Mass Online Tasting: Orval Trappist Ale

well here it goes, Apparently in this part of Canada a lot of trappist ales come in once a year as seasonal, as such I had to hunt for a couple bottles of orval, Poured almost a cloudy amber with 2 fingers off white head, cheers

 

My pour is a little dirty golden, translucent to hazy, with billowing pillow-like head that is slow to recede. Seriously, the head exploded from the depths (or shallows even) of my pour, even on a lighter pour in the second glass.

Nose is mildly tart and slightly yeasty. I actually think it smells a slight bit like a grapefruit soda, one that isn't all sugared up.
Edit: the GF says "Belgian-y", but I don't get the yeast too strong - but maybe some earthy herbal notes with some more sniffs and growing warmth.

 

This should be a cool tasting to see the varying opinions, mostly because Orval is vastly different depending on age. My bottle I am revisiting today is bottled on 4/15/2013. Did a proper decant, and it had great clarity. Big fluffy head, dense lacing, and tons of streaming carbonation. Aromas and flavors of big lemon, pineapple, cherry, pear, apple, white grape, hay, straw, pepper, grass, toasted biscuit, musty funk, light leather, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Good amount of peppery yeast spiciness and moderate earthy hop bitterness on the finish; with a fantastic balance of biscuity malt against the earthy/spicy yeast and hop character. Medium-high carbonation with a nice crisp and lightly prickly finish; with a touch of malt creaminess in there. Very smooth, no alcohol warming at all. Light-moderate dryness after the finish. A truly beautiful ale. I think this is at it's true best form right around 3 years, and this is inching up towards that point. 4.42/5

 

It appears I have the newest bottle of the lot so far, mine was bottled jan 15th of this year. 9 months ive heard is actually a very good point for orval supposedly. Anyone ever had a fresher bottle? what do you think?

 

I've been waiting for this, and am presently enjoying a nearly 2-year old bottle (10-26-13). The brett is powerful enough to hit my nose immediately upon popping the cap, but it's not nearly as funky as I was expecting; it's mostly sharply floral (carnations) although the ever-present 'horseblanket' still lurks in the background. As I get a little deeper some tangerine-like citrus and bright berries show themselves as well as a gentle spiciness and dark caramel. What I've always loved about this beer is how well it marries seeming contradictions, and here it is in this sample, with the balanced yin-yang of the light and the shadowy.

The first mouthful explodes with high carbonation, an airy physical lightness on the palate, only to recede to a heavily earthy dankness. There's that contradiction again. Hints of citrus peel, coriander, Popcorn balls (?!!), and wood linger on the eternal bitter finish. Flowers start to become apparent as I get deeper into the glass, and the citrus seems to become fresher. What a ride! Too bad I only got one bottle, as this one is going much too quickly.


This is my favorite age for this beer (1.5-2 years old), as it seems to have the best of both worlds going on.

Thanks to the Bros for hosting this event. I look forward to seeing everyone else's impressions. Cheers, BA!

 

My initial thoughts are that the carbonation is almost too strong - interfering with my ability to taste the beer. I get your champagne reference there. I also agree on the dry ending, at least that's my impression so far.

For the taste that fights through the bubbles early in the pour, I get light lemon and herb notes, and a sort of saison-like qualities almost (without any funk).

So far I think my ride is treating me very similar to yours.

 

Greetings from South Dakota. Beautiful day here. Fine time for one of my favorite beers.
The bottle opened with a nice, resounding "pop." The color is a very hazy, even cloudy brownish-orange. The aroma is my favorite part of this beer. An odor of yeasty bread rising up front, then some fruit; raisin, maybe orange and lemon. There is also a little farmyard funk underneath.
This bottle seems pretty fresh, still a pronounced hop presence. (edit, forgot to check the date before. duh. Bottled Jan. this year).
The first taste is candy at first, then some dried fruits, then bitterness that lingers nicely. I get raisin, dates, some yeastiness, hints of citrus and an almost resin-y finish. As it warms, some biscuit and even a little caramel come through. Love the slight yeasty funk. Amazingly complex.
This beer is well carbonated, and it feels a little sticky and tongue-coating. Great beer that I enjoy even more when it has some age on it.
Cheers!

