Ov-ral - To Øl

soulgrowl

United Kingdom (England)

2.78/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Hazy honey amber orange. Thin, sandy beige head. Not much to look at but I could smell it all day: papaya, yuzu, and caramel corn come first. Give it a swirl and it reveals cognac, pineapple, sourdough, and cherry pie. Tying it all together is a thread of brettanomyces tang – white winey, weedy, and wild.

To smell it is gorgeous. To taste, not so much. Intensely alcoholic, almost medicinally so, with a bombastic rummy sweetness that runs roughshod over any nuance I might have hoped for. A bit of caramel, a touch of pineapple upside down cake – there are hints of something really enjoyable here, but this is like the life of the party has got too drunk. A potentially fun and interesting character is instead aggressive and clumsy due to excess alcohol. What a shame.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 18:49:49 | More by soulgrowl

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy amber-orange with a finger of frothy white head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel malts, funky Brett and other wild yeasts, tart green fruits, Grapefruit and citrus hops, Belgian yeast, hint of spices.

T - Sweet caramel malts, grapefruit, citrus, and pine hops, lightly reiny bitterness, tart green fruits, funky Brett, Belgian yeasts, and some spices, bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet, warming, bitter, tart, and funky finish.

D - Nice complex and balanced wild/Belgian IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 05:54:45 | More by ngeunit1

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.96/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the COOP last night... Paid $5ish. Pours with a 2 finger meringue like head... thick and foamy looks like shaving cream... the brew is hazed orange... beautiful sheets of lace for the entire glass.

Nose is very interesting... hoppy and phenolic.... some mild yet wild plastic notes... something that reminds me of apricots... and spicy coriander.

Candied grapefruit zest on the palate... dry dusty basement and somehow still something that seems to be sweetness, but I know this is bone dry... Hops (I think so) are sorta resinous piney notes.

Body is fairly big... even with the bigger carbonation the mouthfeel is still surprisingly creamy.

Pretty interesting beer... I would like to see some American breweries give this a try so I could hopefully try it a lot fresher.... Still a pretty cool experiment.

4.25/3.75/4/4/4

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 04:18:56 | More by JohnGalt1

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

a really special beer here, in a very underrepresented style, the wild yeast imperial ipa. this is a mikkeller collaboration, as many tool beers are. it pours an unassuming clearish golden color with an orange tint and a pretty sizeable white head that slowly settles back down. the nose is fruity like the mosaic hops from odells woodcut 6, that same tropical fruit, semi-tart element. the yeast expands on this, its not sour, and its not saisony, its something else entirely. the flavor is just like the nose, but the fruit really stands out before the bitter aspect of the hops checks it. lots of funk from the yeast, and its a combination of three elements in perfect marriage. the alcohol is invisible here, which is impressive, and the beer is super hoppy without being particularly bitter. the yeast is as much a star as the hops here, and its overall just a very impressive flavor profile. awesome carbonation and a medium body, right about where youd expect it to fall, maybe just this side of medium, a tiny bit thin. ice cold this is exquisite, but it also improves with gentle warmth. a beer of unrivaled complexity and balance at the same time. I am looking forward to my next bottle!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 18:45:46 | More by StonedTrippin

drrone

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a light straw, amber color. Liberates 2 inches of head, which fades to leave a light crown of lace.

S - A pleasant citrus, hop, pine nose. A good amount of funk noted.

T - Very nice hop hit with medium malt back bone, more malt that I would have expected. The yeast comes through well with a slight hint of sour as well.

M - High mild to medium bodied. Light carbonation. Drinks well for the 10.5% alcohol.

O - I liked this beer, it didn't blow me away, but I could drink a couple and be quite happy. I picked this up on a recommendation from a guy at Whole Foods and I was happy I did. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:05:35 | More by drrone

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

05-02-2013 02:40:39 | More by spycow

Googs

New York

4/5  rDev +1%

04-30-2013 07:13:52 | More by Googs

Hazy

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

04-25-2013 01:00:09 | More by Hazy

anteater

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +19.9%

04-17-2013 22:06:03 | More by anteater

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1%

04-07-2013 21:35:32 | More by calcnerd

jmilo64

Maine

2.25/5  rDev -43.2%

04-07-2013 17:10:37 | More by jmilo64

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev +1%

02-23-2013 16:59:11 | More by samEBC

mitlinks

Switzerland

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

02-03-2013 15:24:25 | More by mitlinks

aasher

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1%

01-24-2013 12:24:24 | More by aasher

iKrystin

4/5  rDev +1%

01-13-2013 21:32:26 | More by iKrystin

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours medium amber with a cream fizzy head. Some lace.

Funny nose. Tart notes, barnyard, fruit, and big tacky hop oil.

Hop forward, with tons of resinous notes, caramel, fruit, some barnyard and spice. Fruit is a bit tropical, and the hops are not fond of retaining a level of bitterness. Finishes with a malty and resinous note.

Medium full bodied, nice carbonation.

