Ovila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & Peppercorns
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Ovila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & PeppercornsOvila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & Peppercorns
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 9.64%
Reviews:
140
Ratings:
709
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 29, 2020
Added:
May 06, 2013
Wants:
  27
Gots:
  96
This unique farmhouse ale is incredibly complex with notes of lemon, pepper, straw and herbs balanced by the tang of Mandarin oranges and a spicy kick of pepper.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fank2788:
Photo of fank2788
Reviewed by fank2788 from Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
375ml bottle served in a pint glass
Hazy orange gold color that starts off with a one finger tall white head that settles to a fine layer of bubbles. The smell is of Belgian yeast esters, pale malts and wheat, oranges, lemon and a touch of pepper. The oranges are very evident in the taste along with the Belgian yeast flavors. The malt provides balance and bitterness from hops and pepper are evident in the there as well. The finish is a bit sweet, not nearly dry enough for a classic saison but it's not bad. The aftertaste is quite nice as the orange flavor lingers for a while, otherwise the finish is clean if a little sweet as mentioned earlier. I think I would like to have a bit more lively carbonation in a beer of this style as well. An interesting idea by SN ends up producing a good but not great beer. It's off the mark when it comes to matching the style but still has enough going for it that it is worth a try.
Jun 30, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from 12.7-ounce bottle into a tulip glass. An aggressive center pour yielded a finger of white head atop a dull opaque dark brownish-orange colored body. Much more malt forward and darker in appearance than I was expecting, very dubbel-like in character. Aromas and flavors of caramel and dark fruit, with quite a bit of sweetness and alcohol burn. The Mandarin orange and peppercorns do provide a nice dimension, and there is a pleasant lingering note of peppery spice on the finish. I picked this up intending it to be a table beer, but this is like a meal in a glass by itself. Would definitely drink again.
Jul 29, 2020
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a dull orange color looking like one of those high ibu ipas from yesteryear, full on 3/4" white head. Aroma hits a variety of notes, saison yeast, dry hay, clear blue sky, peppercorn and citrus. Layered nicely, nothing too dominate. Thankfully missing the spice rack from your kitchen.

Taste was citrusy, peppery, pretty clean stuff, none of that horse blanket dog funk that you get in some of those saisons or spontaneous stuff. Good dry mouthfeel, carbonation was pretty high. Did a good job at hiding the alcohol, this had me leery given the strength, I've pretty much universally disliked "imperial" saisons. There was some burn, but hey, peppercorns and citrus, whaddya expect this to be other than more acidic than your normal non adjunct saison? Orange notes were minimal, thankfully this is not a fruit dominant saison. The peppery note isn't hot, its more like you know black pepper/peppercorn.

I dug it. Still have one left. Will bang again come summertime.
Mar 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.92 by DMc8ride from California

May 11, 2019
Photo of macrosmatic
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from (very) long-standing notes. Poured from the corked and caged 375mL bottle into an El Catador Barrel-Aged glass. 2013 vintage bottle, consumed sometime in 2018 (didn't note exact date).

A: Pours a hazy dark gold, with minimal visible carbonation and no real head formation.

S: Caramelly malts, light saison yeast esters, and peppery spiciness. Some toasted sugars and a touch of farmhouse spiciness and funk – but much less than I was hoping to have developed in a bottle this old.

T: Sweet malts, some caramel and oxidation. Peppery – I would have called it just black peppercorn. Mild funk, more Belgian yeast fruity esters – pears, apples, mild clove. A light citrus bitterness – maybe that’s some of the Mandarin oranges, but I would have thought it was the aged hop flavors. A modest lingering fruitiness in the hang.

M: Average body, and low carbonation sensation but not as flat as it appeared. Modest amount of alcohol presence.

O: Not amazing, though I'm not sure that the age has helped this one. I expected the funk to have increased more than what it has. There wasn't anything in particular to step up and take the place of the loss of the citrus , nor make it any more complex.
Mar 21, 2019
Photo of iguanodon
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah

4.09/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
[Original rating 2015-07-03] Pours clear orange/gold with a thin white head that lasts. Steady fine carbonation rises from the bottom of the glass. Aroma is sweet malt, flowery, straw, spicy pepper. Taste is dry saison, the orange and pepper are there but not overwhelming. A hint of alcohol in the finish. Great mouth feel. A solid saison on its own, the orange and pepper are just enough to make it interesting.
Oct 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.83 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Apr 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by mattboyer182 from Indiana

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by Red5StandingBy from Maryland

Nov 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.96 by dag1991 from Ohio

Jul 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.01 by PortLargo from Florida

Jun 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by Giantspace from Pennsylvania

Jun 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by Squire from Mississippi

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.27 by BigAl18 from Minnesota

May 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by SweetwaterTuonker from Minnesota

Apr 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.87 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Apr 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.17 by Dewsby from Kentucky

Mar 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.05 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by windowside from Germany

Feb 02, 2016
Ovila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & Peppercorns from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 709 ratings