Ovila Saison
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California, United States 🇺🇸
Farmhouse - Saison Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.16
|
|
A collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Ovila Abbey Saison brings the centuries-old monastery brewing tradition to America.
Ovila Abbey Saison is complex and contemplative-but also refreshingly dry and drinkable. With earthy and spicy aromas, this rustic Saison has note of green grass and a faint citrus tang. The body is light and layered with fruit and spice accents and a dry, peppery finish.
A portion of the proceedsfrom this ale go toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Oliva chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon. Although Hearst’s plan crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.
Ovila Abbey Saison is complex and contemplative-but also refreshingly dry and drinkable. With earthy and spicy aromas, this rustic Saison has note of green grass and a faint citrus tang. The body is light and layered with fruit and spice accents and a dry, peppery finish.
A portion of the proceedsfrom this ale go toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Oliva chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon. Although Hearst’s plan crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.
Sign up to add a tick or review
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Orangeish yellow pour. Moderate soft head. Nice floral notes and really a very good american saison.
Tried
from Can
on 20 May 2025
at 01:04
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Amber color with a really nice head. Aroma is dried fruit. Taste is a complex one with dried fruit and a pleasant sweet finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Mar 2025
at 06:53
7.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Early rating from Beer Buddy app
Tried
on 28 Sep 2021
at 17:39
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Pours cloudy pale yellow with small white foamy head, orange peel aroma, high carbonation, mildly bitter taste with hint of coriander and vanilla, smooth body, abrupt finish. Smooth and tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Nov 2017
at 08:57
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle. Pours hazy orange amber with a smallish head. Caramel, wheat, pepper, and citrus in the nose. Has a citrusy & peppery taste. Not bad.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Jun 2015
at 17:05
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On Tap hazy orange light amber witha small wispy head. Light sweet caramely aroms and flavors. LIght on the claimed peppery spice. SOme brown sugar and valinna. Tasty
Tried
from Draft
on 22 May 2015
at 16:16
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
375 ml corked and caged bottle. Amber orange color topped by a small creamy white tight head. Tart wheat malt aroma is redolent of coriander and white pepper. Sweet toasted malt flavor has notes of coriander yeast and spice. Notes of orange are subtle, yet present. Finish is citrusy with peppery notes. Tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 May 2015
at 23:35
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 5/26/2011. Pours slightly hazy bright orange color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lemon, tangerine, apricot, pear, apple, light banana, clove, pepper, honey, bread, herbal, straw, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast and moderate pale malt sweetness; with good strength. Taste of lemon, tangerine, apricot, pear, apple, light banana, clove, pepper, honey, bread, herbal, straw, grass, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spiciness and slight tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, tangerine, apricot, pear, apple, pepper, honey, bread, herbal, straw, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity and robustness of fruity/spicy yeast and moderate pale malt sweetness; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, and lightly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice saison. All around great complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and moderate pale malt sweetness; and very smooth and crisp to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Oct 2014
at 19:32
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On draft at Trio in Kill Devil Hills NC. Pours a clear copper with an off white head. Spicy bubblegum aroma. Flavors of tropical fruits. Smooth , crisp finish.
Tried
from Draft
on 25 May 2014
at 11:52
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
On tap at the 2014 OCBF. Pours a clear gold with a white head that lasts throughout the beer. Aroma has some musty grains and grass with a bit of cookie sweetness backing. Flavor is similar with some sweet grains and cookie backed by a bit of grassiness.
Tried
from Draft
on 21 May 2014
at 20:39