Ovila Abbey Dubbel
Paid $9.99 for a 750ml corked and caged bottle from BevMo in San Jose, CA. ABV listed as 7.5%. I pour into a chalice to review. Cork snaps off with a loud pop; certainly not short in the carbonation department. Yields a large, dense tan colored head that leave a nice layer or retention after it settles. Deep brown in color. No lacing. Sweet and lightly roasted malts, and some spice from the Belgian yeast. Also notes of moist bread, fig, clove, raisin, molasses and macadamia nuts. Taste is very balanced with the aforementioned characteristics coming through in a subtle fashion. Medium bodied and well carbonated. Medium length finish of sweet malt. Relatively smooth, but not quite velvety, a descriptor I save for the best Belgian's I've had. The first Belgian-styled beer I've had from Sierra Nevada and while it wasn't bad, it really is somewhat forgettable. At the $10 price range, I don't think I'll be getting this one again.