Ovila Abbey Brown Ale With Mandarins And Cocoa
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 7.3%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 9%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 35
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 08, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 15
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Vixie:
Reviewed by Vixie from Florida
3.73/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A deep dark brown beer with a light tan head that doesn't stay around long, leaving some lacing on the surface.
The mandarins and chocolate really dominate the scent here.
Chocolate dominates the taste, with a hint of citrus from the oranges. There is a hint of caramel at the finish.
Fairly smooth on the tongue, fairly dry finish.
I'd say this is the least Belgian like of the Ovila series I have had to far. It actually reminds me more of a stout than a Belgian. It is a decent beer, just nothing that really stands out either.
Jan 07, 2018The mandarins and chocolate really dominate the scent here.
Chocolate dominates the taste, with a hint of citrus from the oranges. There is a hint of caramel at the finish.
Fairly smooth on the tongue, fairly dry finish.
I'd say this is the least Belgian like of the Ovila series I have had to far. It actually reminds me more of a stout than a Belgian. It is a decent beer, just nothing that really stands out either.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.38/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Brown color. Big, beige head. Aroma of yeasts, cocoa, malt, and fruits. Balanced, yeasty, malt-forward taste with cocoa and fruits. Great Belgian ale.
Jun 08, 2025
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.15/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very dark color with a nice tan head and lacing
Aroma has Brandy and slight mandarin and cocoa hints
The taste follows the nose with Brandy and slight mandarin and cocoa flavors
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A well done Abbey Ale
Dec 22, 2020Aroma has Brandy and slight mandarin and cocoa hints
The taste follows the nose with Brandy and slight mandarin and cocoa flavors
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A well done Abbey Ale
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.37/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Box Set Two Of Three
750ml
Caged/Corked
ABV: 7%
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice dark brown color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy one-finger plus light tan head, which also leaves a really nice creamy big island/oil slick and some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with a really nice touch of chocolate/toffee, and a nice light touch of cocoa, mandarin orange, slight roastyness. The taste is really nice, malty, yeasty, with some chocolate/toffee, nice touch of cocoa, with some nice mandarin orange, roasty. Medium body, ABV hidden very well, nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a very nice brew.
Aug 13, 2017750ml
Caged/Corked
ABV: 7%
Poured into a goblet a pretty nice dark brown color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy one-finger plus light tan head, which also leaves a really nice creamy big island/oil slick and some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with a really nice touch of chocolate/toffee, and a nice light touch of cocoa, mandarin orange, slight roastyness. The taste is really nice, malty, yeasty, with some chocolate/toffee, nice touch of cocoa, with some nice mandarin orange, roasty. Medium body, ABV hidden very well, nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a very nice brew.
Reviewed by Dewsby from Kentucky
3.53/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L) Pours a dark toffee brown that is still somewhat translucent. Has a nice, lightly beige head with decent retention.
S) The smell is fine, but truly it isn't very strong. No deep dark fruit or roasty notes, just a smidgen of malt and spice.
T) The cocoa and mandarin both can be detected, but they kind of take some looking for. It is interesting, but I do not know that the profile blends as well as hoped. The profile is lightly bitter, with a small amount of citrus and spice from the yeast, and a slight roast and caramel aspect from the malt. It seems lacking in any dark fruit notes or deep belgian candies.
F) Medium carbonation. Fairly crisp but not as silky a mouthfeel as hoped.
O) An interesting beer, but I don't think it truly quite came together.
Jul 09, 2017S) The smell is fine, but truly it isn't very strong. No deep dark fruit or roasty notes, just a smidgen of malt and spice.
T) The cocoa and mandarin both can be detected, but they kind of take some looking for. It is interesting, but I do not know that the profile blends as well as hoped. The profile is lightly bitter, with a small amount of citrus and spice from the yeast, and a slight roast and caramel aspect from the malt. It seems lacking in any dark fruit notes or deep belgian candies.
F) Medium carbonation. Fairly crisp but not as silky a mouthfeel as hoped.
O) An interesting beer, but I don't think it truly quite came together.
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
3.96/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark opaque body, purple-brown highlights, very light tan head, extraordinary thin tight lacing. Pretty.
S - Dusty malts, cocoa powder and limestone, a powerful herbal note, suggesting basil or oregano. Not off putting, but a strange melange.
T - Delivers an American Brown open, with lots of doughy malt, with a drier middle of cocoa and orange blossoms, and a close of mild acidity and subtle savory notes.
M - Mild carbonation, slight stickiness that fades a bit in the close.
O - Really interesting, but with little in common with the BSDAs I've had. That said, the flavors are interesting and rewarding. I enjoyed it.
Mar 05, 2017S - Dusty malts, cocoa powder and limestone, a powerful herbal note, suggesting basil or oregano. Not off putting, but a strange melange.
T - Delivers an American Brown open, with lots of doughy malt, with a drier middle of cocoa and orange blossoms, and a close of mild acidity and subtle savory notes.
M - Mild carbonation, slight stickiness that fades a bit in the close.
O - Really interesting, but with little in common with the BSDAs I've had. That said, the flavors are interesting and rewarding. I enjoyed it.
Reviewed by Benjolovesbeer from Michigan
2.98/5 rDev -23.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.75
2.98/5 rDev -23.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.75
L: dark chocolate black which is disappointing for it's supposed to be a brown ale. The head was very enticing and definitely have the look that this would be a delicious beer. But gets 4.25 on look because it's dark black, not brown.
A: dark fruit, chocolate, malt, and sense of strong Belgium.
F: heavy on gulp yet thin on tongue, mildly boozy.
T: chocolatey but bitter baking chocolate, can't taste Mandarin nor any other fruit. Slightly boozy and malty and a bit bready.
O: Disappointed. I love Belgium beers and I love Sierra Nevada and thought the two together would be a great combo but it's not. Almost like they tried to create an orange chocolate chimay yet failed and can only be good to those not familiar with Belgium beers. And sure it might be argued I didn't have this fresh but to make a good Belgium beer that is corked it should hold up 3 years and this can't hold up a year. Bad decision on Sierra, they're better than this. Arrogant Bastard is the better choice if these 2 stood side by side. Sure arrogant bastard doesn't contain Mandarins but neither does this, at least not enough to tell.
Feb 06, 2017A: dark fruit, chocolate, malt, and sense of strong Belgium.
F: heavy on gulp yet thin on tongue, mildly boozy.
T: chocolatey but bitter baking chocolate, can't taste Mandarin nor any other fruit. Slightly boozy and malty and a bit bready.
O: Disappointed. I love Belgium beers and I love Sierra Nevada and thought the two together would be a great combo but it's not. Almost like they tried to create an orange chocolate chimay yet failed and can only be good to those not familiar with Belgium beers. And sure it might be argued I didn't have this fresh but to make a good Belgium beer that is corked it should hold up 3 years and this can't hold up a year. Bad decision on Sierra, they're better than this. Arrogant Bastard is the better choice if these 2 stood side by side. Sure arrogant bastard doesn't contain Mandarins but neither does this, at least not enough to tell.
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