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

davey101

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 20/02/2008, best before 20/02/3013B. Four and a half years old. Little 11.2 oz bottle into a tulip glass at cellar temperature.

A - Dark clear amber body. Massive fluffy head with a rather ugly light tan color. Massive bubbles that took a nice swirling to clean up. Tons of lacing and retention.

S - Perfect. This is the definitive Brettanomyces aroma. A barnyard funk that is pleasant but approaching offensive, light grass and lemons, just a touch of biscuity crackers and ripe apples on the finish. Some warming alcohol as well.

T - Funky hay, rich cheese, lemon grass, pears, crackers, chalk, sweet caramel and a subtle minty herbal finish. This beer is just so complex. I'm just getting so many odd and unique flavors that I'm struggling to pinpoint them all. Yet it comes off as well balanced and simple. Its just...Orval. I've never had a beer taste like this. Mouth feel is effervescent and well carbonated.

O - Theres nothing quite like this beer. Matilda and Rayon Vert may be homages to this beer, but they just can't compete with the insane complexity and high drinkability of this. Age has also turned this into a brett bomb. World class for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 02:48:50 | More by davey101

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

rboinski

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-14-2013 14:44:01 | More by rboinski

KVNBGRY

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-14-2013 13:05:46 | More by KVNBGRY

danipp

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5%

05-14-2013 02:11:28 | More by danipp

Dcunicelli

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-13-2013 19:23:58 | More by Dcunicelli

NorthSideSean

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-13-2013 17:37:41 | More by NorthSideSean

SMM0606

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-13-2013 01:40:55 | More by SMM0606

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -22.8%

05-12-2013 17:11:36 | More by mikeburd1128

jl28r1

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-12-2013 13:50:20 | More by jl28r1

Dogzbone

New York

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-12-2013 01:43:46 | More by Dogzbone

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-11-2013 21:14:41 | More by MinorThreat

sharpski

Oregon

4/5  rDev -5%

05-11-2013 20:19:42 | More by sharpski

Donsmitty

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -5%

05-11-2013 12:38:20 | More by Donsmitty