Orval Brewery
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Website | http://www.orval.be |
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Orval Brewery (
The brewery produces two Trappist beers, Orval and Orval Vert (first stage of the Orval)
History
Evidence of brewing goes back to the earliest days of the monastery. A document written by the abbot in 1628 directly refers to the consumption of beer and wine by the monks. The last of the brewers to be a monk was Brother Pierre, up until the 1793 fire.
In 1931 the present day brewery became in use, employing lay people and intended to provide a source of funds for the monastery reconstruction. The new Abbye was designed by Henry Vaes, who also designed the distinctive Orval beer glass, together with his daughter. The first beer was shipped from the brewery on 7 May 1932, and was sold in barrels rather than the bottles of today. Orval was the first Trappist beer to be sold nationally around Belgium.
As with other Trappist breweries, the beer is sold in order to financially support the monastery and some other good causes. All of the profits from the sale of the beer are distributed to charities and for community development around the region.[1]
Beers
Orval is the main brand. Depending on age, its alcohol by volume varies from 5.9% to 7.2%. Bottles are normally labelled with the average 6.2%, but to meet North American legal requirements they must there be labelled with the maximum 6.9%.[2] It was first made in 1931, and has a complex and unusual flavour and aroma produced by a specific strain of yeast: Brettanomyces bruxellensis. The beer is light in colour, slightly cloudy, and has a large, foamy head. There is a complex aroma of leather, spice, and many other earthy components.
Beer critic
Orval beer is bottled exclusively in a distinctive
Orval Vert, also known as Petit Orval, is a 4.5% abv, available only on tap in the café near the monastery.
Brewery
The brewery is normally closed to the public, but opens its doors for two days each year. There are presently 32 secular workers.
References
- ^ Kelly, Laura. "Best beers made by Trappist monks". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Kearney, Breandán (2 June 2016). "Orval Trappist Ale - Changes in Fortune and Secrets of Success". Belgian Smaak. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Chastity, poverty and a pint". beerhunter.com. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ Villa, K., "Orval Brewery" in Oliver, G. (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Beer (Oxford University Press, 2012), pp. 630–631.