ORVAL - a Taste of Heaven
Written: Nov 06 '02 (Updated Aug 04 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Beautifully crafted and delicious
Cons: Can't buy it locally
The Bottom Line: Never mind cost, feel the complexity
|
|
|
| proxam's Full Review: Orval Trappist Ale 11oz Nr 11oz |
You know, many people have asked me what my favourite beer is. My answer to both of them was - who knows, it depends on many different things. But, one beer that is knock, knock, knocking on the celestial door is ORVAL Trappist Ale.
The Abbey of Orval is located near Florenville, in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. The abbey's name derives from Valllée d'Or or valley of gold, which is an appropriate name for this lovely area in southern Belgium.
============================================================
A Scotsman, Englishman and an Irishman walk into a bar closely followed by a priest, a rabbi and a nun who in turn are followed by a giraffe and a gorilla. The bartender looks up and says, "What is this? Some kind of joke?"
============================================================
THE BEER
Orval Trappist Ale is one of only five Belgian beers that can legally use the title Trappist. Unlike the other Belgian Trappist breweries, Orval only produces one ale - no doubles or triples.
Pale malt, and a small proportion of caramel malt, along with the hop varieties of Bavarian Hallertau and Yugoslavian Styrian Goldings, are the main ingredients for the beer.
Of all the Trappist Ales, this has to be the one with the most complex and unusual flavour and aroma. This is due to the unique strains of yeast used.
Most beers are brewed with one type of yeast, Orval is brewed using seven. The first is used in primary fermentation, a blend of five more are used during secondary fermentation, and the final yeast is added during bottling.
It's bottle conditioned, meaning that the final strand of yeast added eats sugars present in the beer to naturally carbonate it in the bottle. The sugar that is added to the bottle gives Orval its magnificent head. The beer is stored for two months at the brewery before being distributed.
Abridged from:
http://www.orval.be/
THE POUR
Traditionally serve in a beautiful Orval balloon glass, or goblet - this captures and magnifies the aromas and the lace effect.
It's very foamy. Wait, I'll say that again. It's VERY foamy. Imagine the foamiest beer you've ever poured - nope, it's foamier than that. This beer pours to a rich, golden amber colour turning darker and cloudier in the glass. It has a thick and creamy, pale tan head, and an extremely lively carbonation. The head is long-lasting and not surprisingly, there’s an excellent 'Belgian lace' effect.
The nose on this beer is quite amazing. Apples and vine fruit, fruity hops and sweet malt, mint and alcohol, flowers and spice, and zesty citrus. A veritable cornucopia of aromatic delights. It's earthy, acidic, yeasty and musty - sounds disgusting I know, but it smells delightful.
THE TASTE
It tastes a bit hoppier than the majority of Trappist beers
and there is a definite sweetness, sugary even, with quite a strong taste of apples. Thick and caramelly, it has a frothy mouthfeel before becoming much more crisp, citric, and slightly sour - with an evident alcohol taste and an overall, a dominating bitterness.
The taste is rich, smooth and complex - fruity malt and raisins with floral and bitter herb flavours lingering to a finish that has a bitter, sourish bite. Each sip is like a footstep on the stairway to heaven* - taste heaven.
* I like that line. Who knows, I may write a song and use that as the title. NAW, maybe not. It's just not catchy enough.
THE VERDICT
It's noticeably yeasty - like a Lambic, but of all the Trappist beers, this one is the most hoppy by a long mile.
Orval is distinctly different. Undergoing a triple fermentation using many separate yeast strains, and utilizing quality hops and barley, it's smooth, rich and very complex. This is most definitely a sipping beer. It’s 6.9% ABV and one to be savoured.
Would I drink it again? - Weren't you reading?
Orval is not easy to come by where I live, but fear not, I have just returned from a trip down south to Ingerland and during the course of my journey I travelled over to Belgium to stock up on intoxicants and such. Rest assured, I purchased a generous quantity of this beer, and as many different types of Belgian nectar that my car can carry, customs will allow and my flexible friend can bear before snapping embarrassingly!
Belgian beer reviews to follow.
Thanks for reading,
Sláinte
©proxam2002
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
proxam
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: De Leving's Toun
Reviews written: 505
Trusted by: 276 members
About Me:
Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & derive
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.