Petit Orval

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

The aroma is primarily of yeast with notes of coriander. It pours hazy amber with a beutiful lasting off-white head. The flavor is very spicy with notes of coriander, yeast, cloves, wood, hops, and hints of cinnamon.It is quite carbonated, so it runs sparkling over the tongue. The end is dry both from coriander and bitter hops. But the body is thin. The flavor is very complex for such a thin beer. This can definately be used as a thirst quencher after hours of praying. Thanks a lot to Jeppe (Bierkönig) for giving me this rare beer.

(Bottle 33 cl) This younger brother to the real Orval is apparently only available in the café next to the abbey - and only aimed at everyday consumption for the monks. Trying this in a tasting with the original this seems to be just a dilluted Orval. All the same wonderful herbal notes are there - only weaker. And expectedly both head and hoppiness are lower. Hence it’s a surprise that the colour is actually a darker amber than the oroginal. Hmm...so much for my dillution theory. Very easy to drink. Yeast sediment at the bottom of the bottle. For all it’s worth, even this weak Orval is still a unique experience. No label. 230105

Bottled (2001 version). Reddish amber, lively and crystal clear with no sediment whatsoever in the bottle. Big perfumy orange aroma. Dry, but thin with near watery mouthfeel. Notes of pine needles leading to a bitter, hoppy finish. Not bad for such a light beer, but well short of it’s stronger more common brother.

33 cL bottle at DHVL. Pours clear and golden orange with a dense white and creamy head. Aroma is soft malty and with a very minor brett note. Flavour starts light sweet malty with a vague brett citric note. Dry wooden brett note on the back of the tongue into the finish. Smooth and easy. Light peppery finish.

Bottle 33cl.
Clear medium orange amber color with a average, frothy - creamy, good lancing, fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, moderate hoppy, moderate yeasty. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. After so long time looking for this beer i manage to get it and it was a bit of disappointment, because it was just a very watery - thinner version off big brother the normal orval not thing else ! (240508)

Bottle at De Heeren van Liedekercke. Good grassy hop aroma, reminding me of the bigger Orval. Clear dark amber colour. Nice big stable creamy off-white head. The flavour is mildly hoppy. Has the familiar Orval hop flavour, only less powerful. Creamy texture, nice mild carbonation. Not an outstanding beer in my opinion, but good, refreshing and well-balanced, and very good considering the ABV.

Bottled. Hazy orange coloured, mediumsized head. Orange and lemon in aroma along with wheaty hints. Flavour is weaker than normal Orval, kind of "Orval mixed with water".

Bottled. Orange coloured with a white head: Perfumed aroma of spices with hoppy notes. Flavour of spices with notes of hops.