Orval

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

Bottle.Orange muddy colour with medium white head.Aroma of bubbelgum and marzipan,high carbonation with full body,nice fruity tone and well balanced finish.

330ml bottle from Bevmo Carmel Mountain. Brew poured a beautiful burnt orange color. Head was a big, rocky (reminded me of the surface of the moon) off white, and seemed to never dissipate. The best lacing I’ve seen on a beer in a long time. Aroma of different spices, coriander, citrus fruits, and some yeast. Medium bodied and mouth feel was fantastic.

Pours exactly like the picture. Brilliant appearance, lovely amber-brown murky liquid with a nice tight bubbly beige head. Retention was brilliant, at least 1/2 head stayed for the whole beer. Aroma was somewhat lacking IMO. Hoppy though slightly stale hop aroma. Also quite yeasty spicey smell present. Very smooth initial mouthfeel with a dry finish. Could have a tad more body for the style of beer though IMO. Initial sweetness followed by a lovely spicey yeast taste. Hints of clove and cinnamon/nutmeg definately coming through. Slightly sour/acid finish. Pretty good IMO.

8/2/02: I said a bunch of stuff about peppery spice, rose petals & perfume..and how it was one of the best beers I have ever had..
Re-Rate 8/3/02: I mentioned the violet mist that permeates throughout your veins..the refreshing intoxication of complexity..
Re-Rate 8/23/02: I resorted to the ingeniousness of simplicity..’There is a world out there with oceans of orval, and the fish are in control..’

33 cl bottle 6.9% abv from Plaza Liquors - Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a huge off white head. Thick lacing. Aroma is banana, bubble gum, and light spice. Flavor is esters with some hop bitterness. Palate is slightly tart and dry. Light body. Would like to try a bottle with a few years of age on it. A good beer.

Bottle from 2003. Found this one buried deep in the cellar. Clear amber with a viscous off white head. Incredible, complex aromas of funky, yeasty barnyard and cheese, with wet wood and dry spices. Frothy smooth mouthfeel. Dusty pale malt flavors with earhty leather and dry spices. I really can’t put to words how great this aged bottle was. Fantastic !

I always hear Belgian beer drinkers rate this very low on their scale,but I think that this one of the most unique beers in Belgium <biting my tongue> it really is though,afterall in a land where bitterness,hop flavor and aroma take a backseat to exotic yeast strains this is cleary a different breed. A Belgian I.P.A. if there ever was one,although I’m not saying it is ;)

Bottle (4/1/2005): Very hazy dark orange with a big rocky off white head. Aroma is yeasty, spicy, with a floral slightly fruity hop to it. Nice lacing on the glass as the head starts to fade a bit. Flavor, first thought’s, wow that’s a dry finish. There’s some bitterness there, to go with the dry fruitiness, a little funky. There is a bit of heat in it as well. First time having this in a couple years, and the time before was in a noisy bar, so it’s a much different experience this time around. I’m starting to see what the fuss is about with this stuff.