Sloefmans (15519) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
Very thick head, collapsing but stable; typical orangey colour. Nose is bitter as from vegetables, spices, flowers. Taste starts immediately very bitter, but as a combination of hop-, vegetable- and flowery bitter. There IS a balance by malt, with hints at sweetness, without ever becoming so. Aroma''s retronasal of mandarine-zest, hop shoots, and olives without the oil. Carbonation is perfect; milder form of ''Champenoise'' pearl)forming, as with naturally mild-carbonated springwater. Neither chewy, neither watery.No new aftertaste, bitterness lingers on. Drinkability is second bar none: the ultimate Belgian session beer. there''s richness, depth and easy drinking for whatever mood one''s in. Unparallelled.
TimE (11144) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
What the hell?? Before I was a beeer geek, this was a great beer I thought, now that I am a beer geek, this beer is revolting. Either A)Orval is not a good beer or B) all of the bottles of Orval in town are somewhat if not compeletely stunked. I had three in the past month. All had a citrusy orange (vitamin C like) nose with a tart sour palate followed by a disgusting off tasting finish. Even if this is a good beer, I would not give high marks just based on the fact I possibly had three stunked beer in a row, all from different stores. Thanks but no thanks. I may try again in Belgium and rerate, but for now, stick by this rating (rated 7). Update: This dark amber golden color brew exudes a nose of orange peel and something too mysterious for my senses. The body is champagne like light with orange zest zipping across your tongue with lots of carbonation. This baby is ALIVE! Some noticeable yeast in the mouth as well and a dry citric finish.
caesar (10841) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
Spicy aroma, some bubblegum, caramel, malty, hoppy. Light brownish color. Not really ’strong’ ale. Sweet taste, dry. Very extraordinary beer. Balance reaching perfection.
notalush (7362) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
{I’ve been revisiting this beer a lot lately, and I find it to be deliciously dry and crisp, and probably one of my favorite belgian ales, if not beers in general] This beer has an excellent head that looks almost like whipped cream (which has already been pointed out), and an inviting, sweet, fruity aroma. This aroma, however, is misleading, because this taste is very dry, with a bitter, citrus flavor that I, at first, found unenjoyable. But, when I finally let the flavors settle into my palate, set aside my expectations, and tasted this beer for what it was, it was actually quite good. I will probably buy it again, but at 4.99 for an 11.2 oz. bottle, it probably won’t be very often.
crit200 (5349) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
pale orangy amber ,expansive creamy tan head. Great natural carbonation.Sharp heady nose.Tangy and effervescant. Long finish
omhper (45152) reviewed Orval Vert / Petit Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
Bottled (2001 version). Reddish amber, lively and crystal clear with no sediment whatsoever in the bottle. Big perfumy orange aroma. Dry, but thin with near watery mouthfeel. Notes of pine needles leading to a bitter, hoppy finish. Not bad for such a light beer, but well short of it's stronger more common brother.
diabel (1874) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Bottled at May 24th, 2005 - tasted at August 8th, 2006
Clear, amber body. Off-white creamy head that’s so typical for Orval. It’s like a white cream cake from the top. Very interesting aroma of flowers, hops, liquor, caramel, ... Lightly bitter initial flavour which becomes more bitter to the end with a lot of subtleness in it: nice complexity and balance. Very enjoyable and still rather simple. People always laugh at me, when I say that according to me this (along with a good gueuze) is the perfect substitute for a pilsener, but I really mean that, because of it great taste and it’s rather low alcohol contents.
Oakes (33770) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
Bright orange colour. Light beige head is very thick, and often makes fun mountainous shapes. The room fills with perfume, medicine, noble hops, tangerines, horseblanket. Fun stuff. Bitter body brings a strong citric component, and these are complemented by warming pale malts, an underpinning of alcohol and a sour, bretty finish. Vibrant, funky, alive. With amples doses of malt, hops, yeast, brett, alcohol, a nature that is challenging yet comforting, a potency that can satisfy with one bottle or with four, Orval is truly a pleasure for all of your senses. In short, Orval is beer.
pilsnerrogge (4802) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Bottle
Pours murky, pale brown with a pillow-y head. Acidic aroma. Lively mouth feel. Flavour is very dry with loads of pine, wood and hops. Long, bitter finish. A unique beer.
Dogbrick (24322) reviewed Orval from Brasserie d’Orval 23 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
Very pretty color, and thanks to the head it took me over a minute to pour. Not the best beer I have ever had but it was definitely unique and I enjoyed it. Belgian Ales are still new to me but I always appreciate them. Cloudy amber color. Complex aroma with candy and grapes in the nose. Malty, vinous, spicy flavor that stayed interesting throughout. At $4.50 a bottle I probably won't be trying this one often but it should be on everyone's list. I had a pleasant buzz at the end too.