Ovila Quad - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

One2Remeber

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Snifter

A: Pours a mild brown color forming a creamy layer of tan/leather head. Body is a dark, murky brown with a hint of dark red hue.

S: Caramel, toffee, Belgian yeast smells like creamy banana pudding. Heavy baked grain aroma.

T/M: Smell all over in the taste. Crisp, sharp flavors are pronounced but the body is slippery smooth. Hardly any boozy feel until after swallow; leaves a hint of burn expected for style.

O: Light body, heavy yeast, low alcohol feel. Extremely clean and refreshing. Tastes like a fresh beer, I plan on grabbing a bottle to age for a couple years. Highly recommended, but needs some aging.

Serving type: growler

08-22-2012 02:57:52 | More by One2Remeber

FosterJM

California

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1044th Review on BA
Growler to Snifter
½ Gallon

Thanks to my buddy Jeremy for bringing this home from Chico for me.

Shared at MrHirschybars tasting

App- More of a dark brown/reddish pour, I got a good bit of an off tan head that was about a finger thick and receding quite quickly.

Smell- A very standard quad note, nothing over the top but was almost a bit sweet and sticky. Warm sugars with some brown sugar and then envolpes a bit of plum and dark cherry.

Taste- A very nice quad. Smooth, assertive and mellow at the same time. It's not overly malty which I personally perfer with a good mix and layer of dark fruits.

Mouth- A bit thin on this one with a small mouthfeel. Leans towards a medium feel but a bit too bubbly.

Drink- Overall, One of the better American quads I have had. I think the finish is a tad lacking but the nose and taste are quite good on this one.

Serving type: growler

01-23-2012 17:44:22 | More by FosterJM

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to FosterJM for sharing this one at MrHirschybar's place!

Pours a clear dark brown with a tan head that fades to wisps on film on the top of the beer. Small dots of lace stick to the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and some dark fruits. Taste is pretty much the same but it's a bit muddled. There is an alcohol burn with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good quad but it's slightly watery and muddled in my opinion.

Serving type: growler

01-22-2012 22:29:46 | More by UCLABrewN84

ypsifly

Michigan

3.1/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

12.7 oz corked and caged bottle poured into a chalice.

Dark, heavy brown with a noisy foamy head of rich tan that settles down leaving a slight foamy ring. A nice island of carbonation forms in the middle with wispy tendrils.

The rich nose of dark fruits, belgian yeast with notes of spice fills the room. I'm really liking the nose. I get a faint whiff of the abv when sniffing up close, but you can smell those plums and yeast from a distance. They got the aromas right on this one.

The taste is, sadly, not as interesting. Malty upfront with some plum and then an astringent aftertaste with lots of alcohol. It was like I was going down the road and made an unexpected wrong turn into someplace unexpected and bad. That's the best way I can put it. I think this shouldn't be drank fresh. The alcohol flavors just knock everything off balance.

The mouth is a bit thin and the alcohol leaves a slight burn. Not liking the mouth.

Overall, this started out with much promise but went south quickly. The nose is amazing, but the latter atributes just didn't hold up. Having said all of that, I am buying another bottle or two as I think this might be a good candidate for cellaring. Once that heat dies back some other flavors may develop and be allowed to come through.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 03:54:29 | More by ypsifly

JayQue

Virginia

3.69/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Good take on an American version of a Quad. SN got the richness, the dark fruit and yeastiness. A bit weak on the spices and overall complexity. Pours a dense brown with very little light getting in. Head is about right, delicate bubbles, fairly small with a quick fade (like most Quads). Minimal lacing.

Good aroma of dark fruit and malt. A bit light on the spices.

Taste is pretty good. It is rich, the dark fruit, presence of Belgian yeast and malts are just right. Could use more spices, a little candi sugar to add to the mix.

Mouthfeel is rich witha light alcohol bite. Just right

Overall not bad. I would drinkk this one again. Just not up there with the better Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 13:41:11 | More by JayQue

maximum12

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this recently at a beer dinner & went back for seconds, thirds, & fourths, so figured I better buy a bottle for myself & sample it under less trying circumstances...was it really that good? Huh. 12.7 oz. bottle consumed after a wild weather day - 99 today, 24 yesterday. Why, yes, I do live in Minnesota.

