Orval

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

330ml bottle. Poured a deep orange colour and was clear with good carbonation and a large foamy head on tiny compacted bubbles. Aroma of bubblegum, citrus and banana. Feels great in the mouth and leaves a long moreish aftertaste. Fair amount of bitterness but also a touch of sweetness. Good drop.

11.2 oz. bottle (2008) in a Chimay chalice. Wow! Pours an unclear orange/fiery hue w/ a massive, billowing off-white head that gently diminishes to a half inch tapestry of undulating crests and troughs- at times pillowy, at other papery. Aroma is hoppy and spicy (not in the manner of American brews though, a different character altogether), slightly sour and wild. The Brettanomyces asserts itself strongly w/ horse blanket lending this beer an aroma reminiscent of many Flemish sours. A superbly distinguished sweetness brings through complex flavors of orange, brandy, more citrus flavors and a little bread; the dryness kicks in almost immediately and it ends long, dry and mildly spicy. Definitely one of the driest beers I have ever had. Truly superb. It probably helped that I had this bottle 7 months after it was bottled, right about the time when it had peaked.

fills the glass with offwhite foam and is hazy orange coloured. the smell is bubblegum, spices, marmelade and flowers. the taste is sharp, orange, then peppery, a little bit of sweetness at the end. and a smooth creamy palate. very refined

In all honesty...I’m not sure what the big deal is with this beer. Fairly typical aroma: orange rind, coriander, melon, yeast and candy sugar. Flavor is quite sweet: more orange, cinnamon, yeast, candy sugar and a lingering melon-like characteristic. Its a good trappist beer, but I’ve had better.

pours amber. smells earthy, brett, cellar, musty. Flavor is tart brett funk, citrus, dusty. Very dry. Amazing beer.

Bottle. Golden colour with a very lively white head. Aroma: sourness/bret, yeast, spices, light cheese, citrus, wood. Taste: sour and tart (but not lambic extreme), horse blanket, citrus, spices, cider, bitter hops, lightly bready. Dry finish. Very complex, but also very drinkable.

A: a hazey rich honey or light orange color. Pours a hefty/rocky head with lots of CO2 bubbles S: mildly sour apples and white grapes T: very fruity and dry turning giving way to some malt/bready flavors as it reaches cellar temperature M: nice, full and lots of delicate/soft carbonation D: Very nice beer with plenty of flavors. Complex beer but very drinkable. Serving type: bottle

- Begins with strong funky, oaky, musty flavors - Very dry - Taste little bit of hops, but the strong musty taste is overpowering - Lingering bitterness (rec. It’s Alive by Milkeller)