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

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well well well, I'm a lucky guy to have found this one last night here in Manitoba. I was like a kid in a candy store.... 2004 vintage.

Pours a hazy orange copper colour with a huge head. Correction, massive head. This head actually grows as you down the glass. Pour very carefully. The pillowy, fluffy head leaves a thick lace all the way down the glass. The vicious carbonation is a thing of beauty. Smell is exceedingly spicy and a bit musty. There's a huge floral bouquet, like springtime when the Lilacs begin to bloom.

Taste is just as intense, like you were tasting all outdoors at one. Floral and Wild, lots of herbal flavour. Some earthy grassy notes. A tangy and spicy lemony sourness comined with an exquisite hop character that's very well balanced. This beer just dances around the palate, and is very complex.
The mouthfeel is full of body, a little sticky. Clean, with a little dryness in the finish. This was an amazing surprise and a real treat for me, The ABV being what it is, it's exceedingly drinkable, but the actual quality of the beer makes you want to save these for a special occasion. Also, I'd like to come back to it in a year or so, see what's changed. If you live in a place where this stuff is readily available, I'm so jealous.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2006 16:14:00 | More by trevorwideman

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