Ovila Saison
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California, United States 🇺🇸
Farmhouse - Saison Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.16
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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.
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7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Shared 750ml bottle. Porued a golden color with a small, white head. Aroma was spice, with yeast and honey notes. Flavor is spicy, with yeast, clove notes. Solid, enjoyable, clean and relatively refreshing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Dec 2011
at 19:50
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Bottle as shown. Pours a cloudy orange with a large creamy off white head leaving sticky lacing along the glass. The aroma is yeast and citrus. Thin mouthfeel with pepper and fruit and lingering dry finish. Easy to drink a refreshing saison from Sierra Nevada.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Dec 2011
at 01:49
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Bottle @ home. Hazy, brownish golden appearance wit ha white head. Dry, peppery, spicy yeasty, somewhat fruity, barnyard aroma. Fairly fruity, dry, spicy Belgian yeasty, peppery, vinous flavor with a dry finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Dec 2011
at 23:00
5.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
So can Sierra Nevada - generally a really good brewery - make a Belgian style ale? Not if this is any indication. Cloudy tan-beige. Nice thick head. Dusty, slightly floral yeast aroma. Sweetish palate. Slightly floral and sticky. Ugh - sweet saison with no real nuance. Where’s the hops?
Tried
from Can
on 25 Oct 2011
at 08:49
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
From tap at Three Penny Taproom. Pours hazy yellow with a small white head. Classic light yeasty and peppery aroma. Mild fruity flavoured. Light on the sweet side. Peppery, yeasty and yet mellow fruity.
Tried
from Draft
on 23 Oct 2011
at 20:24
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Pours toffee-amber with a large fading head.Nose shows doughy wheat, spicy peppery phenols and lemon notes.Flavours are very similar but with a bigger emphasis on the doughy wheat/yeast.Carbonation seems a bit full-on.
Tried
on 18 Oct 2011
at 00:12
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
750mL bottle, split 3 ways, pours a cloudy orange with a big white head. Aroma of orange zest, lemon tang, spices and pepper. Flavour of tangerine, lemon tang and citrus. Light bodied with a citrusy finish. Quite bland. Has none of that funky or rustic qualities that make a saison great.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Oct 2011
at 11:03
8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7
Draft. Very strange to name a beer after that little fleshy thing that hangs down in the back of your throat. Cloudy variegated orange. Aroma of non-pumpkin fruits and small animals (in a good way). Taste has sour citrus, grapefruit bubblegum. Interesting variation on the style.
Tried
from Draft
on 05 Oct 2011
at 14:43
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
tap - Pours hazy gold and has a yeasty, funky, banana aroma. It’s less sweet than the saison I had early the same night (Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night). This medium bodied brew has good malt, spice, and fruit flavors with a bit of funk. Very nice saison.
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Oct 2011
at 13:25
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cork explodes from the bottle - no gushing, though - moderately hazy straw/light copper - large, but quickly diminishing head - nose is fairly sweet, but also very earthy and rustic, with some hay, grass and lightly peppery phenols - unfortunately, the nose also brings some messy alcohol and metallic character - flavor is rather sweet as well, more like a tripel than a saison, with some banana character and a touch or apricot - moderate peppery and earthy/dusty character from the yeast, but still remains fairly sweet throughout - again, more like a tripel, so if I think of it like that, I don’t mind the sweetness too much - lingering banana and spiciness - okay, but kind of disappointing, especially for the price (I coulda bought a Dupont for less...Doh!)
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Sep 2011
at 18:07