Nice one to try. Different and adventurous in the mix of style. Loved the nose and the aggressive restraint of the happiness.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 00:23:37 | More by OtherShoe2

Craftonly23121

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -24.2%

01-02-2013 18:32:28 | More by Craftonly23121

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev +1%

12-27-2012 18:49:17 | More by strongaf

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-orange, one finger off white head, yeast particles, decent lacing.

S - Brett funk, pineapple, slightly medicinal, perfumy hops.

T - Pineapple, funk, grainy, hint of bubblegum, white grapes, touch of caramel sweetness, fermented fruits.

M - Medium-full body, moderate carbonation,

O - Great brett beer, preferred it on tap, could use more hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 18:45:58 | More by Rickythejeweler

StJamesGate

New York

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bright tangerine with thin off white film.
Sour Brett hairspray fusels with loads of citrus and barnyard and oil - a crazy, fascinating bouquet.
Apricot, bread, tangerine and resin hops.
Sour malt vinegar and orange jam finish and long, catty linger. Medium, fine fizz, clingy, hot.

Sour orange brandy? Honeyed cider vinegar? I struggle to come up with comparisons to suggest how weird and wonderful this beer is. The orange oil and musk nose is something I want to dab behind my ears. Piles of oily hops balance anything I don't like about Brett. Simcoe is there in the cattiness (Amarillo and Centennial, too.) And this was with some time on the bottle.

An inspired, unhinged beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 17:02:27 | More by StJamesGate

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours golden amber with orangeish tint capped by a finger of beige head creating short-lived
lacing on the sides.

Aroma reveals sour notes and funk with barnyard character while hops advertised on the label remain completely pushed into the background, apart from some apricot & mild orange-like fruitiness. A touch of caramel&biscuity malt adds to complexity and enhances the fruity aspects.

When it comes to the flavor the expected apricot, citrus, sweet orange-like and woodsy-piney
character contributed by mix of Simcoe, Centennial and Amarillo hops is far more evident than
the nose suggested. The supposed brett characteristics i.e. pie cherry, mushroom-like bitterness and tartness are entirely overshadowed by hops. The palate is surprisingly sweet - I'd expect the brettanomyces to ferment most of the remaining sugars - yet the brett-action still provides high carbonation and slightly tart, quite dry finish. However, as stated before the overall palate remains on the sweet side probably on account of unfermentable sugars in caramel or similar malt.

Quite airy and mouth filling with creamy sensation yielded by oats used.

In short, a bit schizophrenous brew with aroma of significantly different nature than flavor. Yet, it's a fantastic Orval clone, a merger of Gueuze and IIPA qualities worth seeking out (330 ml, best by 04-05-2014, into tulip).

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:19:17 | More by crnipeter

marvin213

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A murky,opaque brown contrasts with a well-trimmed, polished-white, two-fingers of foam. It looks menacingly attractive. The smell is like WTF-deep hops with an herb bouquet of old strong-man ale. It's like a cologne...I've always been a little conflicted about say the smell of Brut on a carpenter....

Hops are there, but what is that WTF-bit of pungent lemon rind with a bitter orange peel feel attached to it? Definitely medicinally bitter. Oddly characteristic of a DFH 120?!? Subsequent smells give me a Nelson Sauvignon hop/grape smell, and there's a Chardonnay-style dryness here from the Belgian yeast. One of the rarities that sorta feels better than it tastes: the alcohol is warming and mouth-pooling provides a bitter numbing reminiscent of liquid xylocaine! It's tough while sophisticated: a beer a girl wants to fuck. Mikkeller does so much; it's mostly so good; this is yet another neat and powerful production from toolbrew.com!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 20:08:11 | More by marvin213

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

11-12-2012 23:26:54 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Fux

France

4.48/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had first this on tap at the CBC, but reviewed later from the bottle.
A: Pours clear amber / orange with a fluffy white head with poor retention.
S: Smell is quite incredible. Reminding of the Orval with its typical Brett bitterness, funk, leather caracter without any sourness, but also fruity (apricots, dried fruits, citrus peels). Spicy yeastiness on the finish.
T: Taste is hoppy, piney, citrusy. The Brett character comes after, with barnyard funk, various fruits (dried fruits, tangerines) and tons of spicies. Solid malt character behind. Alcohol is very well hiden.
M: Medium to full bodied, smooth but with a puckering bitterness making it easy to drink.
O: World class beer! Complex, solid and unusual. Balanced and easy to drink. Very nice experiment.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:35:52 | More by Fux

tendermorsel

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quite a bit of fluffy long lasting head. Orangish in color.

Pretty hoppy nose. Cirtus fruits and pine.

Lot's of barnyard flavors. Hay straw and horseblanket. Lot's of hop flavor too.
All Brett and funk no sourness. Quite a bit of heat from the high ABV. A bit of candish finish too.

This was a real good beer. Exactly what I am looking for. Almost like a an Orval on steroids or an imperial heavily hopped Orval. A real style busting beer.

Highly recomended for those who like the funk.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 12:33:00 | More by tendermorsel