Pour is a respectably dark syrup color with adequate carbonation. Nose is aggressive & lovely: overbearingly sweet malts, squashed plums, deep Belgian candy. If you have diabetes, shy away.

Ovila Quad brings some life to what can be a quiet, staid style. The trappings of office are visible: heady sweet, candied sugar, lovely spiced yeast, fathomless malts that drift into the sphere of caramel. Plums accent the entire hot chuss with aplomb, slicing into its sugary heart & providing a lovely counterweight. Alcohol waggles its hips at me after several sips: wooo. Spiciness on the finish builds too, & provides a blanket of comfort after a sip is through. I'm curling this like I've been main-lining Creatine.

Put my name down as a fan. When I first saw 'quad' & 'plums' on the label my first thought was 'bloody fucking blasphemy'. Now it's 'yum'. This is an excellent beer, & I'll be tracking down a four pack for future consumption.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:50:44 | More by maximum12

concealed

Massachusetts

3.46/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is an average quad, pretty high in alcohol content, so not a daily choice for me. Poured into a Leffe chalice, opaque brown, decent carbonation, minimal head/lacing. Nothing particularly blows me away, smell is lacking, but mouthfeel and taste are redeeming. Bought a single 375ml bottle as part of a mixed six pack for $3.50, so the value is there, but I will not purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 02:24:41 | More by concealed

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.79/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Consumed 4/15/13

Appearance: Dark brown, with some medium brown clarity around the edges - pours without much of a head, but it slowly develops a dense, creamy, tan head - leaves a nice wall of lacing, nice head retention

Smell: Dark, cooked, caramelized malts - yeasty and spicy, but not too much - Belgian yeast, with some banana, clove, and phenols - some dark fruits, plums are quite obvious - some raisins as well - some sugary sweetness, including caramel and candi sugar

Taste: Cooked, caramelized malts and some spicy characteristics - earthy and grainy, with a bigger yeast component than was apparent in the aroma - clove, banana, and lots of phenols - malty and sugary sweetness, and some fruity sweetness - plums, raisins, and dark fruit juice - not particularly complex, but definitely interesting

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, nicely carbonated, smooth

Overall: Tasty, and might get better with age

This is better than I expected. This is a good take on the Quad style, definitely more solid than the Ovila Dubbel. The malts lack complexity, but the other aspects are quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 05:07:20 | More by angrybabboon

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.71/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly darker colored fizzy small head that fades semi quickly, no lacing, very dark mahogany cola colored with hints if ruby light barely sneaking through.

Nose brings plenty of phenols and esters, fruity plum skin, the esters and phenols from the yeast and some phenolic booze come out strong, some sweet candi sugar, earthy tannic molasses, caramelized biscuits, a hint if a cherry with the plum fruit.

Taste brings fruits, dark plum and again hint if cherry juice, plenty of esters again and phenolic booze, light chemically flavor from the phenols and plenty of warming tingly booze. Candi sugar and syrup, light toasted biscuit, caramelized brown sugar, chewy malt. Hint of chewy earthy hop but barely. tannic plum skin and little fig. Finish is still fairly sweet and sticky syrupy, lingering plum skin, chewy malt, phenolic booze, light chemical like and candi sugar.

Mouth is med to fuller bod, sticky syrupy, decent carb, plenty of warming tingly booze.

Overall not bad but def needs a couple years to mellow and for the phenolic chemical thing to drop out.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:01:39 | More by jlindros

ESPNman

California

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I can't find a bottled-on date, but I believe this one's been in my cellar for roughly 18 months. Poured into a Stone VE Glass.

A - Pours a deep, almost cola-brown. It looks relatively thin coming out of the bottle. Moderate khaki head with tiny bubbles and great retention. Very little lacing.

S - I'm not really getting a whole lot of nose from this beer. Perhaps it's incorrect glassware, but it's pretty underwhelming. Some candied fruit, Belgian yeast, and a hint of spice.

