Orval Trappist Ale
Brasserie d'Orval S.A.

Pours a cloudy, pretty much completely opaque light russet color. Huge pillowy off-white head forms on the beer even with the gentlest of pours. As it settles down it forms this velvety pillow of foam. Aroma is a lot fruitier than I remember this being - but this is also a much fresher bottle than I've had the last few times. There are some yeasty notes with strong fruity esters. The Brett still comes through with some funky barnyard notes but even the Brett is on the fruitier side.

Taste follows the nose with a complex flavor profile throwing a bunch of different things at you all at once - there is the Brett, obviously, fruity, tart, funky and a bit of wet blanket - there is also the spicy yeast notes with white peppercorn, and then there is some graininess with some lighter hop notes on the back end providing a certain bitterness. Its one of the most interesting beers I've ever had and I kind of love how no two bottles are really ever the same while still being the same beer. Feel is light to medium bodied, bright, vibrant and vivacious. Somewhat dry on the finish.

Overall its a delight to drink this beer anytime I get the chance. I really need to do a side by side with a fresh bottle and an aged bottle one of these days.
___________________

Pours a bright orange color. Partially opaque. Huge frothy head dissipates slowly but steadily leaving thick lacing and a residual half finger layer of pillowy white foam. Lovely appearance.

Smell is tart and vinegary - yes you get tartness on the aroma that gets your taste buds revving from that brett. Some bready malt is there as well as a nice belgian spicy yeast aroma. Interesting because this bottle has lots of brett on the nose.

Taste has notes of bread, vinegar, floral hops, touch of bitterness. The brett is present. but not nearly as present as the nose would have implied.

Feel is light and drinkable. Very dry finish. Mild carbonation.

Overall a truly unique Trappist ale, but one that is impressively complex and expertly crafted.

4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25 = 4.31

 

 

 

Look and taste like a lightly-spiced apple cider. Red-orange color. Very foamy head. Smell lightly of medicinal herb. Fairly bitter, yet also juice-like in taste and texture with a touch of apple pie spice. Tingly texture.

 

Copenhagen 2/9 2016. 33 cl bottle from Meny, Østerfælled Torv, Kbh Ø. Nice chubby little bottle with a small label with a fish getting a dental examination.

Bottle opens with an explosive pop. Pours hazy golden yellow with a huge white head. Settles as a 3 cm thick layer of foam. Substantial lacing on the side of the glass.

Aroma is intense and fruity. Peach, slightly fermented plums and Belgian yeast.

Medium strong carbonation and a slightly thick texture.

Flavor is well balanced. Medium strong sweetness followed by a medium strong bitterness - more bitter than many Belgians. Bitter aftertaste and dry finish.

A very nice one from Belgian mono-liner Brasserie D’Orval. And I like the chubby little bottle.

 

12 oz Lonngneck,Poured on a Pint Glass:

LOOK: Golden, maintained 6cm head for three minutes

SMELL: Malty with a ripe banana

TASTE: slight fruity on the open with a hint of caramel

FEEL: Great carbonation

OVERALL: One of the best Belgium Ales.

Beautiful golden brown pour with cream-coloured head.

Relentless lacing.

Nose of citrus, red fruit, and spice.

Mildly spicy on the palate with notes of caramel, slightly sweet on the front while finishing dry with hops and a bit of funk. Slight bitterness at the back of the palate. Complex.

Unlike anything I’ve ever tried before.

Bottle date 09/25.

Pours clear dark gold with a massive head of white. Retention and lacing is relentless.
Grassy hops in the nose with pineapple skins, apple peel, forest floor.
Light bodied with a crisp, effervescent mouthfeel.
Bone-dry on the palate with minimal malt and a firm bitterness. Leafy, zesty hops with wet hay and citrus pith.
Finishes dry and funky.

(review from October 2021) Definitely carbonated and wonderfully well balanced with good mouthfeel and plenty of fruity, belgiany, yeasty flavor and lingering aftertaste.

If I’m gonna do a Trappist, it’s gonna be Westmalle!
This was not my jam starting with the look. Smell followed that orange look with hints of tangerine.
It is full bodied so it holds on.

 

From a bottle at home. High carbonation makes this pour with a two foot head. It's lighter and drier than a lot of Belgian's. Herbs are light, too. Some white grape here and even some honey.

A beer where I’m at a loss for words. It’s so unique. For the record, I don’t worship Trappist beers. I love Westmalle, but I think most are overpriced. But this… wow. It smells like colors- gold and turquoise. It tastes like a mysterious ancient ocean on another planet. Yes, there’s dark fruit, kombucha, citrus, zesty hops, and limestone. But it’s mostly mysterious. Tastes kinda like shoegaze. That’s it. Fantastic.

 

Bottled 4/16/25; drank 12/7/25 @ the Yarchives.

Murky dull orange appearance.

A slow pour yielded a HUGE off-white head (careful pouring!); frothy lacing remained.

Dry clove, faint notes of lemon & white grape.

Carbonated, dry medium thin mouthfeel.

Dry champagne flavors up front; mild clove & faint lemon notes on the finish.

This is more like a dry, mineral-forward champagne than a beer; I found it effervescent & challenging, but it's perhaps not the easiest beer to enjoy. Very interesting.