Bottle. (Bottling date 061121) Poured a bit too cold, with an almost clear, orange-golden body with lots of co2. The head is big, dense and beige, diminishing slightly. Leaves nice lacings. The aroma is the well-known fruity, sourish one, with spices, yeast and a touch of banana in the far back. I have a little problem with Orval I think. Sometimes, when I’m in the mood for Orval, I really, really love it. Other times, like tonight, I’m not sure. Off course it’s good, world class indeed, but it still don’t reach me. Not only the aroma, but the whole experience. The flavor has it’s usual qualities, dry, fruity, dusty, yet sweet, with yeast, and spicyness playing a major part. Pale malt as well. Quite full-bodied, dryish and slightly sticky mouthfeel. The finish is long, with all the qualities from the aroma and initial flavor, and a distinct bitterness. What a beautiful beer. Pity it was not an Orval night for me. Seems I should have aimed for the dark side, and I think I will try to stay away if I’m not in the mood. Still, rating: 7-4-8-4-16-3.9

Bottled. (Bottled 040401) Golden/orange, lively beer with a huge, dense off-white head. It’s so well carbonated, it’s hard to tell whether it is hazy or not. Fruity aroma with medicine-notes. Yeast and dried fruits can also be noticed. The medicine comes stronger in the flavor, but not in an unpleasant way. Malts, sugar, banana, spices and hops is also present. A little too lively in the mouth. Long, lightly astringent bitterness, and yet sweetness, along with alcohol in the finish. First time I tasted Orval, 10 years ago, was at a hotel in a small hamlet in the woods and valleys of the northern parts of Luxemburg. Had just finished a rabbit-dish, when me and my lager-drinking father-in-law had this.That was when he understood that beer is not only lagers and pils. It was a warm summer-evening and life was good. Thought it might suit well as rating number 400, as it is a nice beer with nice memories. (060131)

Dark golden to reddish color with creamy head. Aroma was fruity and pleasant. Bitter taste with a lasting flavor that reminded me of hazelnut or someother nutty flavor. Great trappist.

Bottle. Had this a couple of years ago before I joined this site and didn’t think that much of it. So I was a bit prejudiced coming to rate it here. Cloudy orange colour with thin disappearing white head. Aroma is of sour oranges, and caramel and hop. Enticing. Faint rubber tones. Palate again is sour with orange/ tangerine but good and balanced. Finish is citric dry and quite aggresively hoppy with more orange. Anyway this changed my mind about this beer as you can tell from the score I gave it. Funny how your palate alters as you try more and different beers 4.3/5. Re-rate again at 4.5. This just gets better every time.4.6 OK, so this is just such a surprise every time I have it. A September 08 bottle in Feb 09. Best aroma and flavour. Re-rate 18 Jan 2013 Bottle from June 2012. Wow, just the flavour of orange and tangerine, the mouthfeel, the bitterness. I can’t think of a better beer right now. 4.9. Re rate Sept 2015 i have bought more of this than any other beer in the past 2 years and I never ever get bored of it. The bottle from Nov 2014 I had last night was perfect. Hoppy bitter interesting and completely satisfying experience so now a 5/5 Bottle from 05/09/2013, it's amazing, so fresh so delicious. Hoppy pale ale with light brett. Lovely.