Orval

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Nice amber pour and a big frothy head. Very effervescent. Nose is fruity orange, tangerine, cantaloupe, pineapple, caramel, a bit of brett. Delicious indeed. Taste is all the same components, the brett a bit less obvious, but it still makes a great note. No doubt this is a classic.

4 oz. @ SIB 2010. I remember not liking this one nearly as much as I would expect considering how much it is praised. Notes: "Smells estery. Pours cloudy bronze. Tastes like Pinesol. Uber bubbly. Not worth 3 tix."

11.2oz bottle in a Trappist glass. Pours deep brown with a thick, lacy, beige head. Aroma of Belgian spicy yeast, hops, caramel. Flavor about the same. A little dry with a hint of alcohol on the finish. An incredible beer, and it’s better fresh in Belgium.

330 ml bottle from LCBO. Pours a hazy, deep amber/orange with very large off-white head. Nice floral and yeasty aroma with moderately sweet, moderately sour fruit and light spice. Taste is very yeasty and fruity (banana, sourish apple) with modest spicing. Sour, dry finish; active carbonation. Very nice, although I respect it more than I love it.

Bottled on 22/04/2010, best before 22/04/2015. Let bottle warm slightly before pouring, Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into oversized red wine glass. Still waiting on my orval goblet. Huge off white bubbly head formed almost overflowing the glass, as I let it sit it stuck to the glass and fell slowly on the sides leaving a large head in the middle, almost like a an egg. Dark orangey brown color. Very spicy aroma. Tastes exceptional, I detect some orange. Tart and dry. Not as strong as the smell might indicate. I’ve been told the beer should be at its peak right now, it tastes like it could use a little more time to mellow to me. Very light on the tongue but I can feel it starting to kick in. I wouldn’t be able to drink too many of these, it is more of a treat or an after dinner drink.

hoppy caramel malt aroma. lovely tan color with pillowy white head. lively carbonation coats the mouth giving a creamy texure. slight hop bitterness.

After seeing thread after thread about merits and downfalls of this beer I figured it was about time to try. However to counteract buildup in my head I decided to drink on very ho-hum tuesday while watching tv. Pours a drity copper color with huge soapy head that doesn’t go anywher anytime fast. Aroma is huge of wine, grapefruit sourness, yeasts, and lemongrass. taste is spicy, of green grapes, honey, more wine, cranberries, and more yeasts. Finish is dry and bitter and seems to last and last. Really great for such easily attainabale brew.

Nose of cranberry, sour hops, late bite, feel is mild yet broad, carb is medium, taste is mild alcohol, bitter hops, weak yeast and late iron. All around there’s a distinct taste of cranberries.