Orval is the first Trappist beer I’ve reviewed and it’s crazy. Initially, all I smelled was the faint scent of wild yeast. The feel is super light, dry and effervescent. The flavor is a little bit tart and a little bit bitter. The bubbles remind me of a bitter sparkling wine.
Damnation! Russian River’s Belgian style golden ale comes with an authentic cork and cage. There is a hint of apple in the nose and a little caramel. Actually reminds me of Vitus without the bananas. It’s surprisingly light tasting for a near 8% alcohol by volume beer, but the alcohol is in there. The flavors weren’t as bold as I was expecting. The taste is dry and pleasant with a spicy finish, but Sarah says it’s terrible.