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

1Nrwyscotch

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle(bottled 11/17/11) poured into a chalice

A. A nice cloudy amber color with a thick solid head that faded with no lacing.

S. I get sweet fruit with some lemon followed by some Belgian yeast, very nice.

T. A touch of bitterness to begin with and then some sweet malt. I get some spiciness on the finish

M. It has a light body with some decent carbonation.

O. A very enjoyable Belgian pale ale that is very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 01:33:44 | More by 1Nrwyscotch

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2 oz bottle dated 02/29/12. Pours hazy amber with tall, foamy, long lasting white head and nice lacing. Aroma is of sourdough, Belgian yeast, candy sugar and earthy hops. Body is full and creamy. Taste is Belgian yeast, caramel malt, ripe fruit, peppery hops. Finish is long, peppery. I don’t think this bottle have aged well.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 00:02:13 | More by mikeg67

tone77

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is fruity, yeast, alive with flavor. Taste is also big on fruits, some malts and yeast, lots of flavor here. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:43:39 | More by tone77

Lolli1315

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Golden orange with a billowing egg shell white head. The head is pillowy and resilient as about a half finger sticks around. It is slightly hazy and leaves behind a sticky lacing.

S- Tart fruits with a reasonable amount of lemon. Some medicinal and phenolic smells with little underlying malt sweetness. Some earthy musty character as well.

T- The lemon and citrus flavors are not as pronounced in the taste although they can be tasted lingering in the background. Medicinal and other phenolic flavors are apparent throughout the beer. The earthy, musty, slightly barnyard characteristic starts in the middle of the beer and carries through the finish. Slightly tart, but certainly not mouth puckering and it is not off putting. Slight hop bitterness in the finish.

M- Medium, maybe medium light body. Carbonation is slightly prickly on the tongue at first, but it has become more smooth as the beer has settled. Finish is dry as well.

O- A great belgian pale ale and the earthy character makes this both different from others in the same style as well as providing it with a little more character. As a person who edges towards the funky/sour end, this is my type of beer, but likely not offensive to others who do not prefer funk all that much.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 23:03:42 | More by Lolli1315

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle dated 29/2/2012 & best Before 2017 poured into an oversized wine glass.

A: Darker gold in color with a bit of haze (tried to be careful with any yeast) and a huge creamy off white head.

S: Big fruity and musty aromas; floral in a really pleasant way. Orange peel, lemon peel, funk, earthy Brett, even some faint tropical fruit, pear, a good amount of white grape skins, and hints of raisins. Pretty similar to muscat white wine.

T: Same as the nose, fruity and funky; citrus rind, musty and earthy Brett. Definite lemon and even lime (reminiscent of Sprite actually as this beer seems to be heartily carbonated initially). White wine...a bit of barnyard begins to take hold as it warms. There is some hop bitterness, so this beer isn't overly sweet or tart.

MF: Fairly light to medium bodied, with some nice carbonation. Finishes with a Bretty dryness and notes of hop bitterness.

O: Really unique and diverse, and at the end of the night I liked it. Definitely a sipper and something to enjoy as it warms and different flavors emerge. This bottle is around 10 months old, and I'm sure older bottles taste vastly different because of the Brett. Not something I would seek out again, but a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 15:40:55 | More by Scotchboy

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into a dfh snifter bottle date 20/05/2011 best by 2016

A: pours a hazy brownish amber with a fat finger of very creamy lookin, very very slightly khaki colored head, excellent retention and lacing...'great looking beer.

S: light sweet citrus, kiss of caramel,a bit of lemon peel and earthy Brett funk, the more this beer warms the less I like the aroma, a very stanky horse hair note starts to come out. Apple, pear.

T: very nice apple and pear flavor with a touch of sweetness, into a bitter orange/lemon citrus rind. Some light floral notes in there as well. The finish reminds me of tart green apple skins. Very tasty and complex, the bitterness caught me a bit of gaurd.

M: very lush and very very dry, nice moderate creamy carbonation...

O: this is a very unique and very tasty brew, really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:11:02 | More by PeterIngemi

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

EDIT: Sat on this for at least six months and I think it had aged considerably. Had some Orvals since this review and they were sublime, far better than my aged version.

A: Dulled copper. Some strings of champagne bubbles barely visable. Large off white head, typical of quality Belgian pale ale. Looks great.

S: Whiffing from the bottle I get a most beautiful scent of fruity hops which is strong but refined and delicate. From the glass it's a different story. The hops are overwhelmed by a second vinegary pong which is very pungent. Is this what people mean by horse blanket? Absolutely foul!

