4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20Heavy browns and blacks, she looks a lot like melted chocolate as she fills my glass under a thirsty and watchful eye. A khaki head fades slowly into a velveteen blanket and lace is nowhere to be found. That’s ok, because rushing my way is a river of melted chocolates, brown sugars, nutmeg, maple, caramel, black strap molasses, and licorice root for a decadent menagerie that nevertheless forms a seamless procession of aromas. Hopefully that seamless procession of aromas will translate into a seamless procession of flavors, and so I take the first of many small savory sips. Thick, rich, and thoroughly mouth-coating, she tastes of the seasons and of melted turtle delights. Malty followed by spice and wood, the latter two mingle together in a sensual tryst of nutmeg, allspice, and wood. Chocolate is everywhere I taste; front, middle, center, and finish. Bobbing in and out of her chocolate paradise are black cherries, prunes, and figs. Definitely sup of the 2 Turtle Doves with as little chill as possible. Grab a snifter big and bulbous, pull up the recliner, and wile away an evening of warm fuzzy holiday cheer. As her warmth spreads gentle fingers across my chest, spice and wood continues to linger while her chocolate kisses cherries, prunes, figs, and last but not least, black licorice root goodnight. Ahh…
Yup. She was that good. Make no mistake though; she is a brew that is probably best shared. I can drink a lot of rich beers, but 750ml of 2 Turtle Doves is a lot for even me to take in one sitting. Embrace the spirit of the seasons, gather some friends around to pour, sup, savor, and reminisce.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
750ml bottle, shared with the tasting group. Dark brown color, some red. Good thin lighter brown head. Some lace. Malty taste. Some brown sugar. More sweet, some bitter in the finish. Dark fruit. Light molasses. Some dark chocolate. Earthiness. Light sweet bite in the finish. Good dark rich chocolatey belgian strong dark ale. Very robust and rich.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
750 ml bottle to snifter (thanks DrSilverworm). Looks good; a dull and cloudy brownish-black with sticky beige head that dissipates into lacing and lively carbonation. Smells and tastes sweet and malty with notes of caramel and toffee. Nice on the palate too. Enjoyable.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Scura non molta schiuma media persistenza bel lievito belga speziato fruttato nocci nocciole leggero etilico cioccolato cacao buon corpo liquirizia finale piuttosto lingo poco amaro
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Dark brown with a small brown head. Malty and fruity tones. malt, fruit, sour and bitterness. Full body with a long bitter / sour finish.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle from a trade, poured into a tulip. Pours reddish brown with a thick head. Very fizzy at first, similar to other Bruery anniversary beers. Nose is roast, caramel, dates, hops, chocolate. Flavor follows with malt, chocolate, and pecans; slightly tart, which made me wonder about infection. I think this is probably the best of the anniversary beers I’ve tasted from the Bruery.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
24th April 2011
Opaque brown beer, good tan head. Light palate, a little crisp and a little dry. Soft malt, slightly boozy with dried fruits on the back end. Finishes dry and warming. Nice but never totally engaging.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle. Pours a very dark brown with a tan head that dissipates slowly to the edges. Aroma has a good amount of dark chocolate with some dark grain and a hint of toasted pecans. Flavor starts with dark chocolate that grows in sweetness towards the finish with a hint of raisin and pecans.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
In short: A heavy, thick and sweet fruity/chocolaty/nutty strong Belgian dark ale Very good.
How: Bottle 750ml. Age unknown. Split three-way, thanks Matt.
The look: Cloudy dark burgundy body topped by a small beige head,
In long: Nose is a big roasted fruit cake, caramel, roasted nuts, more… This beer smells ‘big’. Taste is very rich, a fun mix of chocolaty malts, lots of sweet dark fruits (prunes, figs, etc.), cashews, caramel, some roast. Body is very thick but carbonated enough to make for a nice mouthfeel. There are many nice Belgian Abts/Strong of similar size that I can enjoy by the full bottle, 2 Turtle Doves is not such a beer, this is a very heavy beer that is better shared. A bit too heavy for me to give it a very high rating. However as a rich nourishing beer (it is almost a meal) this beer really gets the job done. Not something I’d want to drink on a regular basis but at the end of the day it’s still a pretty good beer and it is also 11:59pm.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Belle complexité sur le côté sucré du spectre avec une touche sauce soya/vinaigre balsamique qui surprend au début mais qui s’intègre bien au fur et à mesure. Le chocolat, les fruits confits et les épices se laissent compléter par les pécans grillés. L’alcool est imperceptible pour une telle grosseur, solide conception.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Deep dark-brown beer, small yellow-beige head. Roasted, sweet, molasses and some fruity esters. Coffee, roasted, coffee cookies, but with a very syrupy finish. Fruit returns, red fruit. Roastiness very outspoken, going to Hoi-sin sauce. Sticky MF, well-bodied. Bit sticky... I think a little dash of Sour in the Rye, mixed in, might have done it no end of a favour.
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