Beer Pick: Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel

Profile: The new project from Sierra Nevada is a collaboration with the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, Calif., just a few miles from the Sierra brewery in Chico. Of course, monastic brewing goes back centuries in Europe. But Ovila Dubbel, the first of three limited-edition releases in the series, is an American craft beer rarity.

Created in the classic style of a Belgian dubbel, the malty dark ale has the sweet flavors of stone fruits and caramelized sugar, along with moderate bitterness, lively carbonation and touch of clove-like spice from the Belgian-style yeast.

Pair with: The dark malt and caramelized flavors of Ovila Dubbel make a fine match for rich, gamey dishes, such as lamb, duck or venison. And it's a natural for grilled steak or beef stew, such as Belgian carbonnade flamande.

Bob Townsend is editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast, www.brewingnews.com/southernbrew.