T: Very dry and bitter. Pleasant bath watery hops with delicate earthiness. A perfumey citrus fragrance breezes across the tongue and pervades in the finish with a not so prominent bread flavour. It has that kind of English hop profile that I associate with bathwater but it's a refined one. Again, very bitter. Reminds me of when I have trouble swallowing a paracetamol and the bitterness lingers.

O: A real quality beer, no doubt about that, but I found it too dry and bitter. Wouldn't be a problem if it were balanced accordingly but from my experience bitter hops in Belgians tend to stick out like a sore thumb. It's definitely an interesting beer however and I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 06:29:37 | More by Hoppsbabo

Danny1217

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hazy orange amber with a fluffy white head. Lots of nice lacing and excellent retention. The head lasts forever.
Smells a bit floral, and somewhat funky. Some lemon zest.
Taste is slightly fruity. A bit of tartness and a brett funk. A nice hop bite gives some slight citrus flavors. Lots of tart fruit tastes. Extraordinarily smooth and crisp feel. Highly sessionable, yet incredibly complex. A balance that is hard to find.

This is one incredible beer. The only downside is that they are a bit pricey, being sold only as single bottles for over $5 each. If not for the price, I could drink quite a few of these in one evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 05:33:53 | More by Danny1217

lonewolfcry

Minnesota

2.18/5  rDev -48.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

2010 bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

A ~ I was impressed with how much of that amazing head I got from the significantly slow pour. A good 4 fingers. Cloudy light orange, lots of lace as the head dissipated.
S ~ Some barnyard funk, wild berries...actually not too much else that I could pick up on.
T ~ The funk is stealing the show here. I'm getting a peppery taste as well, and a slight touch of medicine. Very dry and no sweetness whatsoever.
M ~ Light, and very carbonated
O ~ I was very excited to post my first review; and thought this would be a great start with the #2 ranked BPA!
Either a got a bad/poorly stored bottle, or I'm simply not a fan of Belgian Pales.
I love most other Belgian styles - but this was my first BPA. It may take awhile before I pick up another, but I'm sure I'll give it one more try...someday.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 23:55:42 | More by lonewolfcry

Googs

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on 06/14/2012. When I opened it up, it shot out of the bottle. Poured into Duvel tulip.

A: Poured with a huge froathy white head. Lacing coating the glass. Golden orange body. Carbonation is very apparent.

S: This smells incredible. Both sweet and funky from the mix of the fruity Orval yeast and the funky brett but neither is overpowering. Slight aroma from the hops. Just what I was hoping for.

T: Mix of bit sweet bread from the cara and pale malts, spiciness, tart, funk from the yeast and bitterness from the hops. Great - Complex and unique but I think this could better.

M: Low-medium body. Would prefer a little more body actually. Crispy and very carbonated. Maybe a bit too much for my liking. But smooth as fuck, and refreshing.

O: This brew stands out from the other Trappist beers in a number of ways. Like I said, it's complex and unique and certainly drinkable but there's room for improvement. I'll be drinking this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 00:03:06 | More by Googs

CA_Infidel2o9

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2oz to a Tulip
Bottled 6/10/11

A- hazy golden orange, 1 1/2" fluffy long lasting white head

S- apple cider, caramel, citrus, grape, wine, banana, earthy, belgian yeast

T- apple cider, caramrl, tart, spices, pils malts, lingering metallic grapefruit bitterness

M- low to medium body, crisp carbonation

O- a very nice brew. If i had to chose one beer to drink through out the summer. This would be it.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 21:08:49 | More by CA_Infidel2o9

cfrances33

Illinois

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

2010 bottle, poured into an oversized Tired Hands wine glass.

Pour: Burnt orange, mostly clear body, with a billowing offwhite head. I mean gigantic and puffy. The biggest head I've ever seen by a mile. Nice lacing as it finally subsides, but most of the head hangs around.

Smell: Woah this is quite pleasant. Nice fruity esters, with lemon pith, a light mango, and some pear. A light white pepper and some biscuity yeast. Was hoping for a Bretty funk, but there is none.

Taste: Follows the nose, but is subdued. Less fruit and more of an earthiness. Some grass. A light funk. Some sweet biscuits close.

Mouthfeel: Pretty watery, surprisingly. A light bitterness. Prickly carb, but not to the extent the head might make you believe.

Overall: Finally went for this classic, and it did not disappoint! Would love to see what a bottle is like near the 'enjoy by' date.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:50:45 | More by cfrances33

Maakun

Afghanistan

4.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted quite cold in an Orval glass. Pours a nice light copper, with off-white head that shrinks to a small layer and really clings to the glass. Slighty havy. Looks very inviting.

