Ovila Abbey Barrel Aged Dubbel - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

augustgarage

California

2.5/5  rDev -39%

02-13-2013 00:30:14 | More by augustgarage

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

(purchased this at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in April 2013 - poured into a 10 oz goblet)

A: big head rise on the pour (as well as extra pours), quick.... fairly hazy russet-amber.... keeps a misty foam atop straight through, however, not a spit of lace

S: initial impression is it's comparable to a Flemish red or Oud Bruin - that realm - maybe (sweet) red wine?.... oak-aging is apparent.... touch of cocoa nibs.... wine-fruity, yet also hints of dates and raspberry(?)

T: a bit messy upon first sip - a touch of smoke (phenol) comes through in the finish.... an unrefined sort of "infection" quality.... late lightly-toasty, bruised-prune, lingers in aftertaste... midway through the tasting, nice hints of dark fruit (via dark caramel malt or yeast? both?), however, a mild acidic funk keeps getting in the way... warmer (15-20 min): mellow chocolate-vinous notes like that found in a Flemish Red (again, the wood?)... overall, it has a bold enough flavor, it's just the balance is pretty off between the malts/yeast against the results of the barrel-aging

M: a bit light-bodied and watery for a Dubbel - this improves as it warms but, with the tartness and the seeming tiny prickliness of the carbonation, it's still slightly dull-dry and one can't help but long for a little depth/richness in the malt-body character

O: almost decent - best offerings when warmer - the barrel-derived funk does seem to dominate (at the expensive of balance and malt savoring).... perhaps it improves with age, but I have my doubts

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:04:18 | More by Bouleboubier

QuakeAttack

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-16-2013 02:51:57 | More by QuakeAttack

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-09-2013 00:01:17 | More by cadaugherty

CharlieMurphy

New York

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Warm mahogany with tangerine and maplewood undertone hues. Fuzzy microbubbled cream colored head that wades around the surface and doesn't lace.

S: An odd combo at work:
-Dark fruitiness such as candied appricots, apples, maybe a little bit of not yet ripe figs and green raisins.
-Splinteringly fresh oak
-A bug and bourbon oak cocktail like the ones that don't work in a AWA. Reminds me of Squatters Root Cellar.

T: Much more balanced and beer-backboned than the nose. Lighter malts than the average dubblel and seemingly more like a petite quad. The wine is there and works well with the belgian yeast and malt profile, but is in the foreground for sure. It almost has notes akin to a partial apple brandy barrel treatment amidst merlot barrels. The oak is vary faint (I'd guess these saw ~3 months) and not astringent and bold like the nose.

M: Very light and mild. A teeny tiny bit of residual tartness, but nearly squeaky clean down and out. Light and thin for sure, similar to a light apple juice.

O: Overall pretty balanced, but there's a few things that don't quite tow the line. Worth the try for $2.99 all day.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 03:30:08 | More by CharlieMurphy

chefduff2

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%

04-21-2013 16:22:32 | More by chefduff2

Samuel906

California

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light and fruity, you can really taste the barrels this was brewed in. Pours deep ruby red, thin head, no lacing. Really great smell, lots of grapes, some lime, cherries yeast, and cider. Taste is delicate and complex. Lots of wine influence, oak, yeast, caramel, and fruit. No booze at all. Very light feel, refreshing. Good beer, more well balanced than the quad.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2013 02:09:36 | More by Samuel906

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -26.8%

04-06-2013 13:14:32 | More by t0rin0

bbadger

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.4%

04-04-2013 22:17:32 | More by bbadger

eawolff99

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

03-21-2013 03:21:36 | More by eawolff99

scottfrie

California

3.55/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

375ml bottle purchased at the brewery. Poured into snifter. Aged in red wine barrels.

A: Pours a very dark ruby red with a finger of short-lived light brown head that quickly faded into a faint collar and scummy film.
S: Dry oak nose with a large red wine vinous quality to it (as expected). Musty earthy woody grape notes dominate over hints of dark fruits, leafy hops, and peppery yeasty spices.
T: Greasy caramel, dark fruits, and “dubbel” flavors take a back seat to the vinous wine barrel that dominated the nose. The finish is light with flavors of pear, apple and cinnamon, and the aftertaste contains raisins, brown sugar and toffee. No tartness just dry oak and light red wine.
M: Airy splashy carbonation, medium-light body, drying mouthfeel and fairly crisp overall.
O: A nice touch on the original, and while not my favorite, a very drinkable beer all around. I would gladly drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 02:09:54 | More by scottfrie

floraday

California

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%

03-11-2013 05:10:38 | More by floraday

duceswild

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.4%

03-05-2013 03:46:53 | More by duceswild

largadeer

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%

03-04-2013 20:45:52 | More by largadeer

KevSal

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

03-02-2013 08:43:06 | More by KevSal

davey101

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -2.4%

03-02-2013 07:21:00 | More by davey101

dar482

New York

3.63/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I had this at Good Beer in NYC.

It comes in a ruby color, lighter than the Quad version.

I did not like this as much as the BBA Quad version. It had some lovely drinkable flavors, but lacked the depth and smoothness of the BBA Quad. It taste a bit of dried prunes and sweet cherry juice. It has a medium carbonation and I'm surprised it was so drinkable with its decent ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2013 06:33:56 | More by dar482

bholby87

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

03-01-2013 03:30:29 | More by bholby87

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark ruby red with a finger of frothy off-white head. Fades normal.

S - Caramel and dark caramel malts, red wine, oak, dark fruits, Belgian yeast, spices, a touch of booze.

T - Dark caramel malts, cherries, raisins, and other dark fruits, red wine, oak, vanilla, Belgian yeast, spices, candi sugar, a hint of booze.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Nicely balanced dubbel. The barrel adds some great complexity and depth.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 05:34:44 | More by ngeunit1

Googs

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

02-27-2013 04:58:26 | More by Googs

mrandypandy

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

02-24-2013 00:00:38 | More by mrandypandy

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.29/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks Tom for this beer
The dark rusty dull brown with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly. The nose is potently vinous, distinctly red wine, with none of the dubbel sweetness that's present in the regular version. The taste is definitely a harmonious blend of sweet prunes and red wine followed up be a lingering sweetness. I would have preferred more of a dry red wine finish in the mouthfeel (it's a lot drier than the regular), but it does a great job transitioning through the depth of flavors present. The acquired 1% in abv is not noticeable. Great beer that's delicious and completely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 02:12:57 | More by ThePorterSorter

DrFunkenstein

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

02-13-2013 01:41:19 | More by DrFunkenstein

banger7

New York

4/5  rDev -2.4%

02-12-2013 23:13:08 | More by banger7

kaseydad

California

3.56/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Found this at the brewery. Haven’t seen it around the East Bay so not sure this is ever making it down to the Bay.

Pours a cloudy brown/burgundy ale with a nice size off-white head. No lacing to speak of.

The aroma has a nice wine element to it. Which it should considering where it was housed. Light funk. Cherries. Raspberries.

The taste is rather lacking in flavor. Not getting much of anything. Bland. Light wine but mainly just dull tasting. Actually reminds me of a very, very flat cranberry juice. Some bitter notes. Not sure what I’m supposed to be tasting here. Spicy finish with a biting-back hope bite at the end.

Mucho carbonation here.

Overall I, sadly, was not impressed. The wine barrel didn’t do much for this other than the nose. Love the look of the dark burgundy label, but the flavor was just lacking. I can’t blame it on lack of carbonation either. That was there!

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 16:17:00 | More by kaseydad