Orval Trappist Ale
Brasserie d'Orval S.A.
- From:
- Brasserie d'Orval S.A.
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Ale
Ranked #1 - ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,334 - Avg:
- 4.2 | pDev: 12.38%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2,572
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 22, 2026
- Added:
- Sep 18, 2001
- Wants:
- 398
- Gots:
- 1,067
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
Orval beer is a high fermentation beer. The ageing process adds a fruity note, which strikes a subtle balance between the beer’s full-bodied yet complex flavour and bitterness.
The beer was first brewed in 1931 and owes its unparalleled taste to the quality of the water, the hops and the yeast used. The brewery has selected very aromatic and unique hop varieties, which hark back to the first brewmaster of Orval, who hailed from Bavaria. The beer’s aromas are very pronounced while maintaining the right level of bitterness thanks to the English method of dry hopping.
The various stages of fermentation – combined fermentation with the original yeast and with wild yeast, followed by fermentation in the bottle – mean the beer must age for some time and requires numerous quality controls.
The beer was first brewed in 1931 and owes its unparalleled taste to the quality of the water, the hops and the yeast used. The brewery has selected very aromatic and unique hop varieties, which hark back to the first brewmaster of Orval, who hailed from Bavaria. The beer’s aromas are very pronounced while maintaining the right level of bitterness thanks to the English method of dry hopping.
The various stages of fermentation – combined fermentation with the original yeast and with wild yeast, followed by fermentation in the bottle – mean the beer must age for some time and requires numerous quality controls.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mudbug:
Reviewed by mudbug from Oregon
4.73/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.73/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the curvy 12 oz. dated bottle (19 5 2010) into a large wine goblet results in a hazy copper body under what must be one of the most impressive heads in beerdom, hugh craggy clouds of white foam that oh so slowly recedes leaving sticky chunks and lace sliding down the side of the glass.
Aroma is strong, Lemon zest, wet hay,orange peelings, clove a slightly astringent note.
This tastes great,tartness, slight funk,a sweet middle then a dry finish, the whole concerto of complexity, some flavors get stronger as it warms keeping every sip a new experience. Wow, just incredible.
There is no doubt that this is a perfected beer, Bravo!
May 17, 2011Aroma is strong, Lemon zest, wet hay,orange peelings, clove a slightly astringent note.
This tastes great,tartness, slight funk,a sweet middle then a dry finish, the whole concerto of complexity, some flavors get stronger as it warms keeping every sip a new experience. Wow, just incredible.
There is no doubt that this is a perfected beer, Bravo!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by solok from California
4.15/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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.
May 19, 2026
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
4.01/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
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.
Apr 24, 2026Bottle 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.
Reviewed by sglooney316 from Texas
4.5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
Apr 22, 2026LOOK: 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.
Reviewed by cah29692 from Canada (AB)
4.26/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.26/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
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.
Apr 19, 2026Relentless 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.
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire
4.55/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.55/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
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.
Apr 08, 2026Pours 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.
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
4/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(review from October 2021) Definitely carbonated and wonderfully well balanced with good mouthfeel and plenty of fruity, belgiany, yeasty flavor and lingering aftertaste.
Apr 06, 2026
Reviewed by AudiMike from Idaho
3.68/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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.
Mar 28, 2026This 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.
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida
4.34/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
Mar 06, 2026Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
4.65/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
Feb 10, 2026
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
Dec 08, 2025Murky 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.
Reviewed by jrmills20 from Minnesota
3.5/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I had been hoping to find a smooth center between sweet and bitter, but it didn’t hit my palate quite right - all I tasted was the bitter end. I did like the full, carbonated mouthfeel. Perhaps this is one for those who are fans of more bitter beers.
Nov 19, 2025
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