 

The bubbles so far are not an issue for me, the flavor jumped right out. I'm also getting as some said Fresh baked banana bread( guessing its mostly that belgian yeast.) some granny smith green apple with the slight sourness. maybe abit of grape and a soft bitter finish.

 

My bottle was packaged on 3/12/15. Poured into a snifter. a fiery amber-orange with a faint haze. A voluminous and somewhat coarse light tan head that lingered, then slowly receded with delicate tracks. The nose had pineapple, lemon, yeast and floral estery notes. The taste was not surprisingly complex, with a grapefruit bitterness out of the gate followed by a funky barnyard sensation. This then morphed into herbal/floral flavors followed by a return of a lemony/citrus bitterness and a faint spice. Dry, phenolic finish. Medium-bodied. I liked it better as it warmed slightly - could drink this all day. Would love to get more and compare as it ages.
Cheers!

 

well guys, half an hour in and its about time to pop open the second bottle I picked up. I reviewed this 6 weeks ago so I guess ill just stick around until I'm done the second bottle to see everyone else's opinions Cheers. ps SD I want your chalice XD

 

I definitely got this as well - I actually looked to see if I might have a gusher.

If I look for the "baked banana bread" notes on a warmer beer - I almost think I can taste it, but then it isn't there. To me it's light and fleeting, if I get it at all. I actually do get it perhaps more in the nose.

As the beer warms, I actually get some not-very-sweet fleshy fruit notes as an accent to the predominant earthy tones - like an apple that isn't bad, but just is lacking sweetness and seems barely an "apple". This may also just be the herbal/almost woody earth notes killing the flavor before it can take hold. A spicy bite still holds even when the carbonation kick dies a little (although is still heavier than many beers after 30 minutes).

 

Initial pour of my bottled on January 23rd 2015 sample is almost a clear orange gold. The Brett and hoppy bitterness dominate the smell but it also smells very peppery and has an earthy malt aroma.

The taste is like someone threw in a bunch of orange peels and shook it up like crazy. The funk isn't nearly as prevalent as it was in the smell. The bitterness hits on the very first note and lasts and lasts, intensified by the strong notes of pepper. I I had a fresher bottle earlier this year and it was way more fruity and not strictly in a bitter direction. All being said, no Orval of any year has disappointed me. I stand by my 5.0 rating. Cheers!
That should read 2013.

 

My bottle is from Jan. 2015. I've had Orval in the past and haven't been a fan. I guess I don't like funk, barnyard farm smells and taste. Maybe I don't like brett since I don't care for sours as a style. Orval does look great in the glass however. It's fun reading the thread because it seem many enjoy this brew for the same reasons I don't enjoy it. I'm not going to drain pour it. It will be drunk.

 

-Looks like wet leather capped in sea foam.
-Smells like dark sugared fruit, mint leaves, and caramel.
-Tastes like toasted malts, perfectly burnt marshmallow, and smoky ham stew.
-Feels like a tingly champagne bath.
-Overall, the monks are welcome to visit anytime.

 

By the time I finished the glass i was tasting the unsweet apple but never got to a point where earthy flavors took over. I've opened a second bottle, I'll drink this once slower. Maybe its also the age difference. Mine are both 9 months 5 days old.

 

I'm actually with you. I do appreciate the beer more for doing this tasting and balancing my thoughts against others, but it just doesn't do it for me, even after the analysis. I'll continue to read as my drink is done. I can maybe steal a sip from my GF if I see something new and interesting to look for.

 

Mine was bottled 9-25-2014. Poured into a snifter

Poured super fizzy and bubbly, but as it sat, the head subsided into a nice frothy layer on top.

Smells Brett-funky, woody, grainy, very light citrus zest.

Tastes like thin malt sugars and herbal, muted cola vibe. Grass and hay notes, hints of spices and cider

Feel is king here. Soft and creamy with some fizz.

Hard to believe I've never had Orval. Pretty average beer overall. I hoped it would've been a bit more flavorful, lots of subtle flavors, but nothing really sticks out and grabs the palate.

Totally happy that this tasting happened on BeerAdvocate! I look forward to more of these for sure.

Cheers everybody!