Petit Orval

From the cafe near the abbey. Clear copper color. Effervescent. Decent head although not nearly as large as the head on regular Orval given similar pours. Very mild aroma. A touch of hops in the nose. No real discernible brett aroma--I’m not sure if they use brett in the Petite Orval. Small malt aroma and flavor. Very nice subdued beer. Good medium mouthfeel. I could drink this beer all night. Remarkable flavor and complexity for such a small beer.

[Bottle at TNT pub in Bibbiano near Siena] Yes it seems just a watered down Orval but nevertheless the character of the bigger sister comes trough... and that is enough to make it a good beer :-)

Bottle at Ange Gardian, the Abbey’s tavern, a light brown with some carbonation and a large bubbly off-white head. Strong floral hop aroma, some vinuous notes - impressive for 3.5%. Smooth and light palate - some carbonation again. Sweet and juicy flavours at first, then dry and hoppy in the refreshing short finish. Lucky monks.

Bottle at Erasmus Hotel, Brugge. It has the ame orange color as the real Orval, but that is the only similarity. This is a low alcohol version that is produced by reusing the wort from the real thing. Drinking it is a worthwhile experiment, but the taste is not very rewarding, the flavor being very thin.

Bottle at Bishop Arms, Gothenburg. Dark orange colour with a beige head. Aroma is fruity, yeast, orange , malt. Flavour is fruit, malt, yeast, sour.

Bottled at Bishops Arms, Gothenburg. 215 SEK is a rip-off, but I just had to sample it. It pours hazy, with some sediments, orange-golden color and some beige head. The aroma has an almoste gueuze-like sourness, notes of alcohol, yeast and yellow apples. A complex aroma that I could sniff for hours. Pity the flavor isn’t in the same league. It has sourness and acidity and some spices, but it is a bit boring. Thin, slightly sour, dry mouthfeel. The beer feels a bit dead, except for the aroma, which is just lovely. (060825)

(Bottle at Bishops Arms, Västra Hamngatan, Gothenburg on August 25) Very hazy murky dark orange to brown color, white head. Sour a bit spicy scent, not as "original" Orval at all! Very much similar to a gueuze, in the smell still. A bit watery mouth feel. Sour, but watery, taste. Low to no bitterness.

[Bottle at Bishops Arms, cheers chaps!] Aroma is perfumed, yeasty and really bretty so id guess this has been around for a while. taste is on the week side and the body is pretty thin.