Orval Clone Recipe
Orval is a Trappist beer like any of the others. Trappist beers are produced to fund and subsidize the monasteries where they are produced.
The Orval monastery produces just one beer, Orval, although a petit Orval at 3-4% ABV is made a few times a year for consumption by the monks.
Orval shares a lot of similarities with Saisons as a style that is common in the area surrounding the monastery. High bicarbonate water and wild yeasts produce a bright, effervescent beer that prickles the tongue.
The biggest challenge of recreating Orval for the home brewer is the yeast selection and getting the right level of Brett character in the beer.
Recipe Details
| Batch Size | Boil Time | IBU | SRM | Est. OG | Est. FG | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 L | 60 min | 25.0 IBUs | 8.5 EBC | 1.053 | 1.006 | 6.2 % |
Fermentables
| Name | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel | 1.817 kg | 43.36 |
| Pilsner (2 Row) Bel | 1.09 kg | 26.02 |
| Cara-Pils/Dextrine | 363.4 g | 8.67 |
| Vienna Malt | 363.4 g | 8.67 |
| Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L | 36.3 g | 0.87 |
| Sugar, Table (Sucrose) | 520 g | 12.41 |
Hops
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Form | Alpha % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallertauer Hersbrucker | 48 g | 60 min | Boil | Leaf | 4 |
| Styrian Goldings | 14 g | 15 min | Boil | Leaf | 5.4 |
| Styrian Goldings | 10 g | 14 days | Dry Hop | Leaf | 5.4 |
Yeast
| Name | Lab | Attenuation | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgian Ardennes (3522) | Wyeast Labs | 74% | 18.33°C - 29.44°C |
| Brettanomyces Bruxellensis (WLP650) | White Labs | 70% | 18.33°C - 22.22°C |
Mash
| Step | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mash In | 64.44°C | 75 min |
| Mash Out | 75.56°C | 10 min |
Download
| Download this recipe's BeerXML file |
Orval Trappist Ale
A legend claims princess Mathilde established the monastery at the site when she lost her wedding ring in a lake in the valley. A trout was said to have leapt from the water with her gold ring in its mouth. She proclaimed it the Val d’Or or Valley of Gold.
If you are interested in Orval and other Trappist beers then I highly recommend the book “Brew Like A Monk” by Stan Hieronymous.
Recipe Notes
- There is quite a lot of information about the brewing process on the Orval website, although this does not list ingredients.
- A pretty comprehensive recipe is listed on Milk The Funks Wiki which provided the basis for this adaptation here.
- The Big Book Of Clone Beer Recipes from Brew Your Own has a recipe that looks fairly good.
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