[narvin]

Just because it's funky doesn't mean it's Belgian.  I've had bottles of Orval that have been terribly off.  It shouldn't smell like a urinal cake.   

Absolutely.  Any beer can be off sometimes, especially when it comes from overseas and wasn't stored properly.

I'd keep trying to see if the one you got was representative. 

[bluesman]

Orval is one of the most intriguing beers I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. It has a "barnyard funk" that is truly very unique. I have had it several times and each time it was better than the last indicating an aquired taste on my part. I would love to sample it fresh in Belgium and someday.

[richardt]

When we were in Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon, we pulled into a Cantina advertising 3 for 1 margaritas. 
I placed the order for one margarita (thinking my wife and I could put away the 3 between us).  They brought 6. 

Certainly, you're not complaining, are you ?

Not at all!

[tschmidlin]

Who knows?  You could have pulled a "Nixon."

http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/22179.html

highly entertaining article, thanks

[1vertical]

FWIW, If you do like this brett, I gotta say that the strain is an agressive monster
and it only takes the dregs from a couple bottles and not a lot of time to impart this
character to your homebrew.  If you do innoculate any of your beer with this, be
extra diligent on the disenfecting regimen when your MT beer container is needing to
be cleaned following inhabitation by this strain else your brewery could get overrun.

As for me, I like this brett. 

[redbeerman]

I have found that I prefer it younger rather than older.  I like brett character, but not so much as being clobbered by it.  Blending is a good thing.

[corkybstewart]

FWIW, If you do like this brett, I gotta say that the strain is an agressive monster
and it only takes the dregs from a couple bottles and not a lot of time to impart this
character to your homebrew.  If you do innoculate any of your beer with this, be
extra diligent on the disenfecting regimen when your MT beer container is needing to
be cleaned following inhabitation by this strain else your brewery could get overrun.

As for me, I like this brett. 

Brett is just a yeast and normal cleaning and sanitation is all that's needed for brewing beer.  Where it takes ocver is in wineries that used wooden barrels-it will  inhabit pores in th wood and be impossible to remove.  But for us homebrewers no extra steps are needed.

[1vertical]

FWIW, If you do like this brett, I gotta say that the strain is an agressive monster
and it only takes the dregs from a couple bottles and not a lot of time to impart this
character to your homebrew.  If you do innoculate any of your beer with this, be
extra diligent on the disenfecting regimen when your MT beer container is needing to
be cleaned following inhabitation by this strain else your brewery could get overrun.

As for me, I like this brett. 

Brett is just a yeast and normal cleaning and sanitation is all that's needed for brewing beer.  Where it takes ocver is in wineries that used wooden barrels-it will  inhabit pores in th wood and be impossible to remove.  But for us homebrewers no extra steps are needed.

Ok Just be sure to clean all your lines and faucets and the like because it will be noticeable if you do not do due diligence

[majorvices]

I had a Mikkeller "Bretanomyces series" last night. It reminded me strongly of orval. Absolutely loved it. The brett character reminded me of orval but was stronger. The beer was 8% (which is a good bit stronger) but very drinkable. Seek it out if you can.

[uthristy]

All this talk of Orval made me thirsty

Bottled 7-22-10

[bluesman]

All this talk of Orval made me thirsty

Are you growing some yeast from the dregs...just thought I'd ask since you have the aluminum foil capping the bottle.

[punatic]

Look at my avatar.  That's a fresh Orval (which means 6 months old) at the cafe right next to the monastery.  It's an absolutely spectacular beer. 

Ah hah!  That explains the orgasmic look on your face.  I though there might have been something else going on out of view... 

[samgamgee]

When my Siebel class visited the Monastery, we got several cases for the drive back to Munich. Good times on that bus... Orval is one of the true world classics to me, and I've never had a beer in its "style" that matched it. Pretty much got the whole recipe and process from Jean Marie Roc (sp?) when I was at the brewery so I'm going to attempt a clone sometime in the future. They definitely have some quirky processes that go into it. Definitely one of the most fascinating beers in the world.

[1vertical]

When my Siebel class visited the Monastery, we got several cases for the drive back to Munich. Good times on that bus... Orval is one of the true world classics to me, and I've never had a beer in its "style" that matched it. Pretty much got the whole recipe and process from Jean Marie Roc (sp?) when I was at the brewery so I'm going to attempt a clone sometime in the future. They definitely have some quirky processes that go into it. Definitely one of the most fascinating beers in the world.

Maybe you could or would steer us down that quirky road to Oval nirvana....   I would enjoy trying to approximate the beer.

[punatic]

When my Siebel class visited the Monastery, we got several cases for the drive back to Munich. Good times on that bus... Orval is one of the true world classics to me, and I've never had a beer in its "style" that matched it. Pretty much got the whole recipe and process from Jean Marie Roc (sp?) when I was at the brewery so I'm going to attempt a clone sometime in the future. They definitely have some quirky processes that go into it. Definitely one of the most fascinating beers in the world.

We have a hobbit posting on the forum! 

Welcome Samwise!