Orval Day - Saturday, March 25th!!

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Beersnake, Mar 21, 2023.

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  1. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's that time of year to enjoy and celebrate one of the most iconic beers on our planet!

    It is a Trappist beer that was first made in 1931, and has a complex and unusual flavor and aroma produced by a specific strain of yeast: Brettanomyces bruxellensis. The color is somewhat light (depending on the age), slightly cloudy, and has a large, foamy head. There is a complex aroma of leather, spice, and many other earthy components.

    The distinct nature of Orval is largely due to two parts of the brewing process. One of these is the use of dry hopping, in which large meshed bags of hops infuse the beer during the three-week maturation period. The other is the use of Brettanomyces yeast during this same maturation.

    Whether you have a fresh one or one with age, this is the day to enjoy it! We will use this thread to kick things off on Saturday! So, search the cellar and have one ready, or head to your local shop and grab a couple for the occasion.

    For a little vertical tasting information, see the video below. When you post on Saturday, definitely include information regarding the bottling date! This beer changes fairly quickly with age. What's your sweet spot?? #orvalday



    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Beersnake, Mar 21, 2023
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  2. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Anyone in SEPA know where I might find this? What's the distribution footprint?
     
    #2 Spade, Mar 21, 2023
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  3. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Same footprint as the rest of the Trappist beers.

    Just please, don't pay $18 for it. :grin::wink::grimacing:
     
    #3 BMBCLT, Mar 21, 2023
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  4. TommyG22

    TommyG22 Zealot (649) Mar 26, 2021 Wisconsin

    Had my first ones this past weekend to help it get to the sweet 16. I will try to pick up a couple more for the weekend. Always fun to take part in BA things.

    The head was crazy. Looked like cheese in my beer. Reminded me of the Miller cheese that I grew up with. Thanks for creating the thread.
     
    #4 TommyG22, Mar 21, 2023
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  5. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Embrace the head!!
     
    #5 Beersnake, Mar 21, 2023
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  6. TommyG22

    TommyG22 Zealot (649) Mar 26, 2021 Wisconsin

    I embraced the head after the very first time!!!
     
    #6 TommyG22, Mar 21, 2023
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  7. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My wife and I have been to Orval 5 years ago. Very rustic taproom (100 years old). They serve the beer, bread, cheese and mineral water, all made in Orval. Delicious!!!
     
    #7 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  8. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My local typically serves 5 or 6 different vintages of Orval for this event every year, along with some locally brewed versions that they feel are somewhat similar. Always a fun and interesting event... my experience/impression is that three or four years old seems to be the sweet spot. Older versions are still quite good, as are younger versions, but a bit of bottle age seems to tone down the Brett component somewhat, leading to a more mellow and flavorful beer. More time than that, and the Brett component becomes overly subdued, to the point it doesn't add very much to the flavor profile.
     
    #8 John_M, Mar 21, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2023
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  9. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I would guess that any place near you that has a decent Belgian import selection would have it.
     
    #9 jmdrpi, Mar 21, 2023
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  10. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In Trier (Germany) just 80 miles from Orval you pay 6 $ in a bar..
     
    #10 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  11. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In Luxembourg you go to the local beer trader and pay 28$ for a case and they give you a set of Orval glasses for free :slight_smile:
     
    #11 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  12. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's about what I pay here. I just had an Orval at a bar for $6, and I pay about the same for a bottle at a bottle shop. It's actually one of the only Belgian beers that costs roughly the same in southern Germany and southern California!
     
    #12 Beersnake, Mar 21, 2023
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  13. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    But in order to get them, you have to ask in Luxembourgish. :slight_smile::wink:
     
    #13 BMBCLT, Mar 21, 2023
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  14. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Or french. Our german dialect close to the border is VERY similar to LUXEMBOURGISCH
     
    #14 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  15. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It´s moselfränkisch (luxembourgisch and Eifel-German)
     
    #15 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  16. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah


    "According to a 2018 study of the Ministry of National Education, 98% of the Luxembourg population speaks French, 80% speaks English, and 78% speaks German."

    "Luxembourgish is used by 77% of the population. French is the main communication language, followed by Luxembourgish, German, English and Portuguese. French is used particularly in trade, hotels, restaurants and cafes, mainly in the capital and its surrounding area."


    @Beersnake1, feel free to clean up this thread. :slight_smile:
     
    #16 BMBCLT, Mar 21, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2023
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  17. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, English because Luxembourg_City, the capitol, has half of the population. In the northern part of Luxembourg no older person speaks english or german
     
    #17 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  18. Bitburger

    Bitburger Pooh-Bah (2,373) Oct 19, 2016 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    They have a lot of people in the gastronomy coming from Portugal
     
    #18 Bitburger, Mar 21, 2023
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  19. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I know I have bought bottles at Giant, Whole foods( maybe not anymore as the selection stinks around me now) many beer distributors have them too. Price is around $5-6 a bottle. A great beer.

    where are you located?

    Enjoy
     
    #19 Giantspace, Mar 21, 2023
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  20. ChicagoJ

    ChicagoJ Grand Pooh-Bah (5,247) Feb 2, 2015 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pregame / tailgate opportunity to enjoy Orval on Thursday and Friday in the 2023 March Beer Madness Tasting Event:

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...eer-madness-march-23-24-sweet-sixteen.671997/

    Two number ones square off in the Sweet Sixteen, as Orval (#1 Rated Belgian Pale Ale) takes on the #1 Weizenbock, Schneider Weisse Tap 6: Mein Aventinus, for a chance at the Elite Eight, coinciding with this tasting event.

    Cheers!
     
    #20 ChicagoJ, Mar 21, 2023
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