 JoeMcPhee (3807), Jackson Heights, New York, USA
Jan 10, 2004 Updated: Sep 21, 2007
Best before 21/11/2010... sampled at nearly two years old. What can I say about this that hasn’t been said already? Beautiful burnished orange topped by a thick pillowy white head that lasts throughout the entire glass. Heady cologne aroma, brett, perfume, orange peel, cedar/oaky woodiness and a fresh vanilla aroma as well. Light floral flavour up front, soft woodiness and a fantastic herbal hop flavour. Bone dry on the finish with a minerally flinty character that just makes the next sip that much more appealing. Zippy, zesty, and completely intoxicating. It’s hard to imagine a beer that I’d rather go for than this one, especially at this age.
Best before 11/04/2010... sampled at 1 year old. Deep hazy orange colour with a thick pillowy white head. Very persistent. Beautiful nose, soft brett, perfumy floral hops hiding behind the gorgeous earthy/funky nose. Leathery and horsey with light orange peel, spice and more lingering dustiness. Warming brings out the brett and floral hop nose. Flavour is awesome, straw/hay and a heavy brett/horsey aroma. Very dry and perfumy flavour on the back. A world classic. Great at one year old. I discover something new everytime I drink this beer.
Rerate: 33 cl bottle best before Nov, 2007. What a difference a few months make. Highly carbonated golden-orange colour with a thick lasting rocky head. Cloudy. Strong aromas of horseblanket and other barnyard aromas. Sour lactic smell, leathery, woody, with spicy black pepper and some faint fruit underneath all of these. The flavour seems to be more muted than the aroma would have led me to expect with leather, cigar, cologne and a bone-dry bitter finish. As the beer warms the more wild flavours seem to drop out and more spicy fruity aromas and flavours come to the forefront. Very complex and much more tasty than I originally gave it credit for.
7 5 8 3 16
Rating on January 10, 2004. Clearly, this is one that people are divided on, but I’ve got to say that I didn’t like it. It looks fantastic in the glass, orange-blonde colour, cloudy with a huge pillowy head. Smells very peppery, spicy, and bitter. It has a very strange peppery/herbal taste and a long skunky/moldy finish somewhat similar to blue cheese. Has a very full body, basically dragging out the stanky taste with noticible alcohol. I did not enjoy this one at all. 3/5/3/3/7
swooper (94), Kladno, Czech Republic
Oct 5, 2008 alcohol, bread, cereal, nuts, amber, hazy, rocky head, frothy, very bitter, medium body, bitter, long finish, average carbonation,
rpjonesga (1), Mableton, Georgia, USA
does not count  Oct 4, 2008 I have been holding on to this particular bottle of beer for about a year. The beer pours a wonderfully golden haze with a head that lingers nicely. The aroma has hints of pine with a bit of licorice (at least for me). It would be difficult to find any flaws in this beer. Balance is the key. Overall, this Belgian beer isn’t as sweet as others that I have enjoyed which sets it apart. I would highly recommend this beer - enjoyed in the proper Orval glass of course!
illkarate (47), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Oct 4, 2008 11.2oz, pours a cloudy/murky orange. It had a beautiful, long lasting off-white (but constrained) head. Very spicy, flavors of tangerines, oranges, hops and pine... a bit sour. REALLY well balanced and an excellent dry finish. I love this beer.
DrSamPHD (17), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Oct 2, 2008 One of my new favorites. Poured a dark orange/gold with a big head that slowly sank back into the glass. Great aroma of citrus and spice. Tickled my nose. The flavor was near perfect, a well balanced beer. Will purchase again!
pj1855 (66), Eagan, Minnesota, USA
Oct 1, 2008 Pours a murcky golden raisin color. Nice sized foamy head. Tons of lacing.
Aroma citrus, malts and spice. The beer starts off tasting good but has a rather dry bitter finish that I don’t really care for.
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