T - Much better than the nose would lead you to believe. The same character from the nose, but amplified. Also, good amounts of bitter earthy tones to balance out the candied notes of the standard quad. The flavors are all distinctive, and stand out on their own. This beer isn't too "big" for its own good. Dates, apricot, Belgian yeast, candy sugar, and a nice bitterness throughout.

M - Solid, but unspectacular. It finishes drier than I was expecting, given the sweetness up front. Great level of carbonation. Lively, but not distracting.

O - I wish I had reviewed or taken notes for the first time I tried this beer... I think it's gotten a bit better with age, though. The nose has faded, but all of the flavors were more muddled when I first tried it. It's not a much more drinkable and enjoyable take on the Belgian quad.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 05:04:13 | More by ESPNman

macpapi

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a very dark color. Dark as a late autumn night with a quarter-moon. Also a very thin purplish head to complement slight lacing.

Smell is very full and complex. Malty with a full dark-fruit aroma. Plums and raisins are notable on the nose. Very deep and full.

Taste is dominated by malt and a bit of somewhat cloying and syruppy flavor. Dark fruits join a bit of spicy finish to make this an interesting flavor.

In the mouth, this beer is full, deep, and rich-flavored. Low carbonation.

On the whole, this is an impressive beer. Full, deep, dark, (somewhat mysterious, as I like my quads), and a complex sipper. A very nice effort, up there with some of the best in the genre.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 02:55:05 | More by macpapi

monkbrewed

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is a beer than has a sincere character yet lacks the substantive mouthfeel of the more sophisticated beers. Immediately hits with fruity and sweet flavors, yet lacks a significant melding of components. Roasty maltiness with slight hints of chocolate never develop. It is truly an American beer. No hop profile present which is surprising for ANYTHING Sierra Nevada makes. You won't be disappointed with this beer, however you might be let down. Does this make sense? Drink it and it will.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2013 06:35:46 | More by monkbrewed

macrosmatic

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bomber into an oversized wine glass.

A: Dark brown with ruby highlights - I think this is pretty clear but it's dark. Forms a thin brown head that fades quickly, and a mild amount of visible carbonation.

S: Sweet, fruity (dark fruit, candied plums), boozy, and brown sugar.

T: Follows the nose, with some apple, pear, figs and dates with candied sugar. Somewhat dry in the finish.

M: Thin body, average carbonation sensation, and moderate alcohol presence.

O: This is good, but doesn't compare to the best in class by any stretch.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 22:43:20 | More by macrosmatic

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A-dark red brown color with a nice off-white head and some lacing

S-caramel, fruit, malt, slightly spicy

T-dark fruit, caramel, sweet malt, slightly bready, hint of spice, alcohol slightly noticeable

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-a decent Quad but not among my favorites

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 21:52:32 | More by MDDMD

dacrza1

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Glassware: Chimay chalice...
Occasion: celebrating the end of school year number thirteen!
Appearance: dark mahogany body with a zesty, retreating head that thins to a mist...
Aroma: fruity, cherry/sherry and pleasant esters mix together to seduce a sip....
Palate: thick, full-bodied, warming rush that impales the teeth--a visceral experience...
Taste: again, cherry and oken flavors--"Rich and complex" is repeated on the label, so it must be true, coming from an abbey...
Overall: as clean a high as one can derive from a beer--fulfills the expectations with a thick, powerful experience...bought this in December and shelved it for a special occasion...

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:34:02 | More by dacrza1

DJoe

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a murky, dark brown with a 2-3 finger tan head.

S - Very deep. Mostly caramel and malt.

T - Candied malts with roasted caramel. Didn't really get the fruits.

M - Medium bodied, but plenty of carbonation.

