Episode 099 – Orval Trappist Ale

Founded by Italian monks in the year 1070, the Orval monastary in Belgium has probably produced beer their entire history. For the past several hundred years, the Orval monastary made their money making and selling cheese and bread. The modern brewery, started in 1931 and employing all lay-people, still takes all procedes to pay their employees, upkeep of the monastary itself, or charitable causes. To be called a Trappist beer, a monastary cannot make a profit on the sale of their beer, and therefore charitable organizations benefit. Orval, using dry hopping and infusion brewing, is a lot of fun to drink.