Introduction to Orval

[Cody]

So after hearing about it for so long, and fruitless searching, I was browsing the shelves of my local craft beer store when I came across my very first bottle of Orval. I'm pumped to try it. But I think I'm going to have to wait until I've got a beer to use these dregs in.

Any suggestions? Or will they be great with anything?

[Quin]

You can buy a Brettanomyces bruxellensis culture directly from the yeast companies without having to grow it up from a bottle. Just drink it and enjoy.

[Hoser]

Any Belgian beer will work for the Orval dregs. Primary ferment will a Belgian yeast strain of your choice. Decant off the bottle into a glass to drink. Flame the lip of the bottle, then pitch the Orval dregs into your secondary or keg. No need to work up the dregs with a starter. The Brett will eventually take off no matter how small a pitch. Store it in a cool place like your basement. It will take months for the Brett to take a beer from 1.010 to 1.000. I have done this many times with great success. If you want more Brett to pitch, just buy a second bottle of Orval