Review: Ovila Abbey Quad

Ovila Abbey Quad
(collaboration with Sierra Nevada and the Abbey of New Clairvaux)
10.2% ABV

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA

12.7 oz btl
Served in St. Bernardus chalice glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 2/16/14

This quadruple ale pours a dark amberish brown color with a decent beige head that has okay retention. Good lacing.

Smell consists of plums, dark fruit accents such as cherry and raisin, malt, slight caramel, floral/herbal notes, slight leather, slight tobacco.

Taste consists of thick dark fruit with dominant plum, cherry, and raisin flavors, some caramel, touch of vanilla, alcohol, floral and herbal notes, notes of tobacco and leather.

Mouthfeel is thick on the palate with some decent lingering bitterness. Touch of dryness.

Overall, this is a nice tasting quad that's heavy on the dark fruit flavors.  Plum, cherry, and raisin flavors are quite evident, with some decent accents such as caramel, vanilla, and even tobacco and leather coming through. This might not stack up to the renowned Belgian quads, but it definitely has some good flavor and a unique profile.  Comes in a nice looking bottle as well.

My score: 91

Review: Ommegang Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale

Ommegang Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale
9.7% ABV

Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY

12 oz btl
Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 3/1/14

This quadruple ale pours a hazy amber-brown color with a good light beige head that has decent retention. Decent lacing.

Smell consists of malt, caramel, hops, dark fruit, sugary candy, hint of vanilla, touch of spice.

Taste consists of smooth dark fruit (particularly cherry), mild alcohol, raisin, malt, caramel, some hops, brown sugar.

Mouthfeel, at first, is quite smooth on the palate, then some decent texture kicks in.

Overall, this is a nice quad with some significant dark fruit/cherry flavors happening, giving it some good barleywine and even lambic qualities. Nice earthiness presents after it warms up some.  Mellow and tasty, it's worth sipping and savoring even as your taste buds want to drink it faster.

My score: 93

Changes to My Current Top Ten

Okay, this was probably evident as of this review--there have been some significant changes to my Current Top Ten (side right column of this blog).  Firestone Walker Parabola enters the list at number two and screws things up royally.  So, three of my four top beers are not IPAs.  Sierra Nevada Hoptimum also enters the list, at number ten.

Dogfish Head Burton Baton has fallen out of the top ten, as has Firestone Walker Wookey Jack.  Nothing against either of these beers—I love them both still—but it’s getting harder and harder to come up with a top ten.  Fear not, they are sitting right on the cusp, as are Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, Stone Enjoy By IPA, Duvel, and a few others.  There’s really not much separating the bottom five of the top ten and a bunch of others.  Depending on the day and how I’m feeling, there could be some interchangeability. 

So, the list now has three stouts, six IPAs (I’m throwing Nugget Nectar into this category, even though it’s technically not one), and a quad.  A hophead list that doesn’t have hoppy beers at the top two spots. 

Review: Trappistes Rochefort 10

Trappistes Rochefort 10
11.3% ABV

Brasserie de Rochefort, Belgium
11.2 oz bottle

Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 8/1/12

Pours a  dark brown with a thick beige bubbly head.  Good carbonation.  Excellent lacing.  Sediment left at bottom of bottle.

On the nose, notes of malt, yeast, bananas, vanilla extract, caramel, chocolate, and slight berry.

Taste has malt and yeast at the front, with creamy chocolate and caramel notes coming through soon after.  Coffee and banana bread type notes also come through, with alcohol and vanilla layered in there as well.

The mouthfeel is smooth and velvety, with a great balance of many flavors.  Quite full bodied.

Overall, this is an exceptional, rich-flavored Belgian ale worthy of the praise it receives.  As it warms up, nuances of flavors appear, proving almost a different taste with each sip.  The ABV is high but it is mildly evident in the taste.  As you can see on the right column of this blog, this is my top beer.

A shout out to the Shab Row Bistro and Wine Bar in Frederick, MD, where I picked up my bottle of this gem for a great price.

Score: 99