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AugustusRex wrote:This batch of Orval was bottled Jan 2015.
I returned 5 bottles of Orval dated June 27 2013 to the Brock/HWY2 LCBO in Pickering. They were cellared by me in the dark at 55f. I just like the 6 month Orva more.
We need Gary to do an "Old Orval / Newer Orval Blend" thread. That would be the next level of Orval… what is the most perfect ratio of the new to old, and how much mineral water and Heineken do you blend in?
AugustusRex wrote:This batch of Orval was bottled Jan 2015.
I returned 5 bottles of Orval dated June 27 2013 to the Brock/HWY2 LCBO in Pickering. They were cellared by me in the dark at 55f. I just like the 6 month Orva more.
you're crazy, man. they're at their peak after 2 years of cellaring.
also, i wish that the 'BO didn't have that kind of return policy and wish that people weren't taking advantage of it.
AugustusRex wrote:This batch of Orval was bottled Jan 2015.
I returned 5 bottles of Orval dated June 27 2013 to the Brock/HWY2 LCBO in Pickering. They were cellared by me in the dark at 55f. I just like the 6 month Orva more.
you're crazy, man. they're at their peak after 2 years of cellaring.
also, i wish that the 'BO didn't have that kind of return policy and wish that people weren't taking advantage of it.
I still have lots of aged Orval, I just don't have the cellar space for so much Orval. They were properly cared for, it's not like they were warehouse aged.
AugustusRex wrote:This batch of Orval was bottled Jan 2015.
I returned 5 bottles of Orval dated June 27 2013 to the Brock/HWY2 LCBO in Pickering. They were cellared by me in the dark at 55f. I just like the 6 month Orva more.
We need Gary to do an "Old Orval / Newer Orval Blend" thread. That would be the next level of Orval… what is the most perfect ratio of the new to old, and how much mineral water and Heineken do you blend in?
I know you're kidding, but I bet half 6 month and half 2 year would be much different than 1 year Orval. It would have more complex Brett influence but fresher hop too.
AugustusRex wrote:I know you're kidding, but I bet half 6 month and half 2 year would be much different than 1 year Orval. It would have more complex Brett influence but fresher hop too.
I would blend two vintages for exactly those reasons ie. complexity. The problem is with changing a beer that's usually perfect... How much time do I really have?
atomeyes wrote:...also, i wish that the 'BO didn't have that kind of return policy and wish that people weren't taking advantage of it.
AFAIK they don't anymore - they now only seem to return stuff that bleeps into their system as current stock items, in which case they just assume it's sellable / fresh. But with the most recent policy we are still supposed to return things in 30 days or so. The no-receipt AKA 'lost receipt' is a workaround beyond that often impractical time limit.
And to be fair in this case Orval is clearly marked with bottling date and with a five-year expiry date after that, unlike a mystery IPA that has no clear markings (and if too old can hurt your humulone receptors.) At least a person could see that it's not new stock.
Last edited by Belgian on Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
