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Ovila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & Peppercorns
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.84 | pDev: 9.64%
- Reviews:
- 140
- Ratings:
- 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 windowside:
Rated by windowside from Germany
3.9/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 02, 2016
3.9/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 02, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa
4.1/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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, 2020Reviewed 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
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, 2020Taste 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.
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
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, 2019A: 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.
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
4.09/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
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
Ovila Abbey Saison - Mandarin Oranges & Peppercorns from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
709 ratings
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