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Orval

Orval - Belgian Ale

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by Brasserie dOrval
Style: Belgian Ale

Florenville - Villers-d.-Orval, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
22083.92/5.03.91/5.06.2%100Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
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Commercial Description:
In contrast to all the others, the Orval Trappist brewery makes only one beer for the general public. It has an intensely aromatic and dry character. Between the first and second fermentations there is also an additional dry-hopping process. Through this the beer acquires its pronounced hoppy aroma and extra dry taste.
Bottled at 5.2% abv - can go up as high as 7.2%
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
k9coug (39), USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/518/20
Sep 21, 2008  
Has the sourness I was seeking when purchased. Active in the glass 1/2 hour after opening (bottle). Taste is complex, aftertast is very dry. Dull lemony aroma that isn’t reflected in the flavor. One of the best.


spkevin (56), Doetinchem, Netherlands
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/58/104/517/20
Sep 18, 2008  
bottle @ cafe het Moortgat, Arnhem. Pours a orange body with a very good head. the aroma is unbelievable. very sweet and very strong. the taste is sweet with a nice dry finish. liked the sweet notes.the sweet beginning and the dry aftertaste makes this beer almost perfect.


 hirigalzkar (550), Stockholm, Sweden
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/518/20
Sep 16, 2008    Updated: Sep 28, 2008
Bottle. Served in a Westmalle glass. Magnificent long lasting head! The aroma is sour (almost like a geuze). Flavour is complex. Notes of dark bread, spices, citrus.


 502Flavors (617), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Sep 15, 2008    Updated: Jun 18, 2009
bottle into wineglass for lack of trappist glass. Very hazy honey brown color with a huge white head.that holds (1/8th inch head lasts the whole beer) and laces well. Honey, wheat, clove, orange peal, lemon, typical belgian aroma. Flavors are pretty much the same but with some yeast notes, very light and refreshing, though not as outstanding as the hype. A little bit of sourness and acidity on the finish, but still shortlived and somewhat dry. It is light on the palate and not overly carbonated as many belgians are. Really drinkable. Overall: good, but not that unique and not as good as the half filled (probably oxidized and definitely more sour) version that I had the first time I bought a bottle, [RERATE] Had a 2 year old bottle from 2006 last night. It was much improved thanks to the brett. But, it was still not amazing. If I wasnt digging deep and focusing very hard on what I was tasting, it would have been an average beer experience. (RE-RATE) Year old bottle. Into Chimay Trappist glass. Head is REDICULOUS. Bottle didn’t gush, but it was impossible to pour this in one pour - i.e. the head rises to fast, at an absurd rate. Clear amber orange-ish body with lots of fast-rising carbonation and a huge white sea-foamy head that leaves laces (leaving the appearance at 4... could be 5 if the head wasn’t so out of control). Aroma is nice (bumped from 7 to 8) - yeasty, citrus, a bit sour, and very inviting. Flavor I will leave at 7. It tastes good with a nice dry tartness that leaves the mouth dry on the finish. Though I love this quality, it seems to override any real flavor. I;m getting a bit of citrus and booze, but mostly an amorphous dry tartness. Palate, I want to lower from 3 to 2 because it is just soo carbonated it is ridiculous. This too subtracts from the flavor because it is so destracting to my palate. Despite how mcuh I hate overly carbonated beers, I am leaving the palate score at 3 because it is on style as far as I have experienced. Overall, up from 14 to 15 -- I am gonna try my best to swirl the carbonation out of this!!


 TeamTrappist (367), jericho, New York, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/105/516/20
Sep 14, 2008  
Poured a deep cloudy amber with a red hue, and a thin head. Sweet earthy nose. A subtle but rich beer. Carbonation makes the mouthful big. I taste some light citrus, and candied sugar, with hints of lemon. Has a nice light malty finish with lingering sweetness.


 hillfiiiiire (283), Madison, Wisconsin, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/513/20
Sep 13, 2008  
Bottled 8/29/06. Hazy orange body with a huge white head. Sweet yeasty aroma with hints of orange, spice, and herbs. Flavor seems really thin though without much enjoyment. It has the spiciness of the aroma and citrus notes and a huge dry finish. But it also ends on a quite nasty (at least to my palate) bitter finish, which I just really can’t tolerate. I really wanted to like this beer too.


 zombywoof (355), Shawnee, Kansas, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Sep 11, 2008  
Redolent aroma of earth, floral notes, orange, caramel, spice and wood. Sweet caramelized malt, orange- kind of a lambic quality. Herbal, fruity lingering finsh. Medium mouthfeel with a smooth texture.


 albertane (376), Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/513/20
Sep 11, 2008  
This cloudy orange beer has a fluffy head and an aroma redolent of sour cherries. I found the flavour had a nice spiciness but it was both too sour and too fizzy for my tastes. Perhaps my palate is too accustomed to British and American beers and not attuned to Belgian beers.



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