Orval Trappist Ale - Brasserie d'Orval S.A.

NWer

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a brandy snifter from a 11.2 fl oz. bottle.
Bottled on date: 30/12/2009
Best before date: 30/12/2014

A - Deep bronze appearance, nice white head retained well and dissipated to a foamy layer. What lacing there was disappeared for the most part after a few minutes.

S - Like being in the countryside where there are a lot of farms - in a very nice way.

T - Tart, bitter apples at first, evolving to a smooth aftertaste when you churn the froth in your mouth and let it settle around the taste buds.

M - Effervescent, tangy, smooth, complex. Makes you want to sip it which is a good thing.

D - Like a fine wine - sorry for the wine comparison on a beer thread - to be enjoyed in moderation.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2010 00:23:16 | More by NWer

bobhits

Kentucky

2.58/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Poured in a La Trappe glass. A HUGE massive over the top head forms this is amazing and the body that comes with the head, pretty darn impressive. The body does remind one of a thick unfiltered IPA though on the golden side.

The aromas brings out sour notes, cider, apples, maybe pears?, and some lemon notes. Very dry and there isn't much sugar in this one and with that there isn't a lot of sour. It's very subtle.

Complex? Definitely. It reminds me of a cider with brett sour notes. The problem is it isn't good. Those flavors are ok but they could use more brett or more sugar from malts. There's some herbal bitterness perhaps from hops. It's subtle. There's a lingering sour/hop blended finish the lasts a while. I'm just not liking this beer.

Given it is a sour I didn't expect much body and there isn't much. The head was amazing but the carbonation in the body was below average for a beer...somewhat expected for the style.

Look, I know this one has a huge amount of lovers. Maybe this bottle is between ideal age? About 10 months old maybe another year makes it more sour or a bit fresher it is a bit more something? I don't know. Either way there's nothing really wrong. I have no idea what style you'd call this, it isn't a belgian pale ale as I've come to know them. So I'm not sure how to really judge it....a sour but not sour pale ale? Sorry I'll pass.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 00:58:30 | More by bobhits

Hayden182

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-18-2013 05:52:41 | More by Hayden182

BColton1

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-18-2013 01:38:20 | More by BColton1

dorianmarley

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance is golden, opaque honey amber. Massive, fluffy head. Light, bubbly lacing.

Nose has tons of yeast. Spicy too; cinnamon and nutmeg. Sour fruit. Sweet lime.

Taste is dry, with an almost rye quality. Tons of fresh baked bread. Yeasty in a good way. Not as sweet as the smell suggested.

Almost perfect mouthfeel. It has a lot of carbonation; almost like a seltzer water. Very smooth. Fluffy head lightens every sip.

Overall, not as complex as many Belgians. In a way, it is refreshing in how straightforward it is. Fun to drink, but the heavy carbonation makes it sippable, not gluggable. Never overwhelming; every sip is pleasant. The head is the most impressive I have seen. Not a nerdy beer, more of a back porch easygoing beer when you're trying to kick back and sip on one or two.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 03:08:16 | More by dorianmarley

jaxon53

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-16-2013 22:47:28 | More by jaxon53

DarthKostrizer

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-16-2013 20:59:42 | More by DarthKostrizer

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

06-16-2013 14:26:40 | More by TheBeeraholic

adityashekhar

India

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

06-16-2013 10:55:04 | More by adityashekhar

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Orangish, cloudy with big head

Aroma: Peppery, tart fruit

Taste: Fruit (gooseberry I guess, based on other reviews), bitter, herbal

Remarks: This is my least favorite of the Trappist Ales that I've had. It's not bad overall, but it clearly doesn't compete with, say, Rochefort, Chimay or Westvleteren. The Abbey is a very interesting place to visit, BTW.

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:55:21 | More by IchLiebeBier

Sesam

Sweden

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

06-15-2013 08:58:01 | More by Sesam

Kunstman

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-15-2013 01:52:29 | More by Kunstman

hitter114

Colorado

5/5  rDev +19%

06-14-2013 01:23:20 | More by hitter114

joesmithrealname

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Seven trillion Monks can't be wrong.

The humongous spongy foamy head, sprinkled ever-so-slightly with some extra yeasts...

The aroma of two hundred years ago.

The looks from people drinking an overly hopped battering ram in a glass, wondering what POSSibly was going on behind my Cheshire Cat grin.

Expensive but worth it, if you value your life, and the moments that remain.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 05:48:13 | More by joesmithrealname

zenithberwyn

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-13-2013 05:36:23 | More by zenithberwyn

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A-hazy amber color with a huge off-white head and good lacing

S-fruit, bread, yeast funk, sweetness, grassy, slight herbal, very complex

T-bread, caramel malt, grassy, lemon, orange, some bitterness in the finish

F-medium body with moderate to high carbonation, crisp and dry

O-solid BPA with a great aroma, would be great pared with some cheese

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 02:25:36 | More by MDDMD

femond

Quebec (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

06-13-2013 01:57:55 | More by femond

dwren89

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: amber, hazy, sticky, foamy head

Aroma: fruit sweetness with notes of citrus, malty sweetness

Taste: mild fruit sweetness with strong malt character, recognizable tart orange hints, hops not recognizeable

Mouthfeel: well attenuated, medium-light body,

Overall Impression: though not as complex as other Trappist ales, this one does achieve impressive drinkability for the the Dubbel style.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 22:04:09 | More by dwren89

ackeeper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-12-2013 18:59:14 | More by ackeeper

tnewmark

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%

06-11-2013 21:37:45 | More by tnewmark

joaopmgoncalves

Portugal

4.21/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: It's a well carbonated beer with a beautiful orange body.
S: It has a yeasty and grassy smell that mixes very well with the orange within its smell.
T: You can notice the small citric overtones all over the Orval and it's also very yeasty.
M: Good carbonation as said previously. It's smooth and the low IBU (32) mixed with the lower alcohol level makes Orval an easy beer to drink.
O: Basically, it's an awesome beer. It's a good Belgian Pale Ale to introduce your friends to the wonderful world of beer. Anyone can taste the greatness in Orval.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 19:32:42 | More by joaopmgoncalves

utopiajane

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy orange with a billowing head of resilient foam that finally dwindled to a rocky cap with dense, sticky lacing. A spectacular pour into a tulip. Nose is complex and kept expanding as it warmed. Sweet Belgian yeast, apples, floral, banana, some medicinal alcohol, a little caramel malt poking through all that bright fruit and brett funk and ultimately finds some spice character. Taste is superb. Relaxed, smooth, full without heaviness, some lemon, some hay and horse blanket. No alcohol on the palate at all. Drinks very dry and leaves a long bitter finish that isn’t tart or sour. It’s earthy and hop bitter. Very impressive, indulgent, full of traditional character and easily approachable for a session.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 16:53:51 | More by utopiajane

ChrisL24481

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -4.8%

06-11-2013 00:21:15 | More by ChrisL24481

GraduatedCashew

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%

06-11-2013 00:19:36 | More by GraduatedCashew

Isotope

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%

06-11-2013 00:18:28 | More by Isotope