Ovila Abbey Dubbel - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

FrankK

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

07-20-2012 04:49:32 | More by FrankK

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-22-2013 16:40:06 | More by InspectorBob

atone315

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-21-2013 04:15:24 | More by atone315

Roose13

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a pint glass

A: transparent dark amber/brown. Half-inch off-white head, lacing down the side.

S: yeast; caramel; a bit sweet. I detect cherry and some other darker fruit notes

T: subtle cherry and caramel. A bit syrupy and malty. Spicy and a bit boozy

M: Medium and creamy. Very smooth finish.

Overall: Heard a lot of great things on this but it just didn't blow me away like I expected it to from the reviews I got. Still a fair beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 20:51:26 | More by Roose13

beagle75

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Clear, dark amber color with over one finger of persistent offf-white foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Cookie-like, more doughy than yeast-affected, even unctuous at times. Malt qualities are a satisfying combination of Belgian aromatic and crystal. There is some aspect of floral and fruity perfume present, as well as coconut.

T: Begins off-dry, with focused yet nuanced malt that yields some definite molasses. Vigorous acidity buoys the overall mood, maintaining a balance between bright and dark qualities but diluting some of the flavors most worth contemplating. Delicacy remains the theme in the middle, where light esters evoke rose water. The nature of this beer's flavors become more transformed deeper into the profile, and also as it warms, yet phenolic-derivative Belgian yeast character remains elusive throughout.

M: Medium viscosity, slightly wet and acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: This approachable beer serves as a splendid introduction to stronger ales for the novice, fully able to delight the palate without providing much of the challenge inherent in most authentic abbey beers from Belgium. It also possesses a depth of character that unfolds with time and repeated exposure by the drinker, even though the first glimpse is of something simple and straightforward--even compromised. As a result, this California Abbey ale is adaptable to many situations; do not hesitate to serve early in a series, or with lighter fare such as fruits and salads.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:59:10 | More by beagle75

jrohrbacher

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-19-2013 13:34:51 | More by jrohrbacher

xacidx

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +5%

05-19-2013 03:17:25 | More by xacidx

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-16-2013 01:25:41 | More by calcnerd

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

05-15-2013 18:31:21 | More by twenty5

jgammoniv

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-14-2013 21:59:45 | More by jgammoniv

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-09-2013 00:01:07 | More by cadaugherty

dwagner003

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-06-2013 02:10:30 | More by dwagner003

nebula1999

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +24.7%

04-25-2013 23:13:49 | More by nebula1999

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-20-2013 16:18:00 | More by alex_hart

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a dark caramel brown. Medium beige head with good retention. Aroma is cherries and toffee. Flavor is similar, with just a bit of spice to go with some sweet toffee flavor. Slightly more carbonated than most dubbels, but not hugely so. A very nice beer that I drank fresh, but would probably benefit from a bit of aging.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:21:25 | More by BeerRefugee

AlphaKingKegger

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-16-2013 04:22:10 | More by AlphaKingKegger

Twan22

California

4/5  rDev +5%

04-16-2013 01:42:15 | More by Twan22

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

04-15-2013 05:54:54 | More by Kelp

david131

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-13-2013 19:35:59 | More by david131

jcb7472

Florida

4/5  rDev +5%

04-11-2013 19:39:32 | More by jcb7472

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-09-2013 00:24:09 | More by randylangford

buckyp

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-07-2013 02:51:26 | More by buckyp

Datwheezy

New York

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

04-04-2013 00:58:24 | More by Datwheezy

CHickman

New York

3.86/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Small bottle format review from 3/31: pours very hazy chestnut brown color with a creamy 1 finger tan head that faded and left minimal spotty lacing. Lots of bubbles race up the brew like a champagne.

Smells of caramel, yeast, malt, dark fruit, cherry, herbs, a general sweetness and light spices. Nice notes and quite a combo of things, but nothing really stands out.

Tastes like it smells, with caramel, yeast, malt, dark fruit, cherry, herbs, booze like rum, malt, sweet bread like cinnamon raisin bread and light spices like pepper, coriander and cinnamon; not overly sweet, but fruity enough to tame the yeast and let the booze peek through in a nice way.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and almost watery, with a medium body, very light carbonation and a slightly funky finish.

Overall nice and easy to drink, but very much an American impression that falls short of the Belgian classics. I’d like to try a big bottle to really see how it progresses as it warms up; this review was quick and at the end of the night, so it was a bit rushed. I will try it again with an open mind.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:50:33 | More by CHickman

bacasnax

Florida

4/5  rDev +5%

04-02-2013 00:26:12 | More by bacasnax