Old Orval

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Aged Orval is becoming more of a thing at bars around Boston. I've noticed a few places offering it on their menus. Given how supply chains work, much of the Orval we get here is already kind of old. Has anyone tried "really" old Orval? How old is "really" old?
 
Really Old Orval is awesome. One of the best beers to age that is readily available in most markets. I feel like the Brett really mellows out after a few years and the beer becomes incredible. Oldest I've had is maybe 2005. Really depends on your personal preference, but for me Orval with a few years + on it is heavenly.
 
I bet I could find 5-year-old dusty Orval bottles on the shelf in Austin.

That stuff sits forever.

If Serious let me know. Would love to trade for some vintage bottles I love the older stuff as I said before. Only fresh in Chicago for the most part.
 
TNGabe should have some good info.
That'll be the day.

I haven't had any really old Orval. I love 5-10 year old bottles that have been stored well, when all the funk is gone and the oxidative brett character starts to really develop. Like most beers, I'm guessing the 10+ year old bottles get pretty hit-or-miss. I doubt the current version is going to age as well as any of the past several have.
 
Nothing really old, but recently had two 2005 bottles. As stated, the brett mellows out allowing the subtle complexities shine through. While not a sipper, one can really take your time with an old bottle and enjoy the simplicity, yet intricacy, of this beer. For these reasons, I picked up a couple cases to sit on, in hopes that they do age well and enjoy a few bottles a year. It's not nearly my favorite beer, but a nice treat nonetheless.
 
That'll be the day.

I haven't had any really old Orval. I love 5-10 year old bottles that have been stored well, when all the funk is gone and the oxidative brett character starts to really develop. Like most beers, I'm guessing the 10+ year old bottles get pretty hit-or-miss. I doubt the current version is going to age as well as any of the past several have.
Wait, what's different about the current version?
 
Wait, what's different about the current version?
AFAIK the most recent major change was a few years ago and brett is now added at packaging rather than in the conditioning tanks so that the conditioing time is reduced. Lots of old timers will say it's been crap since they went to conicals 20 years ago or maybe more now.
 
AFAIK the most recent major change was a few years ago and brett is now added at packaging rather than in the conditioning tanks so that the conditioing time is reduced. Lots of old timers will say it's been crap since they went to conicals 20 years ago or maybe more now.

This is only kind of true. There was indeed a recipe change in 2008-2009 (to coincide with the new brewhouse that was installe in 2007) that some very old schoolers say changed it significantly...i've had less of an issue, but i admit i don't have the longevity of other Orval drinkers. I've had multiple bottles from the 90s through current year over the 12-15 years i've been drinking it regularly...i actually have an Orval tattoo and i'm wearing an Orval shirt right now, heh. Anyway, the Brett is incorporated as a single slurry with the Orval yeast rather than separately. The Abbey finally allowed me to visit after many years of asking, so here's the process:

Wort is whirlpooled & and cooled and then transferred into one of six upright tanks where house yeast is pitched and liquid sugar syrup is added, it ferments for 5 days. It's then moved into horizontal conditioning tanks on top of large sacks of whole leaf Styrian Goldings hops and the blended yeast slurry, where it finishes fermentation and conditions for around 18 days. After conditioning it's centrifuged and then racked into another set of horizontals where it's blended with the yeast slurry again with sugar before heading to bottling. Bottle conditioning is around 5 weeks.
 
This is only kind of true. There was indeed a recipe change in 2008-2009 (to coincide with the new brewhouse that was installe in 2007) that some very old schoolers say changed it significantly...i've had less of an issue, but i admit i don't have the longevity of other Orval drinkers. I've had multiple bottles from the 90s through current year over the 12-15 years i've been drinking it regularly...i actually have an Orval tattoo and i'm wearing an Orval shirt right now, heh. Anyway, the Brett is incorporated as a single slurry with the Orval yeast rather than separately. The Abbey finally allowed me to visit after many years of asking, so here's the process:

Wort is whirlpooled & and cooled and then transferred into one of six upright tanks where house yeast is pitched and liquid sugar syrup is added, it ferments for 5 days. It's then moved into horizontal conditioning tanks on top of large sacks of whole leaf Styrian Goldings hops and the blended yeast slurry, where it finishes fermentation and conditions for around 18 days. After conditioning it's centrifuged and then racked into another set of horizontals where it's blended with the yeast slurry again with sugar before heading to bottling. Bottle conditioning is around 5 weeks.


deserves more than a 'like'
 
It occurs to me i didn't answer our friend from the spooky elevator's question though, so here goes DavidSPumpkins

Older Orval (90's to early oughts) has an exceptionally balanced character. The Brett is farmhousey and super rich, rather than the almost-sour way modern day folks are making mixed culture saisons...well blended aromas and flavors (barnyard, orchard fruit, etc) but dictated by carbonation, e.g. you need the liveliness to bring it all home. I've had some flatter bottles that just didn't pan out.

Mid-aughts to Recipe Change tend to be a bit more funky for some reason. I don't know why....the last 05 i opened was a super Brett bomb, and had a tea-like quality to it i wasn't expecting...i think i have one or two others from this era lying around, i'll dig them out and open them and report back.

07 and onward tends to age a bit drier..maybe crisp is the word i'm looking for....or like, fresh apricot vs. dried apricot kinda thing. The Brett is a touch more subdued and the beer is just overall more attenuated, which i attribute to the centrifuging/conditioning more than the recipe change. Anyway, for this era i don't like to let them go past 3-4 years (though i absolutely have bunch laying down for the **** of it.) At Binny's i started stashing cases in earnest in...i think 2011 or 2012, i don't really remember, ask the FIB war room or dig up my old BeerAdvocate posts about cellaring it, and i would release every 12-15 months or so.

Merchant du Vin is now cellaring cases themselves and releasing to the market targeting high-end accounts too, which is pretty cool in my opinion, so snap them up when you see them. Nice to see people appreciating it.

deserves more than a 'like'

Heh, thanks. If you ever find yourself around me in person ask to see the pics, i keep them on my phone.
 
In 2014, I had a 2005 from a really cool beer bar in Madison WI (can’t remember the name). It was funky and pleasantly oxidized despite the Brett. The stone fruit was long gone, replaced by fruit compost (in a good way). Having it side by side with a fresh hoppy peachy bottle was transformational when thinking about the possibilities of aging beer.
 
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