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

Tupperwolf

Washington

3.13/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours an apple-juice orange-brown, rather clear until I get to the end of the pour and upend the yeast, whereupon it takes on a very slightly hazy iced tea brown with a little bit of sediment visible floating and a few small bubbles; I poured this into my Trappistes Rochefort chalice and was rewarded with a half-inch head that is currently falling down to a plump ring and some whitish scum.

I've always been a little unsure about my first time trying Orval. I've heard that it's either loved or hated, and often more readily hated than loved. I fully intend to try all the trappist beers I can get my hands on, including Orval, despite my inclination away from sour beers..

So in I go for my first cautious whiff. A very slight horsy brett note passes my nose, and then becomes a more usual Belgian scent - spicy yeast, crispy malts, slightly piney hops. I wait for it to warm to get more powerful scents, but the overall scent profile is pretty mild.

I get a bit of fermented apples in the flavor, and just a little bit of dust and must on top of a little biscuity malts and grassy, piney hops. Even as it warms, the taste leaves me less than impressed... It's just not very bold, not very strong.

The mouthfeel is extremely bright - extremely sparkling and 'tart' feeling on the tongue, with very spritzy carbonation in such tiny bubbles that it's an overall tingle. It finishes very dry, with a slight alcohol parched-throat sensation, and some bitter, musty flavor is lefft behind. It's an interesting sensation, and would be better if the flavors were a bit stronger.

Final thoughts - forgettable. I hate to say it after all that worry about what I would finally think, but I really don't think anything. It's okay, but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2006 02:56:18 | More by Tupperwolf

JackOfAll

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-24-2013 18:01:55 | More by JackOfAll

Tjvan2

Iowa

2.75/5  rDev -34.7%

05-24-2013 12:31:30 | More by Tjvan2

desint

Belgium

1.5/5  rDev -64.4%

05-24-2013 11:13:19 | More by desint

robertmitchum

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-24-2013 09:17:08 | More by robertmitchum

MikeDre

California

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-24-2013 04:55:41 | More by MikeDre

mtrog313

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-24-2013 01:41:13 | More by mtrog313

broob

Mississippi

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-23-2013 18:21:29 | More by broob

BeerSnob1022

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 17:09:07 | More by BeerSnob1022

BelgianBeerPope

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-21-2013 11:29:47 | More by BelgianBeerPope

aslamm75

Indiana

3/5  rDev -28.7%

05-20-2013 23:44:43 | More by aslamm75

sendbeer

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-20-2013 18:07:47 | More by sendbeer

akttr

Michigan

3/5  rDev -28.7%

05-20-2013 03:50:58 | More by akttr

Jonada

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on October 6th 2011. Served in a goblet.

Appearance: Rusty orange in color with 1 finger of an off white colored head. Decent retention and lacing. Body is very hazy, with moderate amounts of visible carbonation streaming throughout the glass.

Smell: Banana, phenols, candi sugar, clove, spice.

Taste: Belgian yeast, honey, floral, spice, heavy phenolic notes, and some very slight funk.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, soft mouthfeel. Medium fine carbonation. Finishes dry, with a slight bitterness.

Overall: One of the classics in the beer world. It's not mind blowing, and it won't knock your socks off, but it's an extremely well crafted beer that I could easily drink every day.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:42:08 | More by Jonada

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-18-2013 21:13:20 | More by Photekut

OldsmarTap

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -22.8%

05-18-2013 19:19:50 | More by OldsmarTap

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-18-2013 12:16:09 | More by NJB145

Blashawright

Texas

4/5  rDev -5%

05-16-2013 22:39:07 | More by Blashawright

jborgschulte

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-16-2013 18:37:30 | More by jborgschulte

inanity

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-16-2013 00:38:39 | More by inanity

jimctin

Ontario (Canada)

5/5  rDev +18.8%

05-15-2013 18:00:22 | More by jimctin

apanloco

Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-15-2013 17:38:22 | More by apanloco

Nolen12

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-14-2013 19:16:18 | More by Nolen12

CoryR

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-14-2013 19:15:11 | More by CoryR

SonOfOdin

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-14-2013 18:45:15 | More by SonOfOdin