Orval

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

Appearance: Right off the bat I have to say this beauty pours with about 14 fingers of massive pale white soapy looking head. Jeez Louise that’s a massive stretch of foam! Additionally, it has a nice clear warm amber color. There is minimal cloudiness, and the immense amount of bubbles proves that this is a very vibrant beer. Smell: I absolutely love the smell of Orval. There is a ton of banana bread and clove components right up front that are met up later by some funky lemon undertones. This beer really smells old world and the spices, for the most part, are very hard to pick apart. I also get a bit of alcohol presence in the nose which is odd since it only sits around 6.9% ABV. Taste: Tastes almost identical to the smell. There is lots of banana bread in the mouth with a hint of lemon funk to back it up. Throughout the beer, several strange (yet enjoyable) floral components begin to come out. This is potentially due to the temperature change as you work through it. The lemon and funk essence that lies underneath is very reminiscent of a gueuze. In the end, you are left with a very nice deep banana taste on the tongue. Mouthfeel: In terms of mouthfeel, this is more along the lines of how an IPA hits the palate than a Belgian style ale. It has lots of flavor and a well-rounded bitterness. There is also (as the pouring would insinuate) loads of effervescence that immediately slams into your tongue. In terms of body, this is not quite a medium-bodied beer, but close. Overall: Of all the Trappist beers I’ve had so far, this is easily one of my favorite. I’m a huge fan of the whole banana bread and clove element of it. I will say it’s maybe a touch too "bubbly" for my taste, but I can’t really find a whole lot more to complain about. I’ll definitely be picking up some more of these down the road.

Bottle poured to glass. Cloves and banana esters are present in the aroma. High head on the brew. Very high carbonation level with a medium body on the palate. Dry finish. Sharp, crisp malt profile and earthy sharp hops notes to balance. The head feels like silk on the lips. Fine bead of bubbles for entire brew and Excellent lacing. Excellent beer.

Appearance: A cloudy orange beer that pours with a huge white head. That fizzles away relatively fast. Smell: Surprisingly little smell. A little lemon and hay. Taste: The cabonation almost overwhelms the flavor in the beggining. Then you taste a bit of hay, lemon zest and a slight medicinal taste. Mouth Feel: Light to medium body. A lot of cabonation and dry. Drinkability: Dry, hay and medicinal is not what I am looking for in a beer. I know people love this, that is why I wanted to try it. Who knows, maybe I got a bad batch. :-(

Pours semi-cloudy, orange-golden color with a very thick, frothy head that really sticks around and creates awesome lacing on the glass. Aroma is very intense with fruit notes bearing the brunt of the aromatic onslaught. Lots of apple, pear and yeasty esters, candy sugar, along with a Belgian malty hint behind all the major aromas. Flavor starts off slightly soured citrus which then moves into a sweet candy sugar and yeast bite which fades to a finishing apple flavor with a nice dryness not found in a lot of beers. Beer has the perfect amount of carbonation and leaves an awesome lacing on the glass. Overall this is one of the best trappist beers out there in my opinion, a great balance of acidic flavors, sweetness and a perfect dryness. One I will buy again and store in the cellar to age.

Bottled 5/06/08. Nice foamy head with a nutty brown body. Smells yeasty, with some hops, bread and a bit of alcohol. Tastes a little bit of apple, with some bitter and sour notes, but not sour like a lambic. Astringent on the back end. Pleasantly creamy and bubbly mouthfeel. Nice lacing, but poor retention. Re-Rate: Bottle 22/01/2009. Hazy orange body with a foamy white head. Aroma is bleu cheese, tart, funk. Flavor is pineapple, dust, attic, tart, white pepper, citrus. Lots of prickly bubbles on the mouthfeel.

Bottle. I don’t have the palate for Belgians just yet. Too carbonated, insanely bitter, qualities. I hope to re-rate this and give it better grades, and enjoy it a lot more too.

What amazed me about this beer is that is was only very young, but showed amazingly complex aromas and flavours. A scent like God’s own armpit and a vast palate of flavours too numerous to list in one rating. Have purchased a couple for further reviews as they age.

bottle: Poured dark hazy orange with a off white large foamy head that did diminish. Smell was sour and a slight bit fruitiness. Taste was similar to smell with a slight bit of sweetness and a very dry ending, very champaigne like. This was definite not a bad beer at all, but not my favor Belgium ale either.