Impromptu Tasting: Orval

Instructions on how to open the bottle.
Leave the cap on the open bottle. Whaaaaat?
Maybe that could be an excuse for me to christen my Westvleteren chalice with a Westy 12, then an Orval.

 

Also joining with this tasty ale. I dont have the patience to age beers so this one is 6 months old or so. Now that I see the cheese on the label I also want to give that one a try. 8) Cheers

 

Joining with a 2022 bottle.
Nicely complex nose of funk, dried citrus fruit peel, bread, touch of stone fruit.
Palate with a lot going on, good acidity and lift, dry, finishing with more stone fruit, funk, nice bitterness rounding it out.
Aging quite nicely overall.



Cheers!

 

I always enjoy treating myself to an Orval! Alas, I’m unable to join in the tasting this year. Enjoy!

 

No Orval in the house, it’s pouring out and I have no desire to drive to buy a beer. I might have a bottle if Rayon Vert in a box. Will take a look later on if I remember.

Enjoy

 

13/11/2023 bottle. I've probably had more Orval in the past two years than I had in the previous twenty. About time I buy a proper branded glass I reckon.

 

It is a beautiful day out, and Orval is always my favorite lazy weekend afternoon beer while sitting outside in my courtyard reading.

Bottled on 3/2023 so right at 1 year old.

I have always gotten a big fruity ester quality to these, especially with a bit, but not "too much" age on them. Apples, pears, peppery spice, baked bread, and a light leafy/grassy bitterness is still there.

Excellent, I have a 2 year old bottle in the fridge as well, that I'm sure I'll open later on today.

Just finished up my Colm Toibin novel, so it has been a good start to my Saturday afternoon.

 

So, safe to say that 7 years of age did not negatively impact your drinking pleasure here?

I have a homebrewed clone of Orval that I will be drinking (and discussing) later today. I am hopeful that your experience will bring good karma here:



Cheers!

 

Beer is chilling now. 2012 bottle.

Enjoy

 

It's been a few years since I participated in Orval Day. It took 4 stops today to find some. Bottled on 6/6/2023. The bottles were on the shelf and not in a cooler. Maybe it's my palate but it tastes a lot more bitter than I remember it.

 

My sad ode to Orval is that today was a little too impromptu for me; three stores in three separate towns and I struck out in all of them.

To put a silver lining on it, I've decided that I've been taking for granted how easy it would be to acquire and will be making a point to stock up in the near future, and to stay stocked up. It definitely won't go to waste or be unappreciated

 

Would you happen to know how old those other bottles of Orval were?

Bitterness will decrease with beer aging time:



Cheers!

P.S. Take the x-axis values (i.e., months) with a grain of salt, somebody added (adapted) that quantization after the fact.

 

And perhaps if your piggy bank is big enough purchase a box of it since this beer will cellar well for several years (e.g., 7 years per post #7).



Cheers!

 

Interesting question! I checked and I reviewed Orval on 3/26/2016 and that bottle was dated 4/6/2015 so the age is similar. Here is my description of the taste from that review:

The taste is primarily bready malt, yeast, lemon peel, and spice, with a hint of sour apple. It is quite dry, sour throughout, and bitter at the finish. I don't taste the banana I smelled and there is only hint of sweet malt.

I'm thinking that the bottles I bought today were not properly handled. While I'm not a huge fan of Orval, I rated it 4.21 with a taste rating of 4.25. Today's bottles didn't come close to that. I may look for a bottle in a different store and see whether it tastes better. It may just be me.

Thanks for sharing your interesting information!

 

Well, shoot! Have been at the local hospital most of the day with my girlfriend - her 89 year old Dad seems to have had a series of strokes - no bueno

I have a bottle I will try to get to later today, or if not - tomorrow!

Happy Orval Day!

 

That is always a potential concern when it comes to beers imported from Europe.

I am not familiar with what sorts of conditions would increase bitterness.

Since I homebrew a clone of Orval (to be discussed later today) I can relate that Orval clocks in at around 33 IBUs: “The wort has 50 IBU and the beer 32-35.”

Each individuals palates will differ but for me this is what I would characterize as being a moderate bitterness level. But there are other considerations when it comes to perceived bitterness vs. IBUs.

Cheers!