Orval

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

Pours a hazy dark orange with a monsterous head and some strong lacing. Aroma is very refined and balanced consisting of orange peel and yeast. Somewhat waxy mouthfeel. Taste is rather tart with more orange peel and fruit juice. Very dry finish. Nice Belgian ale but based on its high ratings and stellar reputation, I suppose I was expecting more.

buonissima belgian ale.floreale e aromatica con un bel retrogusto amarognolo nel finale.bevuta sul posto è sicuramente piu affascinante e buona.

bottle from SAQ. poured into trappiste glass. murky orange colour with a huge creamy white head that leaves an unbelievable lacing. a bouquet not quite like any other beer i’ve had. orange peel, coriander, lots of yeast, just marvelous. taste starts off a bit sour, like grapefruit, then goes mildly sweet and then a very peculier hops finish. this is unlike the other trappists i’ve tried, because of the finish. at 6.9% abv, the alcohol is barely noticeable. goes down nice and smooth and leaves you wanting more. i cannot say enough good things about this beer. an experience all in its own.

From a 330ml into a snifter. Pours with a TON of white head which dissipates in a couple of minutes leaving mild lacing. Color is murky brown. I’m having a hard time smelling much of an aroma but what’s there smells of yeast and some grass. Mouthfeel is medium but with way too much carbonation. Taste is very dry and biting. Black pepper and yeast dominate with grass, under-ripe green grapes and some funk bringing up the rear. It’s growing on me a bit as I drink it but I’m not really sure I love it. Good beer, but just not my cup of tea.

Pours a cloudy golden with a thick white head that takes its sweet time to go away. Earthy smell, as with a lot of Belgians. Taste is a little bit of citrus with earthy spice notes and a bit of yeast. Very smooth drinking with a clean, crisp, almost dry finish.

Very fruity, citrusy aroma which hits me every time I take a new sip. Nutty appearance. Overall fantastic flavor, not overwhelming. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

330mL bottle, bottled 01/2009. Pours an effervescent cloudy amber-gold with a large, fluffy and persistent head which gives some nice lacing. Aroma is acidic, almost vinous, fruity (particularly banana), with some cheese. There’s a faint malty and hoppy flavour that’s almost immediately overpowered by volatile medicinal flavours which particularly reminded me of spearmint toothpaste. Almost one dimensional. Mildly sour and bitter. Medium bodied and smooth on the palate with the aforementioned toothpaste finish. This one certainly didn’t live up to the anticipation.