Smell is not very present at first. Some slight spices and hops. Later some caramel, cloves, malts, citrus, and a very slight burt smell. It smells fantastic, but still a bit faint.

Taste has notes of yeast and mats, before the big hops kick in. Lots of fruit, green apples, lemon, grapefruit. A nice bitterness, but not overprowering at all, it's balanced very nicely by some light malt and a hint of sweetness. Then some spices, but not as much as on the nose. Aftertase is more grapefruit. After it has warmed up a,ittle the yeast comes through more. This is really balanced and complex.

Mouth is light, and full of carbonation, It pricks even a bit. I love big carbonation.

I love this beer. The smell and taste are really good, and it has a nice carbonation that I like. It's nowhere near any other trappist beer though, it's closer to an IPA even, which is why I don't score the overall a 5. But wow this is a really really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 21:20:50 | More by Maakun

pkalix

California

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

ive had this many times before, but i'm not sure i remember it smelling this way....
poured a golden, hazy nectar with a light topping of foam.
smell was citric, vinegar-y, apple cider-ish.... <-- the part i dont remember so much....
taste.... is very nice. light fruit, floral, hoppy. perfect balance, but a little bubbly.
i like this but i remember it tasting a little different. almost bubble-gum-my, in the past editions. but i am grading it from a perspective of knowing this is one of my all time favorites. i rate this with the duvel and chimay, up at the very top. these brews can be very rich, but when in the mood, excellent. the only dings in this would be the small bubbly, champagne sensation on the lips and the unexpected vinegar-y smell i got from the start. although i do love those sours, also.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 23:12:08 | More by pkalix

Marc_V

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle from Belgian Beer Shop.com. I drank this one cooled. This gives the beer a lot more freshness. It's a wonderful thirst quencher. The color is hazy amber with a nice off-white head that leaves lots of lacing.
The aroma is very hoppy, fresh with a touch of fruitiness (citrus). The taste is perfectly balanced between the hop bitterness and the fruity sweetness. The beer is also yeasty. This is by far my all time favorite. A true classic that can be drunk on every occasion.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 18:29:56 | More by Marc_V

Twincrasher

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Good head retention. Nice deep copper color. Very clear for this type.

S: Floral and fruity.

T: A little bit of a comedown from the appearance and smell. Balance of acidity and malt is not what I'm used to in Trappist. Less yeasty flavor than what I expected.

M: More carbonation than expected.

O: Very good. Not the great ale I was expecting from reputation. Will try again though.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 04:44:01 | More by Twincrasher

IPA35

Netherlands

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange with a whitish head.

Nice smell or citrus, flowers and a hint of brett. A crazy yeasty fruitiness, tart.

Taste is very complex.
Malt, tart, quite sour actually, spice and some interesting hops in the back. Bready aftertaste. Very different but nice.

Mouthfeel is medium with quite alot of carbonation.
The bottle is 5 months old.
A recommended beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 15:45:52 | More by IPA35

tectactoe

Michigan

3.89/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice golden-yellow-banana color. Cloudy and hazy, pretty volatile with a nice, white head that retains reasonably well. Smell hits first with light citrusy sweetness and heavy banana. Grapes and plums present in small quantities. Taste includes banana and citrus, as well as the clove that I was looking for. Quite a bit of an alcohol bite to it, almost on the phenol side. The beer makes a nice transition, starting off with the fruity tartness and evolving into the bread and butter malty finish. Yeast is heavy throughout, adding a nice character to the beer and bringing everything together. At times, I felt the beer was a little watery and lacking a punch like I was expecting. Huge carbonation and a pretty thin body.

Overall, Orval is a great Belgian style Trappist ale. Is it the best? Not in my personal opinion. I'd take a Rochefort over this 9 times out of 10. But this brew should still be tried by everyone. High craft and quality, and still very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:21:11 | More by tectactoe

burnstar

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance is clear light copper with big rocky head. Smell is complex with notes of honey, light fruit, floral and herbal notes, a bit of citrus, and slight earthy and phenolic yeasty smells. Taste is bitter at first and then herbal with a touch of fruit and bit of wild yeast funk. Unlike anything I've ever had, although some American wild ales are the closest. Dry with a some bite in the finish and a nice lingering bitterness. Very well carbonated with a great mouthfeel. Very drinkable. Not one to gulp down, but take a sip and then you will quickly take another and another. Overall this is one of the big classic Belgians you pretty much have to try. (I can't believe it's taken me this long.) Unique and very good.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:18:52 | More by burnstar

markovlad

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-purred it from a bottle, rich tick foam, small bubbles, enjoyed it very much
S-smell is wonderful: fruity and spicy, it really gets to you when you open it and than you have big expectations.
T- light, fruity and spicy even sour, but it smells better than it tastes. No aftertaste. Weird.
M-sharp, spicy, bites you for tongue somewhere back,

