Orval Trappiste Beer 6.2%

Found this wee monastray belgian beer from Orval and thought I would give it a go. This is a Trappiste beer. You have to love Wikipedia! I had never realised the reasoning behind trappiste beers before but it is a very rigourous organisation with only 8 Trappiste Abbeys producing beers under the following rules:

1. The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey, by or under control of Trappist monks.
2. The brewery, the choices of brewing, and the commercial orientations must obviously depend on the monastic community.
3. The economic purpose of the brewery must be directed toward assistance and not toward financial profit.

We have got to love monks for the contribution they have made to the drinks industry - bar maybe buckfast!

What I would say about this beer is that it doesn't taste too strong - has a slight fairy liquid note on the nose (something I get in beer quite a lot - and no I have cleaned the glass properly!) there is a red fruity note in the middle of the taste and hints of spice and a little bit sour but very pleasant.

Anyway - not that I know but - I would say this is not a typical Trappiste and some night I must try several at once. Worth a try but would say it would be the odd bottle here or there rather than a regular bottle to reach for!