A Year of Beer 2009 #21 - Orval Day at North Bar in Leeds

[popebenadict16]

id like to try that.

[Argonath18]

Thanks for the beer and cheese vid!! It was a very well done review. You've put me in the mood for Orval and cheese now...

[thomast0729]

Looks like a great way to spend the day, with beer and cheese. I can get Orval here in California. I'll

have to try it. Google street viewed Leeds, looks like a nice place.

[Depnick]

I'm definately going to visit that bar next time i'm in Leeds.

Very nice video, orval is a truly great beer!

[ZakAvery]

You know, it's almost worth making a journey to drink there (depending on where you live, I guess)

[elharlock]

Damn, we don't get Orval in my area anymore. I miss the hell out of it. One of my top 5 favourite beers of all time.

Great vid as usual.

[ZakAvery]

Thanks Lee - sorry to hear you can't get the beer any more. Have you tried Goose Island Matilda as a substitute?

[elharlock]

Sadly, I live in a nearly beerless wasteland (rural Nova Scotia) where it's rare that a good selection of good beer is available at any given time. We used to have several Belgian beers on the shelves, but right now my choices are De Koninck Amber and Affligem Blonde. I'd have to go to the states to find Goose Island Matilda, no doubt.

[CallumT15]

Fantastic video must give this one a go! Looks like a really interesting place and they obviously know what they are doing with beer!

[ZakAvery]

Yeah, North is such a great bar, and the staff really know their stuff

[agubser07]

Weird. I would think that the one year old would have much more Brett aroma and flavor (Brett is a very slow working yeast and I believe with Orval it is only added at bottling). The lack of Brett activity might be due to storage temp. If it's too cold, the Brett will go to sleep. I've only had Orval a couple of times, but never have I done a side by side with a fresh and older one. I must now accomplish this.

[ZakAvery]

Yeah, it's really peculiar - when Matt was talkig about the brett character subsiding, I initially thought he meant to say increasing. But the beer has definitely mellowed. You might be right about the brett going to sleep - I'd guess storage at 10C is right on the threshold though.

[DenisLD]

Great video! Only reinforces our love of Orval, I'd say!

[ZakAvery]

Oh yeah, it's a classic. It's a bit like a slightly stinky cheese, or well-hung meat - it's a little bit offputting at first, but once you get the taste for it, nothing else compares