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When is Orval at its best?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by AugustusRex, Jun 19, 2015.

?

How long do you like Orval to cellar for?

  1. Fresh

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  2. 3 Months

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. 6 Months

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%

  4. 1 Year

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%

  5. 2 Years

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%

  6. 3 Years

    3 vote(s)
    37.5%

  7. 4 Years

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%

  8. 5 Years

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%

  9. >5 Years

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
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  1. AugustusRex

    AugustusRex Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2013 Canada (ON)

    I have a bunch of Orval's bottled Jan 17 2015, and a dozen bottled June 27 2013. I had one bottle of each age, and They are very different, but equally great.

    When do you like your Orval?
     
    #1 AugustusRex, Jun 19, 2015
  2. AugustusRex

    AugustusRex Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2013 Canada (ON)

    Having another side by side just to be sure: I would say that the phenolic bitterness from the brett at two years is less pleasant than the noble hop bitterness at 6 months. I haven't had Orval past two years, so my vote goes for 6 months.
     
    #2 AugustusRex, Jun 19, 2015
  3. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Six months, eh? I'm a committed one year Orval man.
    I've got a 9 month old bottle in the house so I'll meet you half way, drink it tonight and report back then as it happens.
     
    #3 Zimbo, Jun 19, 2015
    AugustusRex likes this.
  4. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    When I was in Belgium recently I was able to have it "fresh" for the first time ever, and that was probably my favorite. Although Orval is considered "jong" (young) on menus at cafes if it's less than 6 months old. I think the freshest I had at any point was about 2 months old, I assume you pretty much have to go to the abbey to get it any fresher than that.

    Once it gets past about 6 months though, I prefer to go ahead and wait until about the 1.5 or 2 year mark. Here in the States, I can't really find a bottle that's much less than a year old anyway. Not normally at least.

    Also had a 10 year-old one at the Kulminator. Was a cool thing to say I did, but it didn't even taste like the same beer. Not completely unpleasant, but there's certainly no reason to keep one that long based on that experience.
     
    #4 CavemanRamblin, Jun 19, 2015
    AugustusRex likes this.
  5. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,539) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had a 4 year-old Orval, and it completed changed. It was very boozy and had almost no Brett characteristics. Still very good, but it seems to have lost its funkiness. I sorta missed it.

    However, the U.S. Orval, Rayon Vert, was AMAZING with 3 years on it.
     
    #5 StoutSnob40, Jun 19, 2015
    AugustusRex likes this.
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