Sierra Nevada Ovila Saison
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.
3.6
421 reviews
Chico, United States
Community reviews
Pours from 12.7 oz bottle (says 7.5%) a hazy brass color with a small white head that soon recedes to a fine film. Aroma of fresh grains, bananas, lemons, mild pepper, fresh cut field grasses and some more spice - maybe, a little clove and coriander. Flavour is dry with plenty of earth, pepper, grass, slight lemon, and herbs. Finishes with pepper and earth, and is definitely more about the hops than the yeast. Easy to drink, decent saison beer.
On draft at Landmark Americana just off at Rowan University campus. I found this to be darker and richer than traditional saison. Quality deserves another same in the heat of the summer months.
12.7 oz bottle. 7.5% ABV. 2013 release.
Aroma: sweet, caramel, woody, spices, especially pepper.
Appearance: clear, gold with small off-white head, no lacing.
Taste: sweet yet peppery, hint of banana, a little too much alcohol taste.
Palate: heavy body, slick, a bit creamy, soft carbonation, strong finish.
Overall: may be a bit heavy to sip on. Could pair well with food.
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.
Rated based on notes from 15 Aug 2011 -- Aroma was nice, color beautiful. Tasted a bit like a spicy Hef. (I think I was a little inexperienced with Saisons when I drank this)
"again, the Ovila series nails the style. i knew i had really liked the dubbel, but this one still stood out...beat Green Flash easily head to head. bready and fruity up front, dry and spicy in the finish. this is what i think of when i think of the style. medium bodied and lively. great job again guys."
I had this at Global Brew. Pours gold with a white head. Taste sweet, citrus, spice. I thought this was pretty good. I would definitely drink this again.
Pretty good offering. Really nice aroma with an average aroma. Still a darn good beer.
Delicious saison with a darker complexion that provides a light flavor with hints of complication, and sweetens on the tongue after drinking.
Bottle. Hazy golden pour with white head. Full spice, banana, light clove and yeast aromas. Banana, clove and spice flavors, saison is like a brutal wit beer.
Rated on 7-03-2012 (Corked & caged bottle Siciliano’’s Market-Grand Rapids, MI) When poured, this beer has a medium sized very fizzy, frothy white head that is mostly lasting, transparent yellow golden body, fizzy, very fast rising carbonation, and one ring of lacing. The aroma is malty, farmhouse, funky, grass, earthy hops, citrus, sweet, banana, spicy, and a suggestion of pepper. The flavor is sweet, farmhouse, funky, fruity, spicy, peppery, and a dry finish. The mouthfeel is lively and thin. This beer is light-medium bodied. Overall, this beer has an inviting aroma which I like better than the flavor. This beer is worth trying and a beer I would drink again.
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.
Pours clear amber with about a finger of frothy white head. Aroma of wheat, honey, basement, ripe fruit, herbs. Taste is slightly sour initially followed by very fruit sweet that lasts into the finish that again builds up with light fruit tart. Light, crisp body with average carbonation.
On tap at Freakin Frog in Las Vegas. Grassy floral. Bubbly. Decently hopped. Very enjoyable
On tap at Whole Foods. Pours a clear golden straw color with thick spongy white head that left moderate lacing. Aroma is Belgian yeast, banana, slight clove spice, and a hint of oaky vanilla. Flavor is sweet: muted Belgian yeast, slight bubblegum note, quenching mild tart citrus. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, sweet tangy finish. Another great SN offering.
Banana, yeast funk, barnyard funk, odd coriander/orange,and malty sweet skunk on the nose. Deepened copper appearance with a thin foam rim. Taste is well balanced cracker malt, strong spice and herb upfront. Peppercorn flavor comes through strongly, spicy heat, coriander and more yeasty funk. Overall, this is a pretty heat forward saison to me yet, packing some funky flavors B+ rating.
Drank on tap at the ginger man in NYC. Surprisingly interesting beer from Sierra Nevada and one of the best offerings I’ve had from them in a while. Definitely worth trying if you see it.
Pour out of 12.7oz corked bottle. Pour is clear orange with thin white head, aroma has notes of biscuit, bready malts, touch of white grape, and pear notes, touch of caramel. Taste is a nice mix of sweet white fruits with unripe banana, red apple and pear, mixing into bready sourdough and yeast. Mid-taste is earthy and slightly bitter. Lingering sweetness continues however. Finish is very long, with flavors unfolding slowly. Could be drier, but this is not a terrible thing given all the positive things about this beer. Texture starts out lively, but soon settles into chewy. It’s a very nice beer, but more of a sipping beer than I would prefer in this style. Good job, Sierra. Keep these interesting offerings coming.
Clear blood orange color with a large dense head. Aroma of pepper and light grassy yeast. Taste is pepper. The only orange characteristic is implied by the label. About as nondescript a saison as you can find.
Pours a cloudy orange color with off-white head. Yeast, light fruits, coriander, and wheat on the nose; follows onto the palate. Finishes with a semi-sweet note and lingers.
Pours a stunningly clear orange from the bottle with a bubbly white head that leaves quickly. Smells of hay, grass, citrus and some yeast. Tastes of oranges, some spice and a touch of earthiness. Light, crisp mouth with a decent amount of carbonation. A very traditional, easy-drinking ale that recalls Saison Dupont.
On tap at the Pourhouse. Aroma is citris, wheat, and a peppery piece of bread. Pours hazy biege with great bubbles and a medium bubbly head. Taste is great with some pepper, light yeast, golden wheat, and a clean champagne finish. Delicious. A little heavy and sweet for the style but certainly tasty.
Served from a small corked bottle into a small tulip.
Slightly hazy amber good head and lacing.
Very limited Belgium funk in both the taste and the aroma.
Slightly dry.
Very clean finish for style.
Well hidden ABV.
Draft at Moriartys. Slightly hazy gold pour that starts with a large fizzy white head that reduces to slim foam ring. Fresh juicy amber fruits. Floral hops. Yellow plums. Apricot pits. Thyme. Orange pips. Nice drying wood tannins. Not overly complicated but very nicely balanced.
mistakenly purchased this. thought i was getting the quad. will therefore have to compare to the quad. it’s completely different. no similarities. pours a murky gold. faint cereal and citrus notes. clean earthy taste. alcohol is well hidden. nice, but nowhere near the quality of the quad.
Pours honey-amber in color. Thin head and delicate lacing. Good mouth feel and beautiful earthy spiciness. Great beer from this collaboration.
On tap. Slightly hazy golden pour with small off white head. Aroma of yeast, citrus, slightly fruity and spices. Taste of citrusy yeast, orange peel, peppery spice and banana. Medium bodied, nice crisp mouthfeel, peppery dry finish. Alcohol well hidden. Nice beer.
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.
An easy light beer to drink with muted flavors of citrus, bananas, cloves. I really enjoy this beer but the score reflects its light characteristics in relation to what I know of the Saison style. As of now this will be the beer I reach for when I want a hefeweizen here in the US, even though the flavors are muted it is better balanced than the German imports.
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.