange with a large white head. Aroma is of manderin oranges and spice. Flavor is fairly complex. Manderin oranges dominate with apples showing. Spice is also prevalant on the palate with a slight bitterness. Good mouth feel with a little alcohol showing in the finish Original rating: Aroma 8, Appearance 4, Flavor 6, Palate 4, Overall 14 Re-Rate: Figured I’d join in the Orval appreciation day to revisit this Trappist beer with a great story. Bottled on 07/03/2007. Aroma is very funky, the brett has defiantly funkified this bottle... in a good way. Mandarin oranges, spice, yeast, sour soother candy, cherry blasters, and a touch of alcohol come out on the nose. The taste is so unique, it could only be Orval. Oranges, sour candy, medicinal tastes, lemon, some indescribable acidity (probably from the brett), spice, and a dry finish. Palate is just like every excellent Belgian, soft and lively. This beer scores more points now, just because of weirdness factor. I see why my original ratings were lower... But I have to bump them a touch.

Bottle, thanks ekstedt. Orange with a large, off-white head. Notes of fruit, citrus and spices and oddly some manure. Sweetish flavor. Dry mouthfeel.

Pours dark amber with an ample off-white head. Aroma is fruity with notes of spice. The flavour is complex and balanced, sweet malt, fruit (tangerines), cinnamon, trappist yeast. It finishes dry and hoppy. Very enjoyable beer.

Upon re-examining this beer I have to give it some more props. Poured a large off white head which lasted nicely over an appealing caramel brown body. Smell was pleasant enough as well, cotton candy, sugar, apple, hops. The taste took some serious getting used to for me, but having tried about one hundred beer in between my first and now this testing, I must say I think my palate now understands it. Very dry and bitter, to me it is still tastes of crushed olives, but I enjoy it now. It will never be a favorite but I see the appeal it has to some. Palate was nicely fizzy and light. I feel like Ive grown as a taster. I bow to your charms Orval.

Bottle @ Maltainen Monni, Helsinki. Light amber color, lasting off-white head. Complex aroma: slightly sour, fruity, just a touch of yeast. The taste has citric notes, earthy tones and some chalky, yeasty flavors. Tangy mouthfeel with medium-heavy carbonation. Certainly a beer to revisit -- I’d love to sample an older bottle to see how the taste develops.

Style and Glass: Trappist; trappist, tulip, tumbler, wine ABV, Volume & Calories:6.2 % in 11.2 fl oz. estimated at 160 C Purchased at: Super Saver, Pennington, NJ Aroma: floral, metallic, banana, hops. 8 out of 10. Visuals: minimal design, orange, thick, hazy, no head, little lace. 4 out of 5. Taste: unbalanced, metallic, little malt, no hops, weak strength, bad craft. 6 out of 10. Palate: low quality, smooth texture, watery finish. 2 out of 5. Overall: I’m very disappointed. Something’s wrong here — what am I missing about why everyone loves this? Not a repeat, not nearly a favorite, little value, low craft. 12 out of 20.

A very nice pour. Light copper with a thick white head. Aroma is also very nice of apple and grape notes with yeast, malts and hops balanced nicely. Flavor drops off a lot for me. Has what reminds me of a weak apple white wine. Also some notes of fruit hops but very weak . Palate is somewhat dry but also thin. Nothing special.