Orval Trappist Ale
Poured this into an over sized red wine glass. A fairly gentle pour still produces a huge bubbly white head. The hue is a hazy orange/red amber. The nose contains rich candied syrups. Fruits like cherries and grapes. A nice malt base as well. Before getting through to any significant taste, my mouth is flooded with an all out carbonation assault. Once getting past the carbonation I can taste cherries surrounded by a vinous character. There is also a syrupy sweetness that mixes with an unknown source of bitterness and finally a bit of alcohol on the finish. The mouthfeel is very carbonated, but the body is good for a Belgian Pale Ale. The drinkability is also pretty good, minus the onslaught of carbonation. Overall, this is a tasty Belgian Pale Ale. I would pick this up again, but if the carbonation level is this high in all Orval beers, then I'll probably pass. Just too much to make it enjoyable.