The Hopry Session # 23 Orval Beer Review

[Nebuloid1]

Just had one of these beers, didn't like it at all..., tasted somewhat like soap to me ! Maybe I'll try another bottle in the future though.

[dynelol]

I'll be trying this one next. So far, Chimay Blue is my favorite trappist ale.

[M4rkh0lm]

Very good beer, has a sour taste to it and reminds me of wine a little bit. It's one that you love or hate.

[Hadwin89]

drinking this now...

very nice beer, at the first few sips i didnt like it that much so... it really is a drink you gotta get used to

[dannypo]

I recently found your show and love it. You and Beer Geek Nation are the only beer review shows on YouTube that I like.

Orval is a great beer. I love that bubblegum, clove and pineapple in this beer. If you can get a very fresh example. While in Belgium I had a lot of it. Quite a different beer.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@dannypo Thank you for the compliment. Glad you like what we're doing here. I've had Orval fresh and aged and both are one of my favorites... I've been drinking this more and more as time goes by because no matter what the age it never fails me.

[LikeAGlassAsterisk]

So, I read in Mosher's "Tasting Beer" that this is broadly in the Saison style, and yet it is listed as a Belgian Ale or Belgian Pale Ale in most places. It definitely seems quite different from most BPA and Belgian Ales I have had according to my tastes. How would you describe the style.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@LikeAGlassAsterisk - It's definitely in a category of its own. In fact, I've had a Saison and a Witbier lately that have both reminded me of Orval (in some way or another). So yeah, it's pretty tough to classify, but VERY easy to drink.

[Mephistoforever]

Venez la goûter en Belgique, à Orval, elle est alors indescriptible. C'est un sommet, nul besoin de long discours.......

Welcome in Belgium.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@Mephistoforever - J'aimerais venir en Belgique. Les chances sont moi ne pourront jamais à, cependant. Merci de votre commentaire.

[myriadcorp]

I finally had one of these. At first I was put off by the metallic taste of it. The beer was very different from what I have tasted in the past. However, I kept taking sips and eventually I started to really like the unique flavor. If you can get past the initial metallic taste it's a great brew.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@myriadcorp - hmmm...metallic? I'm sure it's the yeast that you're referring to, since it has such a unique character... It's a beer that once you love you never turn back...

[BlackHoleBrew42]

My Desert Island brew. 

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@BlackHoleBrew42 - It's definitely one of mine, too... In fact, I even like it more now than when I reviewed it way back when. It grows on you.

[Barklord]

thanks. i'm going to pick one up today.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@Barklord - How was it?

[Barklord]

@TheGrandOleHopry1

i like the hint of orange peel. it's a little spendy for my budget but not worse than buying a beer at a baseball game.

[bigmike11676]

All i can say is.....WOW! What a nice beer this is. I wasn't sure what to expect but i enjoyed the hell out of this.

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

@bigmike11676 - Very nice Mike...

[bigmike11676]

I'm going to be trying this in the next week or two. I'll let you know what I think of it.

[bigmike11676]

Do you think it makes a difference if you drink this from a tulip as opposed to a Trappist type of Chalice?

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

I don't think it will make a huge difference either way. The difference in the tulip and trappist glass is (again) the tulip really forces the aromas to a smaller area - making it easier to get in there and really smell all of that goodness.

[Tantrum777]

A great beer complex and light with some funk too.

good review

[beerbirrabier]

Cool review. Orval is on of my favourite beers in the world (at the moment). Just love its dryness and that Brett character.

[Chad9976]

I didn't realize Orval only makes two different beers (according to Beer Advocate). I've had all the Chimay beers but none of the other Trappist brews. I'm actually not a big fan of bottle-conditioned beers.

I'm pretty sure my beer store carries this one so I'll look for it.

Great review. Although you must be uncomfortable sitting on the floor like that ;)

[DenisLD]

Ah, Orval. That's a great beer all around, it's easily one of my top 3 Belgian beers!

Great review, keep those sessions coming!

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

Hey thank you sir! Appreciate the kind words of support. And congratulations to you, too. I see you won a prize recently from Chad? Can't remember what it was, but...

[alross1212]

Got a couple for christmas day

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

Sounds like a good plan.  Orval's brewmaster is doing a collboration with our very own Boulevard Brewery. I'm pretty psyched to see what comes out of it.

[alross1212]

@TheGrandOleHopry1 I wish I could try more US based beers but they are net to impossible to get in Ireland

[Imasofat]

When you pour these beers, it's better that you're not thirsty becuase it takes so long for the head to go down. I'm not a fan of the bubblegumy flavor. But good review!

[TheGrandOleHopry1]

Hahaha! Did you see my review for the Boulevard Saison Brett? That head WOULD NOT LEAVE ME ALONE...LOL!

As for the bubble gum component, I only get it from things like Chimay Blue, Rochefort 10, and also beers like Gulden Draak. I don't mind it - it's a good way to get unsuspecting drinkers to relate to it quicker.