Join us on Saturday March 25th, in celebrating this iconic Trappist Ale!
- Limited B//E Tie-dyed Orval Stealie Graphic Tees * Stickers
- Live Music by Ryder Thieves
- Food specials that will compliment the uniqueness of Orval
- For Every bottle purchased, Merchant Du Vin (American Importer of Trappist Ales) will donate .50¢ to the National Forest Foundation.
About Orval Day
THE ORVAL LEGEND BEGAN ALMOST 1,000 YEARS AGO, WHEN A PRINCESS ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED HER RING INTO A SPRING AND A TROUT RETURNED IT. IT CONTINUES NOW, WITH A DAY TO REFLECT ON AND ENJOY THIS AMAZING TRAPPIST ALE. ON ORVAL DAY, DEVOTEES OF ORVAL TRAPPIST ALE – AND SOME FOLKS WHO MAYBE HAVE NOT TRIED IT YET – CONVENE TO CELEBRATE ONE OF THE WORLD’S UNIQUE AND HIGHLY-RESPECTED BEERS.ORVAL TRAPPIST ALE WAS THE FIRST BRETT BEER TO LAND ON US SHORES, AND HAS BECOME THE FAVORITE BEER FOR MANY STAR AMERICAN BREWERS. ( “BRETT” – BRETTANOMYCES – IS A YEAST VARIETY THAT ADDS APPETIZING, SHARP ACIDITY AND DRYNESS.) ORVAL IS BREWED TO EXQUISITE PERFECTION WITHIN THE WALLS OF NOTRE DAME D’ORVAL MONASTERY IN BELGIUM. IT’S DELICIOUS WHEN IT LEAVES THE BREWERY, BUT ALSO EVOLVES IN THE BOTTLE FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE
Orval and Break Even Beermakers
FROM OUR CO-OWNER AND BEERMAKER, AARON WITTMAN:
"I ENCOUNTERED ORVAL PRETTY EARLY WHEN I GOT SERIOUS ABOUT BEERDRINKING (AS OPPOSED TO JUST HOMEBREWING). IT IS A UBIQUITOUS BEER AT BELGIAN BARS BOTH IN CALIFORNIA AND THE NORTHEAST US, AND IT BECAME A GO-TO FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS CHARACTERFUL, AND OFTENTIMES EXCELLENT. ORVAL IS A GREAT "TRAINING BEER" FOR RECOGNIZING SMOOTH HOPPY BITTERNNESS, AND THEN THE VARIOUS STAGES OF BRETTANOMYCES BRUXELLENSIS SECONDARY FERMENTATION, RANGING FROM RED APPLE SKIN TO LEATHERY / BARNYARDY. IT IS A FUN AND EASY BEER TO CELLAR AND IT CHANGES QUICKLY. IT IS A GREAT CONVERSATION BEER TOO — A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW IT AND LOVE IT; OR, IF THEY DON'T, THERE IS A DEEP HISTORY WITH GREAT LORE, INTERESTING PRODUCTION PRACTICES, AND DRAMATIC SENSORY SWINGS IN AGED BOTTLES. JUST A RAD BEER ALL AROUND, REALLY.
From our Co-Owner Kevin Carter:
"ORVAL IS A VERY SPECIAL BREWERY. IN ADDITION TO MAKING ONE OF THE TASTIEST AND MOST DYNAMIC BEERS EVER, THE BREWERY MANAGES TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN AGE-OLD TRADITION AND CONTEMPORARY CONSUMER TASTE AND INTERESTS.ORVALIS A HISTORIC TRAPPIST BREWERY ROOTED IN MONASTIC TRADITION, BUT IS RUN BY A FEMALE BREWMASTER (THEONLY TRAPPIST BREWERY WITH A FEMALE BREWMASTER). THE BRAND AND BEER HAS A CULT FOLLOWING RIGHTFULLY REVERED BY THE MOST DISCERNING BEER DRINKERS.ORVALIS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BEERS EVER. IT OPENED MY EYES TO HOW LIVELY AND COMPLEX BOTTLE CONDITIONED BRETT BEERS CAN BE, AND HELPED SOLIDIFY FOR ME HOW SYMPHONIC A GLASS OF BEER CAN BE FROM FIRST SIP TO LAST".