O - A very nice quad with a kick. You won't regret this.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:08:08 | More by DJoe

Hoplomachus

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought two bottles about a month ago. The first I drank right away and was not impressed; alcohol smell and taste was too prominent and the beer was very sweet. I'm drinking the second bottle (it was left in my mini fridge) and the sweetness is not as strong and the alcohol has blended in better with the rest of the beer. It's a pretty good beer and agreat bargain. However I don't feel the need to go out and buy another.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 02:04:10 | More by Hoplomachus

JDT2003

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Darker Trappist Belgium. I had with wife with Sonic Chicago dogs and Mozzarella sticks. Amazing buzz. Will buy again. Smells deep like a true Belgian. Pour smells great with a small head. Dark fruity and thickish feel. Goes down smooth. Bravo Sierra Nevada you have put out a winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 00:21:36 | More by JDT2003

cvm4

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a murky, rusty brown with a 2 finger tan head.

S - I'm not getting a lot besides caramel, candied sugars & dark fruits.

T - Candied malts, slightly bready, roasted caramel and a dab of dark fruits.

M - Medium bodied & carbonation.

O - Not a stellar quad but one that is above the median of the group, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 02:14:01 | More by cvm4

SanFranJake

California

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle from whenever they first released these, poured into snifter.
Still retained the loud pop when the cork came off, so that's a good start.
Poured a deep amber/copper color with maybe a finger of head, which faded pretty fast.
Aromas of plum and raisin and some maltiness with flavors similar to the aroma but with caramel aNd some sweetness to it. Slight bit of lacing and moderate bubbles throughout the bottle (I don't share w wifey).
Refill was more of the same but gained a little more complexity as it warmed.
All in all about what you would expect from Sierra...a solid take on something (previously) outside of their realm.
Can't wait to try their Brandy barrel aged version tonight.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 14:18:59 | More by SanFranJake

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Khaki head with moderate retention. Mahogany body. Aroma includes raisins and dates, old dark fruit and a touch of alcohol vapor. Taste includes caramel malt, brown sugar, dates, raisins and a bit of molasses. Very nice interpretation of the style for an American version but what else would you expect from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 02:54:42 | More by KickbacksSteve

LeRose

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled. Aroma is toffee, malty, sweetness, very inviting (come hither and drink me...), whiff of alcohol. Some fruity, raisin, prune aroma. Dark mahogany color. Rich, tan lingering head that persists but not too thick. Very toasted tasting, bready, malty, dark fruit. Nice sweetness, tingle from the alcohol. Thick on the tongue (my initial comment was "chewy" on first sip), but not much aftertaste, lingering malty/yeasty sweetness. Very suitable as a hearty meal accompaniment. Enjoyed and would definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 16:09:16 | More by LeRose

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown with just a touch of ruby mixed in and a finger of frothy tan-khaki colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet dark caramel malts with dark fruits, candi sugars, Belgian yeast, spices, and booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet dark caramel malts, dark fruits, some spices, and some candi sugars. Through the middle, some Belgian yeast comes through with some more spices and dark fruits. The finish is a mix of dark fruits, candi sugar, dark caramel malts, Belgian yeast, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balanced Quad. Good fruity flavors and yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 05:48:13 | More by ngeunit1

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle.

Pours dark brown with a quick-lived thin head of tan. A partial skim coat and errant dots of lacing for the duration of the glass.

Aromatics lead off with rich, juicy, malt, apples, nougat, raisins, and cocoa. Hints of dark rum and grape jam follow through.

On the fuller side of medium bodied with a slickish, slightly chewy mouthfeel.

Ripe fruit running under plump malt starts the palate. A mild booziness with rum-soaked raisins, figs, purple grapes, and caramel continue on.

Finishes with a mild sweetness, rich ester-riddled malt, and warming alcohol.

Very nice quad. A bit boozy for the style, slightly thinnish body, and not as velvety and lush as a great quad though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 01:43:04 | More by brewandbbq

draheim

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL into a chalice. Pours a clear mahogany w/ a thin khaki head that settles to a thin film.

Aroma is dark fruits, molasses, prunes, spice, booze.

Taste is dark sweet malt, candi sugar, figs/dates, grapes.

Mouthfeel is light, well-carbed, finishes bone dry.

Overall a solid if unremarkable rendition of the style. A worthy effort.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 06:11:17 | More by draheim