Orval

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

Lovely burning amber colour with a huge creamy off-white head creating lovely landscapes on top. Aroma is spicy from the hops white the brett co-exists perfectly with the malt foundation. Mouthfeel is lively and spreads every flavour around in the mouth, flavours of spicy hops, grapefruit, subtile funk and sweet, clean malts. The finish is dry and bitter, musty and funky with a white-pepper like bitterness. A complex, fun-to-drink classic that I drink any day.

Poured into a chalice. Appearance is a very beautiful golden with a thick head. Belgian beers always look so damn tasty and dignified. Smells like a champagne, very fruity, grapes stand out most. Taste is similarly fruity with a very dry finish. Again grapes and maybe a tiny hint of a citrus fruit are present. While it is very good, I would have preferred a little more definition. Mouthfeel is high carbon and thin..a beer with this flavor would be too flat any other way. As for drinkability, I would buy this again in a pinch if selection is limited, but would likely pass this over in most situations. It’s good, but doesn’t scream for me to come back to it immediately. On the other side, this would be a great starter beer for someone coming from champagne/wine.

Much hoppier (and, for that matter, more dry) than I was expecting from a Trappiste brew! A beer I could thoroughly recommend, though probably my least favourite of the Trappiste beers I’ve tried (that’s not as harsh as it sounds).

You know, I’m thinking I should try this one again. I got a bottle from a reputable store but just wasn’t a fan... maybe it was too old, if that’s even possible.

Bottle - Pours hazy amber with lots of little bubbles and a nice white head. Smells like some of the Jolly Pumpkin brews I’ve had, with citrus peels, sour wheat and yeast, and a faint smell of rubber (wtf?). As it warms, honey and apples add themselves to the bouquet. Taste is very dry, with citrus up front and some bready malt on the finish. Very clean. After the sip goes down the throat, you get a little oaky hop slap--very nice. The little bubbles make it smooth drinking and it’s surprisingly a bit a bit resiny. Drank this just before New Glarus’ R&D Golden Ale and I liked the Orval much better.

Orange/brown ale that pours a huge white rocky head that really lasts. Aroma is hints of floral and fruit with sour notes. Flavor starts with fruit, turns to hints of clove and ends in dry bitterness. The sour balances the bitter really well. One of my favorite beers of all categories. Definitely my favorite Trappist beer.

Bottle. Pours cloudy golden with tall delicate white lace head. Slight hop aroma. Slight fruit taste followed by sour bite.