Petit Orval

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottle, poured into Orval chalice at Ange Gardien in September 2009. Sampled alongside Orval bottled March 11 2009, with a big portion of Orval Cheese. Pours slightly lighter and less hazy than Orval, topped with a medium sized tan head. Aroma of caramel, light hops, and wild yeast; essentially typical Orval aroma but less intense. Dry on the palate, with brett, earthy notes, hops, and faint hints of caramel. Funky yeast lingers on the palate for a bit. Less intense than its brethren, but easy to drink and quite enjoyable, especially in these surroundings.

Bottle Clear, blond to amber body. Off-white head. Aroma of hops, grass and some malts. Moderately bitter flavour, but somewhat weak. Quite nice anyway.

Bottle conditioned at Cafe Ange Gardien, Villers devant Orval, Belgium. Amber with big white head. The bottle is unlabelled, the difference indicated by the Green badge on the glass rather than Blue, I love these traditions. Thinner version of the big brother but still hoppy, juicy, mid malt with a apricot fruitiness. Short finish but very drinkable.

UPDATED: JUL 2, 2005 (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

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

33cl bottle. Belgium beer number five hundred , 500. Bottle at the best beer bar in Belgium. 2008 edition. Pours golden copper with a creamy bubbly orval looking head. Vague fruity orange & hoppy notes. Actually like a lighter version of orval with less body & brett. Smooth & soft. Pretty damm lovely and drinkable.

Rating from memory - the location alone (cafe just up from the entrance to the abbey, view of the brewhouse from my chair) wins a few points...and this is, after all, Orval. Has the same funky dry taste, the bready/fruity notes are much more subdued, and just overall thinner and not as complex tasting nor as dry on the finish. Would absolutely be my go-to session beer if it was even remotely available.