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 22:41:15 | More by markovlad

scottchesterhall

California

3.6/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-beautiful copper, full head that shrunk to 1/4 inch, bottled 2.5 years ago, May 19, 2010, 6.9 abv

S-wonderful: pears, ginger, banana, clove, fruity and spice

T-bright assault on front of tongue with fruity spice, but I was looking for way more flavor...very crisp and refreshing and then quickly disappears with a pleasant residue of fruity hop oil and sour yeast. It's clean and crisp--almost cider-like, but I wanted more layers. Am I drinking it too cold?

M-really effervescent, too much? Dances on the tongue, that's for sure.

O-everything was perfect...and then I was let down when the beer was actually in my mouth. Not bad...but I was disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 05:42:44 | More by scottchesterhall

obninsk23

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice honey color. Liked the foam a lot. It covers the full surface forever and I value that. Smells like typical Belgian Ale yeast - very very yeasty. Tastes a bit sour and yeasty again. Medium body. I think it's a food beer meaning it's better with food then just by itself. I am having it now with garlic mashed potatoes, rutabagas and roasted chicken and roasted garlic on top of watercress. Quite pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:17:37 | More by obninsk23

KKB

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A – Dear sweet holy baby jesus mary joseph and john. Would you have a look at that beer. I don’t even want to drink it, I want to ask it out to a fine dinner and slowly woo it before I take it home to be with me forever, and just stare at it. It is perfect looking. Beautiful golden amber color with loads of carbonation dancing up the glass, HUGE beige/off-white head that simply will not quit, crazy lacing, so much yes. Yes, yes please, yes.

S – The smell is gorgeous as well, it’s sweet and citrusy and hoppy and definitely a little bit funky with a grassy and earthy element to it as well. It’s just so very pleasant though.

T – The taste is good. Perhaps even very good. A little bit let down though to be perfectly honest. I was expecting…well, I guess something more. After the appearance and the smell the taste is a tiny bit off. It has a really nice very slight tartness, citrus, barnyard/wet hay funk (in a lovely way) but it’s not really very sweet and not very bitter either and it’s lacking the spice that I have grown so fond of in trappist ales. It’s just slightly underwhelming really. It’s still good, but not quite elite, unfortunately.

M – The mouthfeel is very nice, I will concede that. Rather light body, a ton of carbonation, dry finish.

O – Overall it’s good. But it’s not unbelievable, and not the best trappist ale that I have had. I’m sorry.

….I’m going to leave this somewhat open. The more I drink it the more it’s growing on me. I’ll return to this and give an update, this shant be my last Orval.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 03:13:08 | More by KKB

JRdaSconnie

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Been too long since I've had an Orval so picked one up today at Trig's Cellar 70 in Minocqua, WI. Dated 17/11/2011 and taken from fridge and poured into St. Bernardus goblet.

S: Tart, tangy, little funky. Herbal dry hop aroma wafts up. Bready malt with light caramel or toast smell. No alcohol.

A: Deep amber to light copper. Beautiful pillow of white foam slowly drops into a thin layer with ring as I enjoy the beer. Sticky lacing.

T: Dry hops coming through in nice, herbal hop flavor with light but balancing bitterness. Nothing astringent even hints through. Tiny amount of Brett funkiness, but more in aroma than taste. Malt sweetness is present but is phased out by hop flavor. Hint of alcohol on the finish, but no excessive heat.

M: Probably my favorite part of Orval. Highly "digestable," and yet full in mouthfeel all the same. The fluffy carbonation helps fill the mouth and carry the beer over your tongue. The hop bitterness lingers as a dry mouthfeel. Slight amount of enamel-etching acidity.

O: A must try for any beer geek and one of my favorites in the world. This may be a desert island beer for me. I've yet to have a bottle more than about a year old, so haven't appreciated any of the higher level of funk that aging Brett will bring out. World class, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 19:38:40 | More by JRdaSconnie

Dentist666

Russian Federation

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Now 6.2% ABV.
Pours murky amber-brown beer with huge resistant golden head. Aroma of fruits and flowers: apricots, gueuze notes (i.e. horse sweat), pine resin and more. Awesome! Magnificent dry & rather bitter (belgian IPA?) taste. Yeasts and herbal hop. Warmth & bitterness, bitterness & warmth. Outstanding specimen.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 20:33:58 | More by Dentist666