Ovila Abbey Barrel Aged Dubbel
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Ovila Abbey Barrel Aged DubbelOvila Abbey Barrel Aged Dubbel
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Dubbel
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 8.6%
Reviews:
63
Ratings:
212
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 09, 2022
Added:
Sep 27, 2012
Wants:
  32
Gots:
  44
This Abbey Dubbel was aged in a blend of red wine and bourbon barrels to add a new level of complexity to an already beguiling brew. Rich malt flavors of burnt sugar and caramel blend seamlessly with bright fruit notes from the wine barrels, while the bourbon oak lends a mellow hint of vanilla.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Bouleboubier:
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
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
May 19, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by EMV from Pennsylvania

Feb 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jan 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.6 by j37geogaddi from Massachusetts

Dec 02, 2021
Photo of bwriley4
Reviewed by bwriley4 from Arkansas

4.68/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This was a joy to drink and to return to on tap at the brew pub in Chico during a week there. It is an excellent boozy dubbel that satisfies at every level. It tastes great. It quickly raises your joy level. The bourbon vanilla flavors aren’t too sweet to enjoy more than once.
Jun 17, 2020
Photo of andypeters1971
Reviewed by andypeters1971 from Georgia

4.73/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Perhaps the perfect beer? Probably has everything I want at least, in terms of level of carbonation, taste profile, aroma, feel and finish. I couldn't think of any reason to not recommend it
Oct 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by mltobin from Connecticut

Oct 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.74 by TrojanRB from Texas

Oct 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Apr 27, 2018
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.07/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up a 750 ml bottle from the Craft Beer Hop Stop for $9.99. Alan must have gotten a deal from the distributor as i would have expected the charge to be $17.99. No bottling date visible.

Beer uncorked without much pressure, poured with a smallish bubbly head that dissipated quickly. Was concerned about the quality.

Nose is light bourbon, light dark fruit, light vanilla.

Taste is light bourbon and vanilla, getting some puckering from the red wine barrel and dark fruits.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall a nice beer, aging this one has enhanced the flavor profile, glad i got to try!
Apr 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by archero from Texas

Feb 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.81 by sd123 from Georgia

Feb 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.01 by moundbz from North Dakota

Feb 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by AngEo from Texas

Jan 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.73 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by anon from California

Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.97 by MickeyHops from California

Jul 07, 2017
Photo of neenerzig
Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio

4.34/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Got a bottle of this about 2 years ago now when I went to visit my good friend Jon Passow in northern California and we went on a day trip to the brewery. Decided to finally open it tonight. Poured out a 750 ml bottle into my goblet glass, this beer pours a fairly hazy/cloudy, deep, dark copper color with a slight tan/off-white head that's about 2/3 of an inch thick when first poured. head settles pretty quickly to a creamy looking surface coating of foam along with a pretty thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Good lacing too. Aromas of toasted, bready, caramel malt and toffee sweetness along with charred bourbon oak, a bit of red win tannins, and some dark fruit notes. The taste is pretty much the same, with somewhat toasted, bready caramel malt and toffee sweet notes that give way to some charred bourbon oak flavors and a nice bit of red wine taste. Rounded out with a bit of vanilla and some dark fruit notes of dates, plums, and raisins. No discernible hop flavors here at all whatsoever. Really an excellent flavor profile though. Has a fairly crisp, yet also smooth, frothy, and even somewhat creamy, full bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Has a silky and somewhat dry finish thanks to those red wine notes in this beer. A truly excellent beer all around.

Eric
Jun 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by Commandophile from Illinois

Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.98 by MICAMD from Maryland

Feb 26, 2017
Ovila Abbey Barrel Aged Dubbel from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 212 ratings