Ovila Belgian-Style Abbey Quad: Ale Brewed With Plums - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.35/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a four pack at the brewery in Chico (along with a shitton of other stuff like BA Bigfoot). Pours dirty dark brown, thin beige head at the top of it. Looked professional, no floaties. Aroma was prune, alcohol, belgian yeast, probably the thing they were going for, but not something that floats my boat. Actually alcohol was probably the strongest thing, then prune.

Taste was prune and raisin soaked alcohol. I'm already thinking to myself, 'you bought these for the old lady, be glad you don't have to choke down the rest of this beer, or the remaining 3 bottles from the four pack. I didn't really like the dark fruit bitter alcohol bite of this one. Has very little in the way of malt contribution, the beer seemed a little thin, and no appreciable flavor or character to whatever they used. It was all prune, raisin, licorice, alcohol, fig and belgian yeast type of thing going on. What I had hoped for in terms of plum sweetness just never came across, that merle haggard? song "always wanting you, but never having you," came to mind.

Not my style, disregard these notes if it is your style, don't let this guy make you think it won't be something you like. The old lady likes it, but she is on facebook too much to write a beer review.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 21:38:20 | More by Beerandraiderfan

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-17-2013 11:51:44 | More by IPAchris

Rob315

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-15-2013 12:36:37 | More by Rob315

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-14-2013 03:55:01 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.96/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada Ovila Belgian-style Abbey Quad, "Ale Brewed with Plums, Brewed in Collaboration with the monks of the Abbey of New CIairvaux." Monastic Inspiration, American Innovation."

Appearance: looking very dark, deep brown, under a slim, cocoa-tinged head.

Aroma: Lovely stuff. Dark fruits, plums, dates, raisins, sweet and lovely, but not TOO sweet. Spicy. And some banana.

Taste: Complexity starts us off, a myriad of rich flavors at work. Plenty of the dark fruits, the raisins and plums, and the rich, sweet notes, with malt working wonders below it all. Damned tasty. Hits all the right notes, but misses some magic.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 02:22:51 | More by feloniousmonk

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-13-2013 02:20:03 | More by buzzy

sharpski

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

05-11-2013 20:24:19 | More by sharpski

Rojada1988

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-11-2013 03:39:12 | More by Rojada1988

Duff27

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Short white head leaves a filmy head and collar. Leaves line lacing with a swirl. Body is a dark brown with a purplish red hue.

Dark fruits all the way. Raisins, figs, grapes...plums, duh!

Follows the nose, tingly raisin on the tongue. Well balanced. Drinks it's 10.2%abv.

Medium mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

Really thought the plum addition stepped up all the best parts about a quadruple. Good price point SN!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:38:31 | More by Duff27

egrace84

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-10-2013 03:30:40 | More by egrace84

GeoffreyM

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-10-2013 01:22:38 | More by GeoffreyM

Giggy

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-09-2013 20:09:29 | More by Giggy

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-09-2013 00:01:55 | More by cadaugherty

tectactoe

Michigan

3.18/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Very interested to see Sierra Nevada's spin on the Belgian-style quadruple. Thanks to Chris for splitting this one. Ovila appears black from atop, but shows some beaming ruby translucency when held in front of the light. A small and creamy khaki-colored head settles almost instantly to a ring. Some wet lacing hangs for only a few moments before dripping back down into the beer, leaving the glass fairly unscathed in the end.

Heavy plums dominate the aroma - no surprise there, really. Unfortunately they seem a bit "off" - almost chalky and slightly medicinal to a degree. Not quite off-putting, but not extremely enjoyable, either. There are, however, lots of vibrant juicy and sweet fruit notes beneath the strange plum blanket. Some light cocoa notes, molasses, and Belgian spiced yeast aromas catch on a bit more once this sucker warms up. Mild spices and even a tint of bubblegum. Overall, kind of a middle of the road aroma for the style.

Would you be shocked to hear that Ovila tastes like a quad with extra-dense plum notes? Because that's what I'm about to tell you. Some of the "standard" or common quad flavors are present - dates, figs, light black licorice, phenols, and very faint Candi sugar. But the plums really work their hardest to pull the wool over all of these things. Sadly, the plums on the palate come right along with the weird chalky and medicinal notes that the aroma was putting out there. Almost tastes like a chewed up vitamin. That strong chalkiness carries into the aftertaste along with a faint hint of sugar, dates, and plums. Medium bodied, mildly creamy with medium carbonation.

Not terrible, but the weird and vitamin-like aroma and flavor that seemed to cling alongside the plums was just too prevalent to be fully enjoyable. It masked what would otherwise be a solid Belgian-style quad and instead turned it into a forgettable, slightly better than average ale. Wasn't disappointed to have tried it, but I recommend passing it up, especially when options like Rochefort 10 and Abt 12 are readily available.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 16:25:50 | More by tectactoe

bifrost17

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-08-2013 08:09:16 | More by bifrost17

Sarmartay

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-08-2013 04:31:12 | More by Sarmartay

ESeab

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-07-2013 14:58:57 | More by ESeab

bcheng

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-05-2013 21:28:23 | More by bcheng

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10%

05-05-2013 18:34:39 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10%

05-05-2013 18:01:48 | More by djrn2

archyquaffer

Montana

3.79/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 375 ml long neck corked dark brown bottle into an 8 ounce sampler. Interesting label art depicting a hooded monk in silent contemplation. An even, moderate pour produces a 1/4 inch thick light tan head, with very little lace clinging to the glass (a side effect of the alcohol content).

I'm somewhat smell-challenged, but I definitely detect rich sweet malt, plums/prunes, spicy yeast, and earthy hops. The taste is very complex, with a good bit of pleasant sourness of dark fruit balancing rather well with the malt backbone. The plum is not overbearing at all. Also very apparent is a medicinal taste like old fashioned root beer, combined with a boozy, sherry-like taste/aroma. An essence of plum lingers in the aftertaste, along with some earthy hops, producing a taste evocative of a plum pit lingering in your mouth after you've drawn out all the juicy goodness. A building warming sensation is apparent in the belly and throat.

I'm enjoying this beer very much, as the style is (still) a relatively rare find in my area . The complex flavors (and high ABV) promote slow sipping, and quiet contemplation, as personified by the hooded monk on the label.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 04:55:05 | More by archyquaffer

bellb

Connecticut

2.75/5  rDev -29.3%

05-04-2013 23:19:03 | More by bellb

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.91/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A. Dark bodied, almost a dark cola in color. Very thin tan head that lingers as a ring of bubbles. Being used to huge, frothy heads on quads, this was somewhat of a surprise.

S- Fantastic aroma. Raisins, plums, chestnuts, cherries, hazelnuts, bready yeast, some citrus and a hint of chocolate. Nose is very strong.

T- Big on the bready yeast and alcohol with hints of the fruity flavors and nuttiness coming through in the back. Medicinal and boozy especially towards the end.

M- Medium carbonation and full bodied. Pretty strong alcohol burn, and definitely a sipper.

O- Not a bad quad. The flavors are there and the aroma is great, but I found this one a touch too hot, even for a quad.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 23:23:57 | More by stephenjmoore

shigg85

Japan

4/5  rDev +2.8%

05-01-2013 21:25:58 | More by shigg85

2beerdogs

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

05-01-2013 04:37:04 | More by 2beerdogs