Orval, do you like it?

No, but the problem I have faced with Orval is that it deteriorates quickly. Fresh Orval is delicious. Old Orval is (at least these days) nasty, in my experience. I've HAD fresh Orval, and when I see beer lovers exclaiming wildly over Orval that is most definitely over the hill, it makes me want to puke.

Well, you're a good host, anyway!

You go and do likewise.

I would motify this a bit. I've had older Orval in Belgium, that was well- stored, and most importantly, kept at cellar temperatures (I've been inside a couple of US warehouses in the summer, and they get pretty hot), and it tasted quite good. It's the hot temps that kill the beer, often before it has even arrived in the store.

Bill

Okay, I'll buy that. I've had Orval here in the U.S. that tasted like sucking on a log. Nasty.

Me too. It's pretty shocking to be in a warehouse full of expensive beer that's ninety degrees (guess which warehouse I'm talking about)! Orval is only the most obvious victim, I'm sure there are plenty of others that suffer in less blatant ways.

Bill

=====================

I concur

I think that Orval is a peer pressure beer, or fear of looking stupid beer, for many. Oh my god, so many people rave about this beer, it's supposed to be so wonderful, I must be an idiot to think that this tastes like donkey. I'll rave about it to be safe.

Like you, I've had it fresh, and it's an outstanding beer in that condition. I've also had it when it's so far from fresh that it's almost painful to drink. And it seems that pretty much all the time in North America it's the latter. I don't bother with the beer in the States anymore.

-Steve

I suspect that Orval does so much worse for a couple reasons. One, it's a lighter beer, making it more difficult to hide flaws. Secondly, it's got a whole lot more in there than just standard beer yeast, and I think that when they are allowed to grow too quickly - as too-hot storage would do - they knock the beer way out of balance. And because Orval's a pretty delicate beer and not a funk-fest like a good lambic (which, dpending on the variety, is often blended anyway), that sort of lack of balance is going to jump out and slap you in the face.

-Steve

IIRC, I bought some from the Belgian Shop direct from...Belgium. It was pretty darned tasty but, imho, nothing to stand on a barn and crow about.

Best regards, Bill