(Chico, CA) – The San Francisco Chronicle recently tipped off the public to some upcoming changes to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Ovila Abbey Ales series of beers:

The first four Ovila abbey beers were not as successful as either Sierra Nevada or the Abbey of New Clairvaux had hoped. Dressler says that the label, which featured the name “Ovila” in big letters and Sierra Nevada in fine print, may have confused people. The next beers in the series, due out next year, will be rebranded with a larger Sierra tie-in. They will be a quad made with dried plums, and a saison brewed with mandarin oranges and white pepper. The fruit comes from New Clairvaux’s orchards.

To the upper right is a sneak peek at the new design to be launched in February 2013 with the release of Ovila Abbey Quad. On the monk’s robe reads the message, “Brewed in collaboration with the monks of New Clairvaux” along with “Monastic Inspiration” and “American innovation.” To the lower left is an example of the old design launched when the series began in late 2010.

Look for hi-res labels on BeerPulse in the coming weeks.