Belgian Pale Ale w/ Brettanomyces
6.2ABV | 30-40IBU

Poured into a tulip glass, Orval comes out enormously effervescent, initially almost entirely head. It settles slowly, revealing a deep golden liquid under a blanket of eggshell foam.
Aroma is tart-fruity, sour rasberry.
Flavor is markedly less sweet than aroma. Initial taste is grassy and spicy, with a definite ‘barnyard funk’. Bitter fruit rounds out the middle - lemon zest & orange rind.
A bit of tart date as the beer warms, offsetting the wild bitterness, yet overall it stays far from sweet.
Finish is super dry, with a big smack of earthy, hay-like hops and a slight medicinal tinge.
Feel is medium-bodied, though the huge carbonation gives Orval a nice fluffiness.

Not my favorite trappist, it took me a long time to warm up to Orval. I first tried it a few years ago, when I was just getting into beer. I think it was too soon. I was prepared for a big sweet Belgian Strong Dark, and instead I got a dry, hoppy, somewhat funky pale ale. Revisiting now, I appreciate it more. I appreciate the history and difficulty in producing such a complex, unique, nuanced brew, but to be totally subjective I still don’t like it all that much.
Let’s just compromise by calling it “very interesting.”

7/10

Tags: 7/10, belgian, Brews in Brief, orval, trappist
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